The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-03-31
THE HEALTH OF THE PEOPLE
ANNCAL REPORT OF THE, BOARD
CHARGED WITH THAT SUBJECT.
SNOW on Sidewalks-B BaIcOnics--Street.
CIcaning-sfarr and Deaths.

The annual report OF the Board OF
Health, In addition 10 several subjects
often before referred to by them and here
omitted, Is as follows:
Social connections makes husband and
wife master and mistress OF the sanitary
situation. There the s0-called accidental
perils which beset the young, the deadly
diseases caused by contagious infection,
can effect no Judgement, for the house has
become centre OF sanitation. This Is
easy. Keep out the damp. let in the sun,
separate the house from the earth beneath,
connect 1t with the air above, make the an
nual house. cleaning semi-annual, and ac-
cept il rs wise dispensation Of Provi-
dence. IL has been well and tersely said
that epidemic diseases are Goods protest
against fifth"
Snow ORDINANCE.
The present ordinance is not rlgidly en-
forced; its requirements are observed but
by a few. We think modification could
be made which would serve to make 1t
more generally observed, and at the same
time make it less onerous to the citizens.
We suggest that longer time for the re-
moval OF the snow be allowed, and that the
citizens be required to clean only one half
OF the sidewalk next TO their lots; allow
no one to heap snow in the cutters. Suf-
licient passage in most Of our streets would
be thus secured, and the flooding OF the
cutters be obviated.
OBSTRUCTION TO sTREETs-BALCONIEs.
We think that the ordinance as to OBJ
str,lction to streets should be at once
modified. At present, under the gen.
eral head OF distractions balconies
are prohibited. Laying aside the con-
fort they afford to the occupants OF
houses, the architectural beauty they add
to the building, they may serve in case OF
fire as escapes for the inmates. At the
North their construction is encouraged,
even required, in structures OF many
stories in height. Can sane man believe
that balcony fifteen or twenty feet above
the sidewalk can prove an obstruction?
As well require that no cornice projecting
over the street line shall be Permitted. Let
our citizens beautIiy and adorn their
dwellings. Place no obstacle in their way
i'm this respect. All is done ut their own
expense.
STRENGTHENING.
Inasmuch as the Board OF Health, before
the duty Of cleaning the streeCs and alleys
was imposed upon it, incurred all the
odium consequent upon their filthy condi-
tion. the Board asked that this service be
transferred to it, and to be supplied with
an adequate force to accomplish the work.
The public will bear witness to the fact
that our streets and alleys since this change
have been greatly improved, even with the
small force OF laborers and carts which
have been assigned to it. 1t is true that
application has been made to the Engineer
Department for aid, but only occasionally
has it been rendered. Year after year have
we made application for an increased
force, sending in to the Council an
estimate with all the items) OF what wa:
needed, and uniformly the appropria
ton asked for has been cut down one
half. while unlooked-for expenses have
been imposed upon the Board.
The Board has to rely upon the services
OF the chain-gang for cleaning the streets
and alleys. This force averaged ten
members during the past year, while many
OF them were infirm. Again, the efficiency
OF this force is impaired by 4 wise discre'
tion exercised by tbs surgeon OF the jail in
not allowing the men to be employed ii
this service when the Thermometer Is De
low $50. We trust this explanation vii
satisfy the community that the Board o.
Health is not responsible for the occasional
accumulation OF dust in the streets. We
have travelled from Canada to New or
leans, and from st. Louis 90 Baltimore
stopping in all the principal cities. and WI
have nowhere found the streets more
cleanlv than in Richmond. We admit that
much more attention should be paid t'
them. but the means must be supplied b!
the Council.
UNDERSTANDING.
or course this duty cannot, under exist
ing circumstances, be assumed by TIN
BOARD The question naturally arises whe
ther this service should be performed b.
the city authorities or by private citizens
We have obtained the following statistie
from the Engineer Department as likely q
throw some light on the question as to III
practicablity of the city authorities per
forming such work
Nuuber of miles OF paved streets. ......,.,,.,sl0
ftac - ma IL nd strgptS...... .