Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-07-16


to the middle of next winter. We have in |
our local economy system of disposal of
filth that is bad. Thus far it has not had
any serious results, but that is no reason
for supposing it will not punish us in due
time If we continue the system of storing
up filth in pits and pools the earth OF the
whole area of the city will be saturated
with poisonous matter High waters IN
winter that penetrate and rise in the soil,
to some extent probably, cleanse the earth,
but by no means III proportion to the speed
with which we pollute it. These remarks
apply also to several other valley towns
that follow our system. What we need to
do now is to absolutely cleanse and then
disinfeet every cesspool and filth pit and
drain in the city. This can be done.
1t is entirely possible to be done in every
town. 1t will cost something to do it. But
better investment no city can possibly
make. Summer is not the best time to
undertake it, but it is far better to do it
than not to do it at all this year. 1t is per-
fectly certain that this proposition will be
hooted by some, laughed at by others, and
declared with all seriousness as wholly I'M
necessary by still others. Nevertheless, it
remains that it is the advice of the very
best and most experienced sanitarians OF
the day. 1t is justified by experience and
by reason, and is on the safe side at all
events. To remove from this city, for in
stance, the matter from some three thou
sand cesspools and filth pits, removes
exactly that number of invitations to
cholera, yellow fever, diphtheria and other
filth diseases. 1t will reduce by many more
times the number multiplied into itself,
the chances of cholera or yellow fever do
ing us much damage when they come. 1t
will repay in the added confidence it will
give the people, which in itself is a strong
barrier to disease. Between this date and
the 1st of September, we repeat, it is pos
sible to render comparatively harmless the
several thousand cesspools and filth pits
and foul drains in this city We believe the
city authorities possess ample power to that
end. since the municipal charter and sup
Elemental Acts give them almost if not
absolutely arbitrary power over all health
and police matters of regulation. If the
cleansing process should cost $4,000 in this
city, as it probably would, though it would
be less in most other valley towns, 1t would
be the best investment this people ever
made, even should we escape the cholera
this year, though the belief obtains that it
is on its onward and invincible march about
the globe. The cost, whatever it may be, can
be so distributed among the people that it
will not be seriously felt. In addition to
this we should, at the cost of the munich
pality, expend not less than half as much
more in rendering our public drains and the
filthy disease-breeding pond in the north
west part of the city harmless, if that is
possible at less labor than filling it in. At
least it can be greatly controlled in its
threat of harm to the city, and good work can
also be done on the pools south of the city.
If we wait until the cholera arrives, it will
result in the expenditure for the sick and
poor of three times the sum We may now
judiciously use to avert disease from them.
The city of Toulon, in France, drained
her closets and filthy matter into depres-
sion in the basin of her harbor. For a
number of years there was no percepuble
result. But few weeks ago the depository
began to be noticeable as especially often
sive. Then Toulon awoke to the fact that
one of two things must happen, the place
must be cleansed and disinfected or an cpl
demic would result. While the Council
was celebrating and hearing the protests
of the people who had mo fears" ship
came in from Tong-King Bay. The next
day case of cholera was reported in the
harbor and the next but one there were
ten cases, all located around the pest hole
in the harbor Then the enemy crawled
up the drains and foul pipes leading from
the receptacle to the heart of the city. In
ten days, out of the Il 900 people in Toulon,
$4,000 had fled. The poor and those Of the
middle classes, who had not the means to
fly, still remain and suffer, and are liable
not only to the disease but to starvation.
In Marseilles, though the cholera has
been located there but two weeks, The dis
patches to-day say that 1900 victims
have fallen before it, business is
wholly suspended, and now rioters
hold the city at their mercy,
not uncommon result of plague visitation
in European countries. Our own Govern
ment has become alarmed, and has taken
measures to enforce strict quarantine as
against infected ports and to supervise bills
of health of ships sailing from European
ports with more than ordinary care. The
work of disinfection of the tenement
house sections began in New York yester-
day In San Francisco the Health Officer
has advised the authorities of the proba-
| bility of the introduction of the cholera
| into this country, and the necessity of at
once" placing that city in the very best pos
| sible sanitary condition. lie adds words,
in advising liberal expenditure to this end,
that apply with equal force to this city:
The expenditure of a few thousand dollars at
llllS time may save HldllN valuable IVES M H.
calCulable amount of distress and very large
| expenditure of money. Even if we should be
| so fortunate as to escape the horrors of this
plague, the expenditure of this money would
put the city in a sanitary condition which would
| lessen our death rate and materially reduce the
| amount of sickness prevailing.
If we act now, and energctically, we can
view the approach of the cholera with
comparative composure, and by the cour-
age we give the people contribute very
largely to the exclusion Of the plague since
fear has a great deal to do with the spread
| of the disease
TIME TO COME HOME.
If the editor of the Oakland Times was