Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1879-05-30
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE
Sanitation.

EDITORS APPEAL-I have read with much
interest all the APPEAL has had to say on the
above subject, editorially and otherwise, as
well as great deal from other sources
some of it based on scientific and practical
knowledge of facts, but most of 1t on mere
theoretical buncombe-a buncombe born of
an excess Of professional school lore, unmod-
fled by contact with the rough working side
of nature. In fact, so much of this has come
from the profession that is supposed to be the
guardian OF our health, that the post6x N. ID.
has quite lost its title to respect In my mind.
If that kind of lore brought them all to the
same conclusion, their dogmatic assertions
would be entitled to some consideration; but,
as scarcely any two agree, it is hardly I'M
charitable to say that their theories might all
be thrown overheard without much danger
of loss to the world. One will tell you
land many non professionals will side
with him) that there is no salvation
except in an extensive system of under
ground sewers, into which all the offal from
congregated man must be thrown, and thence
washed into an adjacent river. God help
the city that has no river, or what Is just as
bad, if not worse, no current, like Chicago.
Another is content with partial sewerage
system, good surface drainage and deep
vaults, with slop-tub and slop-cart accom-
paniments, etc., etc., while another develops
mania on the dry-earth closet plan, with
details left out. Laterly we hear the cry
| mostly from professionals, however
'Cremate! cremate!" And this, | firmly
| believe. sounds the keynote to nearly all the
difficulties that have heretofore baffied the
skill and overweighted the resources of nearly
every great city on earth. ALI advocates of
| underground sewerage admit and claim that
to be effective they must be extensive, reach
ing every street and alley, and tapping every
vault Throughout the city. To do this
involves an immense expense, such as no
living population Is willing or able to
to pay. hence the curse of an enormous debt
must be entailed upon future generations.
And, as a matter of fact, while their pres
ence allaYs our fears, in their dark recesses
is preparing the poisons that kill US. How
ever, this subject is too big for a newspaper
article, and | did not set out to discuss it, but
to give your reades a few facts, derived from
practical experience, in the matter of crema-
ton. Everybody knows what a terrible pest
rats are capable of making themselves. Well,
some twelve years ago my wife, being very
much annoyed by them, determined to starve
them out, and to that end had thrown INTO
the cooking stove everything from the table
that we could not eat ourselves. Very soon
the rats were gone, and from that day to
this no slop-tub or bucket, and no
scrap pile has been seen In our backward or
anywhere else. Everything goes into the
stove and is reduced to ashes, and the ashes
go to enrich our flower and vegetable beds,
Wnen We nave any, anu When not, ABOUT one
cart load of clean ashes-in themselves a
disinfectant-per annum Is hauled away.
In order that your readers may fully under
stand what mean, when | say everything, |
will enumerate them. All sweepiDgs from
the floors and carpets, bones of all sorts and
sizes, scraps from the table of every kind,
Feelings and tops from onions, potatoes,
apples, turnips, cabbage, beets, and every
thing else that comes into the kitchen;
chicken offal, entrails, feathers, heads and
feet; fish entrails, heads and scales, etc.. in
short, we make clean sweep of it-even old
shoes go the same way, on the CRATES in win
ter. The question will be asked, Don't all
this create bad smell?" answer, if anybody
has ever noticed it we have never found it out.
OF course those who keep cows or pigs must
give them chance before burning, but still
you will find fire your strongest ally in keep
ing sweet and clean. Water comes In sec
ond. clearinghouse and hotel-keepers say
1t cannot be done in our business. | say it
can. range that will cook for one hun
dred people will bum the garbage if prop
erly managed. Much of it can b thrown in
while cooking with perfect propriety and IL