Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-07-20
rHE LOCAL SANITARY QUESTION.

1t has been shown by the published pro-
ceedines of the City Board Of Health that
We have not exaggerated the necessity for
an immediate and thorough cleansing of
the town. Il is to be noted, also, that the
local sanitarians are unanimously of the
opinion that the correctives for the GEES
pool nuisance should at once be applied,
and the public is to be congratulated on
the outlook for reforms. It is great
mistake to suppose that these involve
heavy cost. If the several thousand pits
are once thoroughly cleaned out they can
thereafter be kept in decent condition at
q small outlay. But, in fact, it is not
question in which the element of cost
should be considered. The people have
right TO protection against the neglect of
those who maintain unclean premises. II
is right that cannot be infringed without
the direat consequences resulting. Locking
up accommodations Of filth in the soil of city
lots means that we are laying up against a
day of reckoning terrible weapon for our
own punishment. Oae of the Board of
Health said at the recent meeting that he
knew one lot but twenty feet in width in
which eight filth pita exist. What 4
breeding spot is such place for diphtheris,
cholera, fevers, etc. Oae OF the
Trustees opposed stringent ordinance
requiring the proper construction of these
pits because OF the cost, and because he
feared the law would not be popular, and
therefore it could not be enforced He
thought the people should be educated up
TO proper sense of the necessity of euch
regulations first. In the first place Mr..
Nielsen mas no warrant fer suggesting that
the ordinance proposed is unpopular. It
Is fact that, though freely published over
two wesks ago, no protest has been filed
against it and no dissent to the proposition
made by citizens through the press. We
happen TO know that among thoughtful
people the advice Of the Board OF Health
is not only not questioned on this subject,
but is warmly approved. Tbs Trustee has
., very low estimate OF the intelligence of
the people he serves If he imagires that
they do not already know all the facts and
are not now fully informed as to the abso.
Lutte necessity for such sanitary measures
as are proposed. Sanitary science is a
popular one at this day, and it Is safe to
say thai there are few. if any, subjects
upon which there is broader intelligence.
This Is evidenced by the demands Of the
people in all considerable cities that their
officers shall keepsthe streets, alleys and
lots clean by their vigorous complaints if
premises become foul; by the vast num-
Der Of improvements adopted by the peo-
pie in building, ventilating and draining
their houses IN the number and general
reading Of sanitary journals; and, finally,
by the universal interest taken in drainage
and the disposition OF sewage. There are
= few in each community who are ignorant
Of the ordinary requirements demanded for
promotion Of the public health, but the
nlaas Of tae people are awake to the
need for good sewer systems the danger
Il saturating the soil by deposits Of filth
II eesspo0Is the deadly character Of sewer
snd liIsh pit gsses, the necessity for ex-
Guiding them from dwellings, and tie ad-
vantage OF properly constructing drains
and OF voutilsting them. Beeides all this,
the question of doubt about enforcing 3
law is rot to be determined in advance OF
It's passage. 1t is to De demonstrated on
trial only, Neither should the matter Of
its possible repuguance to few enter into
the consideration. SIS it right2 Is it
necessary These are the only questions
for the law. makers. To both Of these, in
the present case, the body constituted to
judge Of such matters replies with empha-
sis Yes" The sooner, then, that We
apply the remedial and preventive meas
ures devised by the Board of Health the
better. There Is nothing to be gained by
delay-there nay be saved vast number
Of human lives, and immeasurable human
suffering.