Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-04-15
SAN ANTONIO SEWERAGE.
Comments aud Statistics on tho Health
OF the City During the Past
S,cv,,n VpNrs
scseh ieis'

Seven Years.
spetisl correspondence Oft Gazette.
San Antonio, April l3.-There has
heen "a vast amount OF comment In the
state recently over the defeat IN this |
city of proposition to appropriate
$3.50, 900 for sewerage. People seem to
wonder why San Antonio should vote
down such proposition, but If
people would always post themselves
before they determine upon opinions,
they would get more credit for
common sense and honesty ofpurpose.
| It was proposed to run the sewerage
into the San Antonio river, WITHIN the
city limits, in the southern suburbs,
al that the south breezes might bring
back the foul corporations, enana-
lions and odors TO the postriis of our
ueople, ruinous to the health and best
| interest of this city and her people.
Then the water.works company I'M
der such an arrangement would hold n
grinding power over the people,
i which the people were not content to
submit to. Then the sum was deem
4 ed insufficient to sewer but a very
small portion of the city, and proba.
bly fifteen hundred Taxpayers would
have been subjected to taxation for
purpose from which they could de-
rive no possible benefit. Then the
proposition was never explained to
The satisfaction of the public, but the
plan kept within the secret circle of a
few men who have been dubbed 81
tring of jobbers.n The San
Antonio river, which has stead.
ily decreased in the volume
of its water for the past ten years, UNI
, til now it is hardly one-tenth its origi-
I nal size, will continue to decrease as
the city grows in population and the
/ consumption of water increases, and
a the filth of city would be eventually
). empted into stagnant pool to breed
q disease. Then it was regarded by
: thoughtful and fair-minded citizens as
. proposition that meant the ruin OF
y the health of the city. Then 1t is
known that if we had an admiDistra-
ton competent to establish grades
/, of streets and proper system OF sur
/ face drainage, that sewerage won III
never have been talked Of Then II
i. is known that the sanitary laws OF the
:, city, as poor as they are, are not prop
;, erly enforced. and that proofs of eff
a cheney are first demanded from the
"a administration before any moro large
- sums of money will be voted for ex
. penditure. We need street crossing:
e first. The city compels Taxpayers
=, to construct sidewalks, but constructs
=, none herself where she own
~ eroperty. It is not true thai onl.
,f small taxpayers defeated tn
10 sewerage question. The people who
w have labored hardest to build up thi
i, city, and majority of the large tax
* payers, opposed 1t:
In There was incalculable harm don
San Antonio by the local press adVVc
= eating the measure. These writers dl'
II not study the question properly, ant
~ went more by impulse than reason
a. The overwhelming verdict agains
~ sewerage showed in how far they rel
no resented public sentiment. Oar cit
10 is naturally healthy place, aud WIN
ed it has doubled its popuiatio
ali in the past seven years, ana man
an agencies that would seem unconduciN
NJ to health have sprung up, IL Is II
ON markable fact that the health OF ga
nd Antonio has not been impaired, IN
va. her death-rate augmented.
~, This we will substantiate by a car
fully-kept mortuary report, iurnisne
,o by DIR. Menger, and which will prov
s sos that the STUFF San Antonio pape
1a published was without foundation
ia and i'm this connection we will 81
Wv o that it is the first time within o
, memory that these sail
Ia papers which have herald
Vie, abroad the name of San Antonio as
4 IN great health resort, the Eden OF
lie western hemisphere, whose DALI
tha breezes, fine climate and pure wa'
the combined to form n balsam the ne
, Ia ing powers OF which were equal
the those OF any patent medicine ever
'he vented, and equally as general in th
ooa effects. We say 1t Is the first III
). ~ these papers which have done all u
=, -, W good talk for San Antonio, underto
'ro,, TO traduce the place and go squar'
a !, ha back on the truths they told when I
rho der good and honest influences.
of Following is the nortuafy rep
die DIR. Menger furnishes us, ana II
gnr correct: -,
se,, Dear Sir:-Below is carefully &C
tnid piled stat. ment of the deaths WI
occurred in San Antonio, cominencl
January, 1878, and ending Decent =.
~, 1883, reported and registered oiiic's
YIN. in this city: =,
ls77.-Estimated population, l5,'
aga, Total number of deaths from all eau
Including resident and non-re' ide
1888; whites 34S, colored 81 consul
'ern- ton SO. pneumonia 16, bronchlti'
here tetanus and commissions q. emo
'eme infantnm 30, typhoid fever 10, maia
ltent fever 10.
$ on 1878 Estimated population ~,
iber- Total deaths from ali causes 4io, w
ture, POI, colored As, Mexicans loe;
the sumption GA, pneumonia ~, bronci
The Z, meningitis7, tetanus ana con
been sions 81, Inflammation of stomach
pain. bowels is, cholera infantum ~, q
Were rhea 10. typhoid fever ~ man
70 In fever O. a.
ting 1S79.-E Estimated population 70
mer- Total deaths 523, c0lored W, Mexl
Dopu- 22s, white 235, consumption Oh, p
. are monia II, bronchitis 3, meningitis
rule, tetanus and commissions 81, iniiam
lies ton of stomach and bowels ~, cn'
pain. infantum 20, diarrh@a IL, Whoo!
he cough g. diphtherin ! smallpox
Y are mostly Mexicans aud children II
pns OF in poverty aud under unsanitary
sn,efs ditions), typhoid fever To- MAJ
nave fever 2; strangers 50. .,
u the 1885, Estimated populauon =
ener- Total deaths 4s5, white 24S, coloft
ONE TO hIexicans 1850; consumption so, !
,ain so monia "A, bronchitis ] ], lneningil
Will tetanus and commissions ~, lniia'
now, ton Of stomach and bowels 30, ch
ana infantu,n 81, typhoid fever y una
" Tue fever II strangers Oe.
turn 1cot tr,tt...r,od ,,nptlatiOn. z