The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-02-03
OLE SANITARY CONDITION

IL is always in order TO discuss sanitary
matters. 1t is subject that at oil times is
alive aud of importance to the public, more
SO At some seasons of the year than Mt others
of COURSE. We take It that this is a littirg
time TO consider briefly tbs sanitary condition
of our city and the steps that should DO taken
to improve itsnd to prepare for the approach
ing spring and summer We are not aware
that the situation of cur city in respect to ita
cleanliness is at this time at all.alarming OF
even particularly Objectionable; but city Of
the size Of Dallas and without sewerage az
1t is, and with so few facilities for
keeping it clean, is never so free from
disease breeding matter, as TO render sanitary
measures unnecessary, We have had an I'M
usually severe and inclement winter and in
consequence it has been difficult indeed
almost an impossible undertaking TO prevent
an accumulation Of ollal, garbage and refuse
animal and vegetable matter generally, in
the BY aays, CUTTERS, back yards and closets
of the city, And by reason Of the cold
weather this accumulation has been pro.
served almost, if not quite iuiact, and now
that tho winter is wellnigh over and tho
milder days and nights Of The early spring
are upon US, it viii begin TO ierment and de-
cay and emit its foul gos,s md stencil, pois-
oni0g the air we arc to breathe, I'LL
ing the systems of tho people
with impurities and generating all
manner of ills, aches and diseases and fur
nishiHg banquet and carnival for death. In
this connection wa take occasion to refer to
the dumping grounds for the garbage and
waste matter of the city established by the
municipal authorities short distance beyond
the corporate limits up the river. We are
informed that every horse or other animal
that dies in the city limits is hauled to these
grounds, md that they are now indeed a go-
gotha as IL were. We ore told that at this
time the corcassts Of at least one hundred
horses aro there lying, to tester ia tho warm
sun:hlno VIC are to have eye long, and going
to decay, to load down the atmosphere
with horribla smells and sdae
the lungs with contagious dire. The most of
these horses have died recently of the pre-
yailing equine epidcmics of epzootic ard
blind staggers, diseases similar in nature TO
those now TO come extent prevailing trough
out the country in the forms of throat and
cerebral affections. Ought not something to
be done TO protect he health and thelives of
the people Of this city from tho effects of
tho decomposition Of this mass Of animsl
matter lying out in the open air, as it is ?
Cremation or burial is oil that can DO done,
AMI either means viii cost the city govern
ment some money but we ask il the health
of Dallas is not paramount to any oonsdera-
ton Of dollars and cents, ls there any
man in all the limits of this city who
will put into the balances with
the life of the humbltst human being of US
VII the consideration of the dollars and cents
tho saving of that life might cost? The
health and the happiness Of nearly fifteen
thousand people depend in some measure
upon the sanitary condition of this city, to
say nothing of the lives that arc imperied
and we ask If there should be any hesitation
in taking such steps MS will best couduca 10
the protection of the health, happiness aod
the lives of tine cisizens of this city? In so
far as this accumulation Of dead animals on
the city's garbage ground is concerned, VIC
desire to DO understood as in no wise reflect
ing upon tha municipal authorities, OF
any of them, or in any wise
censuring them. We think tie city council
did sensible AMI prudent thing when II
procured this ground, and we feel sure that
the council never anticipated such an accu.
mutation of animal matter and that It's pres.
ence there is ono Of those unforeseen oircum.
stsnces that will now and then happen, and
in behalf of tho people of this city, and in
the interest Of good health, we ask the coun.
Gil to either have these bodies burned O,
deeply buried in the bosom of the earth
Their destruction by fire would be the wses
sanitary precaution, but as burial will answer
and will probably be cheaper, why lot them
be buried. And for the future, we would
suggest TO the council that il
would do an exceedingly sensible
thing if II would pass an ordinance requir.
inc the owners of all animals dying within
the corporate limits TO remove the bodies
beyond the limits and either burn or bury
them, aud If buried to bury them very deep
We believe the city can require this, and in
self projection it should be done. In city
OF the size of ours, where so many horses and
mules are in daily use, the mortality among
them isproportionstely as great ms it is among
the people. Then isit not reasonable tina,
some adequate provision should be made 70
get rid of their dead bodies! Throupbou,
the universe the past fall and winter have
been unprecedented in severity, and everv.
where II has been unusually unhealthy. in
many localities strange and complicated
diseases appearing. Scientists. account TO,
the severity of the weather by the relative
positions of the planets and their meteoro.
logical influences, and they cay that through
out this year we are to have meteorological,
eccentricities that will occasion sickness Of
all kinds. We don't wish to be under.t