Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1884-08-01
THE SANITARY CONDITION OF wIcH-
TIA.

| 10 the Editor IF tie Daily Eagle:
| am not scientist OF such preientions
as to be able to give to the readers of your
paper a correct statement of the length of
time required under given climatic condi-
lions to cause the formation OF disease
germs and their prevalence in the atmos
phere in city whose streets and alleys
present an appearance similar to those Of
Wichita; yet the many pallid faces one
meets every day as well as the rapidly
growing business of our undertakers would
seem to indicate that We needn't await the
result Of the chemical Investigations in
order to ascertain the probable outcome OF
| all this accumulation OF nth in our city. In
my humble opinion there j. little to be
feared by our citizens iroin the spread OF
the cholera from France or other foreign
countries, as that dread disease could GER
tainly be generated in this city long before
it could reach u from acres, the waters, il
We enforce no sanitary laws. But you ask,
what are we to doy The answer would
seem to be this That, whereas,
the statutes of Kansas Comp.
Laws, See. 800 place it upon
the "mayor and council of each city gov
erned by this act to enact ordinances for a
number OF specified purposes, among which
many be found: For the benefit of trade
and commerce and the health of the nhab-
itants thereof" 1t should be the special
work of each and every citizen TO inform
our city fathers as to their statutory duty.
Ii may be that our council has already en-.
acted ordinances for the latter of the above
mentioned purposes, but IL so il is obvious
that their enforcement has been sadly
neglected. 1t is probable that all the towns
in the states east of here, and perhaps most
Of them in this state, have long ere this
been cleared OF all rubbish and garb-
age that could generate disease, though
many of these towns were comparatively
clean before any extra eXertiOn was put
forth; for their streets are well graded and
their cutters are in good working candition
at all times Of the year, while the waste
substances from hotels. restaurants and
private dwellings are all conveyed
pigs, etc I. long before they are allowed TO
decOmp0se and become nOXiOus. Ii il
possible that. in Wichita, the demand for
slops by pork raisers is not SO great as else
where; yet ii is certainly fact that the
cost Of conveying the waste material from
public houses as well as from the private
dwellings, or o. otherwise dispOsing OF the
same, even if paid for by the owners of the
property themselves, would not be too great
to admit of consideration. Certain it is |;
that the expense thus incurred would be |
infinitely less than the unreasonable cost |
OF the prevalence Of some dreadful disease
in our midst. Would it be asking too much |
OF the prOprietors OF our innumerable no. |
tells and restaurants,-each of whom has, |
daily, many more customers than he can |
properly feed,-to use small per cent OF |
their net earnings in cleaning up that which |
their business has necessarily made |
in the way OF disease.producing
the city-the taxpayers themselyes--ca
well afford to defray the expense incurred
in the enforcement OF such sanitary regula-
tons as would be effectual in the premises.
II it is deemed too much to compel the
property owners to each keep his own
premises clean, the cost Of doing the work
by means OF appropriations from the COM
mon fund would not be so great As to be
startling: and the peoples money could
easily be put to use less beneficial to the
public.
Wichita. one would think from her loca-
ton and environment, is naturally healthy
city yet the under-stratum found here aud
our arrangements for water supply are such
hat great care mnst be exercised in order
20 preserve that healthy condition through
he hot summer months. A little exeriion
On the part of the council, If done at
ouce. would. in ali human probability, save
several lives and much suffering, besides
iispellng the Tears Of those who may want
o::come TO our otherwise prosperous town
o make it their home; which any consider
ble delay on the part Of the aforesaid
,oard might be productive OF very grave
Ind serious consequences.
Let each citizen constitute himself a
special committeeman to advocate the cause
II health and decency before our municipal
legislature, aud plead earnestly aud long
or an early consideration and adjustment
II this very important matter.