Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-09-27

TsDfFer u act.
Several applications for the erection OF
new buildings and repairs 10 property, Tor
warded with the approval OF the aetihs
Chairman n the Fire Committee, were
granted.
RESOLUTIONS.
Alderman Green Authorizing the
Committee on Fire TO have the nre alarm
telegraph repaired and put in good ORDER
at a cost not to exceed S20o. Passed.
Alderman Understanding authorlt!
70 the German Lutheran Cnurch 20 Trans
fer certain lots in Laurel Grove cemetery
70 the Evangelical Lutheran ChuFch'
Passed.
There being no further business the
Council adjourned.
The Citizens Sanitary Association.
The following article appeared in the
September number of Indoors and out
do0rS, Of which Charles +. Wingate, SAM
tary Engineer. is editor. Mr.. Wingate
visited Savannah last spring:
Savannah well deserves to be called
the Forest CITY. and its abundant trees
shading broad streets with their yerdure,
and Its numerous parks, large and small,
are in delightful contrast to the crowded
areas Of our Northern cities. But few OF
the streets are paved. excepting in the
business portions Of the city. Hence there
IS little sound Of traffic. The police are
admirably disciplined, and attend 10 the
sanitary service with great efficiency.
All garbage. ashes and other refuse Is
Systematically removed outside OF the
city limits, and during an extensive sur
yey OF the most crowded sections OF the
city we saw scarcely any filth or rubbish.
Much still remains TO be done in
cleaning and abolishing priyy vaults,
but a great deal has already been
accomplished in this direction. Since the
formation Of the Citizens Sanitary ASSO-
citation great interest has been taken IN
improving the health of the city. The
mortality from diphtherla has been great
~ reduced during the past year, and this
may be partly laid to the credit of the
association. Savannah has only 30 resi-
dent physicians among population OF
some $1,000, whereas Atlanta. with but
little larger population, has some i've
times as many doctors.
''The report Of the medical director Of
the association. DR.. J. &. LeHardy, says:
sEsThere is no reason why Savannah
should not be made as healty as any city
in the country. Situated on a high and
narrow bluff. Its thorough sewerage pre-
sents no great difficulties, and there is not
a foot Of ground for miles around il which
cannot be perfectly drained. But this
sewerage and drainage can only be OBJ
tanned by the wise expenditure of the pub
lie treasure. and no such investment will
be authorized until the people have been
instructed in the principles and value of
sanitation. This instruction is the diff
cult and tedious task which our assOcia-
ton has undertaken
''He remarks upon the declining vigor
Of the blacks due to their ignorance and
Incidence. causing an excessive mortality
as compared TO the whites, and advises
teaching them the principles Of hygiene.
We are surprised to find the following re-
ference TO a custom supposed to be ObsO-
lete:
~ cannot forbear to enter my protest
here against the barbarOus custom that
still prevails in this city of forcing human
beings TO climb up foul chimneys in order
to sweep them, when other and effectual
methods for cleansing them could be used.
Consider that the chimney-sweep, clad in
rags. his head badly protected, must
climb up through a narrow tlue. some
times fifty feet high, filled with SCOT,
which his scraping and sweeping sets free
to stitie him. When the poor devil reaches
the top he is obliged to sing song to free
his lungs from the dust before he can
make his descent in safety
'Dr. LeHardy adds Proper ventilation
of private and public buildings is almost
unknown in this city. The habit common
to our women, Of keeping within doors,
is one OF the most prolific sources from
which the doctor swells his income'
''The report OF Mr.. Schwaab, Engineer
of the association, is very full and inter-
esting. especially the details of bad work
which he unearthed; which, however, is
no worse than can be found in any NSrth-
ern city.
'The Introductory report Of the Presi-
dent, DR.. J. g. Thomas, is briet but COM
flapT ~rav.1~
association and the results accomplished.
We quote a single paragraph:
- our rules require US to assist in pre-
venting the Introduction or spread of dis
ease and to aid the public authorities III
carrying into effect all proper ordinances
or laws relating to public health. We
declared in every way that we had no
intention of offering any embarrassment
to the authorities in carrying into effect
sanitary laws; but, on the contrary, to
give our earnest cooperation to all
measures which will promote the public
health and diminish the death rate. All
thoughtful people have now come to
realize that eternal vigilance is the price
of health. The more societies we have to
give this vigilance the better it will be
for us as a people. The more watch
men we have upon the towers to give the
alarm, the sounder we can sleep with our
little ones around us. 1t has been said
that although certain painful phases of
our modern life may tend to make us
doubt our steady and permanent advance
in civilization, yet we may certainly
count it as a mark of progress that every
wear we learn more accurately the laws
Of health, and every year there are estab- /
lished more organizations which have for
their objects the preservation of health,
and that these organizations are growing !
in public favor
I'm his annual address, Or. Thomas
discusses sanitation in general, and highly
cOmmends the work of the National |
Board Of HEALTH