Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-01-28
REVIVAL OF THE SANITARY DISCUS.
SION

If the RECORD. UNION felt disposed to
boast it would be justified beyond question
regarding its position on the sanitation OF
this city, by the report of the Citizens
COMMITTEE on drainage, and which we
published in full on Saturday.
The committee, after reporting in every
detail regarding cesspools, drainage and
sewerage, as this journal held ten months
ago, remarks
This season is too far advanced to admit of our
city's being properly cleaned, through the medium
Of sewerage system in time to insure good SAM
tary condition of affairs before the next heated
term and subsequent comparatively unhealthy
| fall months are upon us.
In other words, had the people of this
city taken proper action last spring we
would now be one year advanced in neoes-
sary sanitation. But as we have not taken
such action even yet, we cannot do any
thing as it should be done and arrive at
effective results before the expira.
ton of another year. Thus we lose
two years of time in matter, the
Importance of which should rise superior
to all other considerations. 1t is incom-
prehensible that in the government of
municipalities we give greater attention to
minor details than to grave matters. Above
all questions of boards, offices, elections,
etc, rises the sanitation necessity.
Now that the citizens association-con-
corning the disinterestedness of which some
citizens at one time made an unjust esti-
mate-has, after patient investigation, de.
clared in favor of given system of sewer.
age, let ii be taken up, discussed and
officially acted upon at once, that another
years time may not be lost. We must
keep constantly in mind, also, that the
longer we delay in this matter the more
difficult it will be to apply remedies, and
tue greater will be the outlay to accom-
plish reforms.
In the mean time, says The Association,
wemust o. clean out the drainage canal; (2)
flush tie sewers; 81 provide excavators +;
AZ rigidly require on the part of house
holders the observance of the present and
such other sanitary regulations as may be
necessary.
Whether this is done will depend
upon the officials of the city. If
5hey have the requisite courage and firm
ness, in Sacramento great good work may
be accomplished, the benefits of which
VIII be SO clearly manifest that in less
than year there viii be no man with the
eHrontery to deny them. But the boards
Of officials viii encounter three classes of
people who will prove to be hindrances in
the work, which, if done at all, should be
commenced at once. These are the mer-
cenary, who are willing, to save q penny,
to assume all risks as to themselves, ard
care nothing for their neighbors the in
different, who have no particular enmity
to nor faith in the discoveries and edicts of
sanitary science the nonresident land
lords, who will resist for the most part
anything that calls for outlay for people
among whom they do not reside. In ad-
dition, the fear OF political revenges may
lead TO temporizing policy, We shall
very soon be abe to determine how far we
may expect sanitary reform to be carried
on in Sacramento. We confess to having
very little faith that any material progress
viii be made, until politics and municipal
yr7,,sr,,r,..,+ ara 1;,-o~osl I'D L,,--,.o--
principles applied to city sanitation.