St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-05

mon Council OF the City Of st. Paul:
GENTLEMEN: For some time past / have
been engaged in making 9 personal inspec-
ton Of different parts Of the city, with view
OF ascertaining its deficiencies, their location
and the remedy. / shall first present for
your consideration few facts and figures in
connection with the portion Of the Fourth
ward known as "Swede Hollow" aud the
Connemara settlement Above the Seventh
street fill, built down in the valley Of Phaen
creek, are shauties for one hundred families:
between Seventh and Fourth streets; same
valley between Lafayette avenue and Fourth
street. are sixty families. A large majority Of the
people are We ~ poor and ignorant, especially
in regard TO sanitary measures. Their only
facilities for drainage are the creeks, these,
of course, carry of some of the debris, but
the most of It is thrown out upon the ground
or washed along and lodged on the banks Of
the streams, and there left TO decay. The
water supply of these people are these
streams, wells and springs. The result OF
drinking water from such wells OF streams is
too well known to mention, and their springs
cannot be much better, they being simply
the natural drainage from the inhabitants of
the bills above them. 1t is not necessary to
dwell on the condition of these localities.
they being well known.
After careful investig alton and thorough
study of the matter from all its bearings. the
only solution of this dfiiculty-in the opinion
of the Health DEPARTMENTS the remoI al of
these people to some other portion of the
city where the natural drainage and the water
supply will not be so preiudicial to their own
and the public health as their present site;
but removal at this or any Other season Of the
year means TO these people expense and
hardship, neither Of which they
viii undertake voluntarily. A compulsory
removal is out Of the question, as the Coun-
ell decided at their last meeting their re-
moval If accomplished, must be at the ex-
pense of the city. II this is favorably con-
sidered. committee should be appointed to
secure another location, estimate cost, ETC.,
and report as soon as possible when action
can be taken.
FLATS IN THE SIXTH WARD.
Emenating from the bluffs in West St.
Paul are series of living springs, each one
contributing a certain quantity of water
which formerly was carried away by a small
stream which ran along the foot of the bluffs !;
latterly this stream mas been completely
obliterated by the construction Of streets and
other Improvements, and the water now col
lects in pools which lay there stagu ating
from year to year accommodating garbage,
dead animals and other material detrimental
to health. With the kind assistance OF City
Engineer Somers, and Abstract Clerk Passa-
want, description of the property covered
with these ponds and the names of the own
ers was obtained, and visit TO whom dis
closed the fact that they were more anxious
If possible than the Health Department To
have the nuisance abated, and some of them
have, while others are now filling their res
pective lots, but with the steady supply from
the springs this procedure makes no material
difference as regards general results. Toe
flats are fiat, and when one lot is filled the
water simply seeks its level somewhere else.
A large main sewer is more than badly
needed-com mencing several blocks west OF
Dakota avenue and running east TO the river.
The necessary steps for the construction OF
which should not be delayed. The idea is
practicable as there is n fall of one foot in
thousand along the proposed route. After
the sewers will come the water works and the
per cent of zymotic disease in the Sixth
ward can be brought To at least an equality
with the rest OF the city, instead of being
greatly in the excess as previous reports
show.
The stagnant pools on the side of the river
/ am endeavoriug 10 have filled by the own
ers; If do not succeed l shall ask your
assistance later. Now that we shall shortly
be in possession of such a magnificent water
supply, provision should be made to flush an
sewers, often, at regular intervals, especially
during winter months-sewer gas is created
probably nearly as much In cold weather as
warm, aud as fresh air is excluded so much
more from dwellings during cold weather the
injurious effects OF the gas, when IL does OBJ
tain an enhance, is therefore greatly in
creased.
We do not want nor wish Il
be sensational nor exaggerate.
and have endeavored to present
nothing but plain unvarDsbed facts in this
communication, but with a strong probabil-
ity OF cholera invasion in the spring, il no;
sooner, the necessity Of vigorous and i'm
mediate action is apparent 10 all, by al
universally conceded aud not only
conceded but demanded. These
locations that have called your attention 10.
| think no one who has examined them will
deny that they are verltable hot beds for the
reception and propagation OF disease germs,
aud. under the present circumstances, they
cannot be regulated too soon. bat they are OF
large scale and We need your assistance.
Vast sums of money and LABOR have been
sanitary precautions, and when the dread dis
ease has been carried into their midst by a tray
eler from the infected districts 1t finds the cit
to a considerable extent prepared. and wha
might have been a terrible S.Ourge. now bid
fair 10 be held in aoeyance. / will quote
few extracts from a cabieg ram of Novembe
10Th: ''Choera as disc ase il Paris is fAs
sU5siding, the best medi cal experts are unit
ing their exhortations 10 the authorities, 4
well as TO the people, 10 use every precautiou
in their power 70 COMBAT not only it's preseu
attack, but TO provide measures for the com
pletc stamping out of the scourge." The
say: ''rnat any feeling of security duriu,
the present winter, even ir the event Of tn
total disappearance of the epidemic, is false
for the latent germs Of the disease are lillel
to be excited into quick life on the first ap
p'oach Of the coming summer. Crowds o
fugitves are already iiiing The Londol
hotels"
1t is suggested by prominent members. o.
the government. that the city Of Paris Dor
row $4,000, 900 francs and expend it ia. s&n
itarily improving the capital. But to ,elurI
TO st. Paul, ii will 40 no harm TO look at thes
suggested improvements from a fiuancia
point, we have only TO assist nature in
proper manner and our city can be mad,
second to none in the world in this matte
OF health. Do it, and if the cholera reaehs
our seaport cities you will get dollars bael
where cents were expended.
In conclusion, / will only remind you @
the fact that when you strike blow agafns
cholera, yo0 are duplicatin Z the same acton
against diphtheria, scarlet aud typhoi
levers Very respectfully,
HENRY F. Horn, NJ D.,
President Board of Wealth.
Hon. G. D. O'Brien, Mayor of 81 Paul:
SIR: Al meeting of the Ramsey Corn
Medical society, held on the evening OF u
oath inst, a committee of physicians we
appointed, two from each ward of the elf
viz: First, j. H. Murphy and II F. HOY
Second, Park Ricbey ard Talbot Jon,
Third, D. w. Hand snaC. E Smiths Four
laninl Iaasnre AMI s. p. CnnlIo.. I,.a