Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-11-26

With tho recognition Of the danger to
human health, and even life, froru the
existence of certain physical conditions
Of the surroundings Of habitations
comes the necessity for a revision Of the
written Law of the land regarding the
treatment Of those conditions. The law
makers must be imbued with the senti-
ment that certain acts of omission, or
commission, which have heretofore been
considered Of trivial importance, are
In themselves crimes, and are to be
treated IA such. As the lawmakers de-
rive their powers directly from the pso-
pie, il Is necessary that the voters shall
put in Office only those who ale pledged
and will maintain their pledge 10 the
higher law of the public health. The
education of the public in sanitation Is
a slow process. Stupidity, ignorance
and don't care have heretofore been the
ideas of Legislators and the masses, but
when great wrong Is TO be riRhted or a
great benefit to be wrought, delays are
dangerous, and ordinary methods are
100 SLOW. In this present emergency it
IL justihable II our executive officers
were to transcend their functions, and
take active steps for the abatement Of
the mud nuisance, and Of the immedi
ate construction Of sewerage in this CITY,
and for the putting under buildings
foundations Of stone or hard burned
brick. Such actions may or may MOI be
sustained by the courts Of last resort.
II sustained. they furnish precedents.
and precedent Is often all The soul of
modern Law. II not sustained in prin-
ciple, they lead 70 such thorough invest.
,gation Of tho principles underlying the
points at issue that an elfectual remedy
tor the evils which have caused the 40
ton TO DO taken will be found. The
nuisances heretofore complained Of will
no eradicAtsd, and the higher public
health will b maintained against few
dema0oQues. Many Of our most promi-
nent cities are afflicted with that hydra
headed monster, malaria, or xymotic
diseases, in one form or another, all
caused BY lack of proper foundations,
the city's refuse. Wooden foundations
breed multitudes of amalbiform animal.
culp, which bore the wood, and after
eating or absorbing its acids, die for
lack Of further nourishmcnt, and their
decomposition generates anhydrous
hydrocyanic acid, which the system
takes mp and human life becomes jeop-
ardized. San Francisco has abolished
wooden foundations, finding in them
the cause Of her malaria, and other Cit
LEI are doing likewise. II Board of
Aldermen or Of health officers neglect
their duty, they must be p0nished for
that neglect; theirs b the fault, and on
them must fall the penalty.
Chapter S0e. OF 1850, Of the State laws
Of New York, provides that:
At any time the Governor Of the State
may require the State Board OF Health
% examine into nuisancea Affecting the
security Of life and health, in any local
ity. And the Governor may
in relation 70 things found and certified
BY the said Board of Health 10 b nui-
sAnOses declare them 20 be public nui-
ean0os, and order them TO be changed m
he shall direct, or abated and removed;
and such order shall b presumpsive ev-
idence Of the existence Of such nuisance.
and all parsons maintaining or assisting
70 maintain, or aiding or abstting in any
manner in the maiutainanco Of such
nuisance, altar notice Of such order
ahall b guilty of q misdaneanor, pup
ishabls By ane not to exceed $1,000, or
imprisonmsut in the county Jail not 10
s1osed one year, or BY suoh dne and i'm
pfioonnout.
On il proper execution depends
lasEsly the peuRroas Of the education Of
the people. and their local chosen
omcerA IN . roAlixstion Of the fact that
small private interssts cannot b al
lowed 20 opsrate against the welfare Of
the pablo. and that offences against the
general health are - truly crimes -
shoss against public morals.
WIG.