Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-12-13
ANOTHER ALARM.

The deaths in San Francisco last week
numbered l22, and one of the local jour-
nails is frank enough to admit that such a
mortality is proportionally and alarmingly
larger than that of any other great city in
England or America. The same authority
pronounoes the cause to be the filthy con.
dition of the metropolis specially as re-
CARDS her sewers. Ii sanitary science in
its remarkable progress has taught US one
thing more forcibly than ar Other, it is that
constant vigilance alone can keep great
city in a healthfnl condition tina. includes
everything that caa prevent disease, and
thus promote public health. AS to public
knowledge on the subject of sanitary rules
necessary to be enforced in cities, there is
no lack indeed, there is no ignorance on
that head. Bat there is woeful neglect il
observance and incompetency in enforce.
ment. DIR. Stokes well says that the sub.
iect of public sanitation touches every
hearth and home in the country every
man, woman or child, from the highest
to the lowest; every institution in
the State, its power, its defepses, its
manufactures every trade, every occupa.
tion, domestic purity, domestic happiness,
national prosperity, national health, len.
| gevity and morals /; the duties of property,
the exercise of charity, and the poisoning
and the fruit of our common Christianity.
But incompetence and neglect, We are told.
is the rule in San Francisco. Yet there is
no city better adopted to correct system
of sewerage, and 10 city where the sewers
are more inefficient.
Periodically San Francisco reaches date
in her history where her sanitary records
are all written on the debit side OF the
sheet. Public alarm then eliminates in de-
nunciation of official Encouragement
perhaps in public meeting and the resort
to that great specific, resolutions. But the
frat stiff and salty breeze that miti.
gates the unhealthfulness of tie
people, dissipates their good Intentions
also. But on every recurrence of an cpl,
deuic the penalty paid is augmented, and no
remarkable president gilt is necessary to fix
upon period when neither a saline atmos-
phere nor strong ocean breez9s will avail to
stay the pestilence. Il is well enough for
the people TO demand one cent tax rate.
bu. they would practice wiser economy
n Hanfri L.,k.. fsy., 4b,k
aud for all, to the securing of proper and
/ effective system of drainage and the intro
duction of tie most advanced appliances
of sanitary reform. And this remark will
apply with equal force to Sacramento, as
We have frequently observed when sound.
ing the note of warning for this people.
Right here We desire to call attention TO
the fact that in laying stress upon
the necessity OF propsr method of
dlsposlng of sewage and the refuse matter
incident to the household, the factory and
the shop, we are apt to lose sight of
equally as vital an essential--house in
speetion-wishout which the best sewerage
system in the world would be operated at
disadvantage. House inspection need
not wait upon the latter, or any other sys-
TEN, but its benefits may be awaited of at
once. What is needed is the immediate
and vigorously prosecuted inspection of
every house OF every character in the city.
Proper trapping mus. be enforced, the air
and light admitted to the molding earth
beneath close foundations, and to damp
and unwholezome cellars. Decaying and