Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-11-29
REPORT OF THE sAEITARIANs.

the sanitarlans who have been lnvesti
eating the condition of Memphis has
been laid before the public. 1t deals
entirely in facts ascertained by careful
inspection and also contains sugges-
tions which will have great weight.
We will group the main points. In
the first place, Memphis is in bad
sanitary condition. In many buildings
are cellars or easements containing
privy-vaults, ranging from fifteen to
fifty feet in depth, the majority OF
which are filed with fecal matter.
Frequently in the same cellar is
eistern, the water Of which is contami-
dby sipage from the privy. In some
cellars Of large buildings near the CEN
ter OF the city, are accumulations Of
excrement and filth of various kinds
covering the floor. There is evidently
very extensive soil-pollution in many
parts ofthe city,a appears from there
suits Determinations of the water sup
ply Of Memphis, made for the commit
tee by DR.. Charles Smart, United States
army. Out of 3G cisterns examined
which are believed to be above the
average, ten are sound and twenty-six
leaky, Is are classed as good 6 fair.
2bad from ioulness Of cistern, and 10
bad from infilteration Of sewerage.
The samples from these cisterns were
sent in by gentlemen who attach i'm
portance to pure water, and endeavol
to keep a good supply. OF the wells,
four are organically pure, and one ex-
ceedingIy impure. OF the running
waters that form the creeks at Elm.
wood, is very impure. Samples Of
water taken from the mouth of Vol
river before and after rains, were
found exceedingly impure. A sample
from the same river furnished by the
city supply is also very impure. Three
samples Of Wolf river water, stored
in cisterns when the river wal
low and free from turbidity
were Of good quality. One sample
on Wolf river water as it now is
when passed through charcoal filter
proved exceedingly pure. So mucl
for the water question.
In those portions of the city which
have been carefully inspected,
quantity of soiled and foul bedding
material for mattresses, etc, presum
ably infected, has been found in thr
yards, cellars and outhouses. A
quantity of this material, togethe
with rags, is also collected in a numbe
of junk shops, and there is no evidenc,
chat it has been satisfactorily disin
fectedl The detailed survey is still
going on, and will be pushed to com
pietion as rapidly as possible.
A summaryis made of the results o
inspection in the first ward A ma
iority of the cellars are damp, wet anC
poorly ventilated, and contain fou
accumulations of rubbish and decom
posing organic matter. Manyof thes
cellars contain privy vaults in poo
condition. The vaults are deep anc
in many instances full or nearly so
are leaky and the contents soak int,
the ground; the surface drainage j
good and the streets and alley
comparatively clean. A mum
ber of nuisances are designa
ted, including foul cisterns, ad
joining privy vaults in yards, in eel
lars and under houses with foul drains
clogged mp and offensive passages, anc
over them junk shops containing
second hand clothing, much of whicl
is knOwn to have belonged to yellOy
Geyer decedents, ordered destroye,
but carried OF and sold by negroes
bedding of the same character, cottol
which formerly filled yellow feve
mattresses, rags and miscellaneou
lomites, etc.
The bayou has been inspected fror
Beale to Poplar street, distance o
1,460 yards. In that space 80 gnllieS
carrying surface and slime water
empty into the bayou. There are 3
priyies on the banks Of the bayou
The shaGties on the banks are old
ilthy, insecure, were nests of yelloV
fever in 1873 and 70 and should b
destroyed. They cannot be disin
1eeted.
From the number sf damp cellar
reported, and from the condition Q
the streets in wet weather, and espe
cialiy in winter, it is evident that tn
subsoil drainage ofhemphisis exceed
ingly imperfect.
After this report the committee re
commended substantially as follows
Pirst - That measures be at one
taken to secure proper superintend
ence asd subsequent care Of the sani
tary WORK to be undertaken by tn
oity. This will involve among othe
things the employment of traine
and thoroughly competent sanitar
.nAinnr fndennndent of nnNtics. Seoonl