St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-03
CITY LEGISLATURE.
Important Communications Received
TO Defend the City from
Cholera.
Proposals for the Robert Street B.sege Or
dered Observation-Disclosures
Business.
The council held regular meeting last
evening with the following result:
-. -rr,

tlou rclAIiNc 70 the threatened
cholera epidemic. urging the coun-
ell to take such sanitary measures
as wiz resist the scourge. He submitted re-
ports from the health officer and the county
medical society. III ! urged cooperation with
them in purifying the city. The following is
the report of-the medical society:
! Hon. c. d. O'Brien. Mayor Of ST. Paul:
SIR: AT a meeting Of the Ramsey County
Medical society, held on the evening 81 the
oath inst, committee OF physicians we're
appointed, two from each ward Of the city,
viz: First, J. II. Murphy aud II. F. Hoyt;
Second, Park Rieney and Talbot Jones;
Third, d. w. Hand and c. +. Smith; Fourth,
Daniel Leasure and A. f. Seukler: Fifth,
Samuel ID. Flsgg and James Sloan; Sixth,
o. A. Beals and 5. D. Francis, 20 ascertain
The present sanitary condition OF the city, in
view OF the probable advent Of epidemic
| cholera here next summer. This committee
met al the city hall on the evening Of the 25th
inst, and after an earnest interchange Of
opinion beg leave to respectfully report as
follows:
The committee restricted its inquiries to
three questions, each Of capital importance
First-Are we likely % have cholera in 81.
Paul during the summer Of 1885!
After careful study of this question we
are led inevitably to the conclusion that
there is a grea. probability, If not reas0na-
bic certainty, that ST. Paul. the following
summer. will be visited by Asiatic cholera
This belief is based upon the facts
| (a)That during every epidemic Of cholera
which has thus fsr prevailed in Europe, the
United States has either coineiden.ly OF sub
sequently suffered from the same seourge.
/ (b) That on at least two different occasions
in the past, cholera has prevailed In ST. Paul
when it was prevailing elsewhere in the
country.
The mildness which characterized these
| epdemics when the city had but compare.
lively few Inhabitants, should not be- taken
as the measure Of the possible severity OF an
| epidemic, should one again appear here,
with our enormously increased number and
density Of population.
Second. Is tie city ia good sanitary
condition. We believe the various parts OF
the city to be in a fairly good sanitary con-
dition, with certain notable exceptions, W hieh
are pronounced and notorious. The portion
of our city known as ''Swede Hollow" q
section Of West 81. Paul on the fats at the
base of the bluffs near Yoerg's brewery, and
certain parts OF Dayton Bluff beyond the
Van Buren, school house are the eity's plague
spots and are in the highest degree danger
Gus 10 the public health. We
believe these spots are public
nuisances and should be abated even though
we were not threatened by an epidemic of
cholera, but the necessity for their abate-
ment in view Of this eity's menace from
cholera becomes imperative. The recent
frightful experience with cholera which
Toulon, Naples and other cities have under
gone should warn the authorities of this CITY
that efficient aud vigorous measures should
at once be undertaken TO, II possible, avert
such a calamity here. The promotion and
spread of the seourge in these cities was
owing TO just such unssnitary conditions as
exist in certain parts Of st Paul to-day.
Third. What steps should betakest to place the
city ia oe best possible condition s anticipation OF
a cholera epideHaicP There was a unanimity Of
opinion amongst the committee that the
most efficient and radical remedy would be
the destruction or removal TO sections Of the
city widely separated, of all the shanties and
dwelling houses in the valley through which
the Phalen creek runs and known as ''Swede
hollow" the digging OF trenches for drain
age from the base of the bluff TO the river
in West St Paul; the early construc-
ton OF sewer through the
flats of the Sixth ward; and the filing of all
ponds and pools on Dayton bluff which con-
tains surface water, efiluvia, etc. We would
lay special stress upon the importance Of
abating the nuisance known as s-Swede
Hollow
1t would be difficult to conceive Of a sec
ton in a more lamentable condition as re-
CARDS public health than this.
The air is impure, the jewellers are crowded
together in miserable shanties, the drinking
water is polluted, there is no sewer nor even
means of getting one. and even the ground
Itself is poisoned by Stops, garbage, refuse
matter and the excreta of the inhabitants.
We believe the best methods for dealing
with this problem, because the most radical
and thorough, would be the destruction OF
removal Of the dwelling houses in Swede
Hollow; but as special legislation would be
necessary and the question OF damage 10
property owners arise, the committee would
recommend, which they earnestly do, that
the Board of Health be vested With the power
and means TO abate the nuisances referred
to, and their efforts in this connection
viii receive the cordial co-opreation
and support OF the memb ers of this com
mittee. IL our recommendations are adopted
we believe the city will be put in a good
sanitary condition and an epidemic Of
cholera may be averted, but shoull we be
visited in spite of all precautions. the city
would at least he in a condition where the
danger from the disease will be at n mini
mum. TALBOT JOKES NJ d Sec
An opportunity was given for any one to
address the council who wished to. Mr..
William Lee spoke Of the dangerous condi-
tiou Of Trout Brook hollow, which he des-
cribed as being in q very offensive condition
and expressed the idea that it ought to be
thoroughly renovated.
tho r.
on motion of Aid. Starkey. the whole matter
was referred TO a special committee Of five
consisting of Aldermen Starkey, Van SIyke,
St Peter, Otis and O'Connor.
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS.
This board was directed TO have the follow
ing work done: To grade ST. Peter street
from Martin street to University avenue; to
grade Park avenue from Martin street 10
Sherburne avenue; to grade University
avenue from Rice street 10 Grant street: TO
construct sewer on Tenth street from Wa
bashaw street TO st. Peter street, together
with the necessary catch basins and man
holes; to grade Wabashaw street from Bluff
street to Rice street.
The same board was directed to iuYesti-
gate and report as 10 opening, widening and
1N~o setSS', mahtIE IL oV leel
wide from Fillmore avenue 10 Eaton avenue
as to opening and extending Brewster
avenue from University avenue to Bluff
street.
TIE ROBERT STREET BRIDGE.
City Engineer Somers submitted plans and
specifications for the substructure of the
Robert street bridge, and also general plans
for the completed structure as follows:
! Foundations. including excavation, piling,