Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-01-05
WHAT PROGRESS ARE WE MAKING IN
sANITATI0Nl

The quarantine was raised, the
epidemic is declared to be at an end,
and the people nearly all had returned
to Memphis early in November. Dur
ing their absence they had time to
consider what measures should be
adopted to make the city healthy
place, and as near as possible proof
against epidemics. The local press
was full Of suggestions, and the papers
all over the country teemed with dis
cussions by professional and non-pro-
fessional writer's, and a great variety of
opinions were expressed as to the
origin and nature OF the yellow fever,
and the supposed means 70 be adopted
to prevent its appearance and spread
Upon one point, however, all seem to
agree, Memphis must be thoroughly
purged Of all disease breeding factors,
whether the place could be severed
and paved or not we; all said it could
and would be done. The pulpit, the
press and the doctors, the sanitarians
and the outside world all united in
saying clean up. We were ready to
promise anything within our power,
and believed that this, at least, could
be DONE Strangers who came here to
make minute inspections reported
worse state of affairs than we were
willing to admit as true. Yet we
were ready to apply the remedy, ripe
for great sanitary reform. Well,
here it is, nearly the middle of Jan
uary, 1880, and let us see what has
been done. The legislature, after
great delay, was convened, and a
special tax fT sewerage and other
sanitary purposes was levied. Soon
after the middle of this month there
is reason to hope that a large force
will be put to work on the streets,
under direction Of Colonel Waring, to
begin the work of sewerage and sub
soil drainage. This is very important
as far as it goes, but is it all that is
necessary? We propose to show that
it is only one Of several sanitary
measures necessary to make Memphis
anything like safe and healthy place
tolivein all the year round. Naturally,
this is very healthy place, but the
early village ways cling to the city and
we find it now honey combed from
enc end to the other with
death.b breeding privies, seping els
terms foul, damp cellars and reeking
alleys. The laws Of health and com
mon sense have been set at defiance
as if we would tempt Providence OF
nature to send on US some new and
nameless scourge from which there i;
no escape. By direction of the Ma
tional Board of Health, DR.. F. W,
Riley of Chicago, a gentleman Of cul.
ture and a sanitarian of experience
and sound Judgment came here soon
after the fever abated, and instituted
a thorough inspection of the city from
house to house. He has had as high
as twenty-nine inspectors employed al
one time. The work has been done
exhaustively and Systematically
When completed, as it will be in few
days, every house and lot will be desig
mated and its sanitary condition accu
rately described. The wards have
been carefully mapped, and the in
fected places, overhowing priyies
filthy cisterns, and other nuisancei
designated by yellow, red, blue, anC
other cOlored squares and circles
The showing is bad one for Mem
ptis, and the worst Of it is that W,
have the remedy in our ownhands an(
do not apply it. These reports ar,
intended for the National Board o
health, but abstracts embracing al
important points have been furnished
our local board of health from time t
time. AS early as the 8th of Novem
Der some of the most crying evils wer,
reported to our local board, and thesi
reports have been supplemented at
few days interval ever since. Among
the earliest returns we're thos
of the more outrageous places
such as the old postofice build
ing on the corner of Third ant
Jefferson street, the Lee and Mosb!
property, on and near the corner 0
Monroe and Second streets, the dan
gerous priVies and structures nea
both the Baptist churches on Secon,
street, Hardin's alley, betweel
Hernando and Avery streets
Centre alley north of the courthouse
the rear and basement of the CONNER
cial hotel, and the most offensive nui
sances in various parts Of the city
Very few of these have been abateG
or in any way disturbed. OF over 30
shanties and premises totally unfit 10
human habitation, and which were re
commended to be vacated or destroy
ell, there is one solitary compliance
From 500 to 1900 nuisances, hav