St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-09

Inc following are the communications re-
1erred to in the foregoing:
10 the Honorable, the Mayor and the Com
mon Council of the City OF st. Paul:
GENTLEMEN: For some time past I have
Deen engaged in making a personal inspec-
non OF different parts of the city, with a view
oil ascertaining its deficiencies, their location
and the remedy. / shall first present for
your onsideration few facts aud figures in
connection with the portion Of the Fourth
ward known as ''Swede Hollow" aud the
Connemara settlement. Above the Seventh
street Gil, built down in the valley Of Phaleu
creek, are shanties 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 very poor and ignorant, especially
IN regard 10 sanitary measures. Their only
facilities for drainage are the creeks. These
OF course, carry off some of the debris. but
the most Of ii is thrown out upon the ground
or washed along aud lodged on the banks Of
the streams, and there left TO decay. The
water supply OF these people is these
streams, wells and springs. The result of
drinking water from such wells or 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 hills above them. 1t is not necessary TO
dwell on the condition of these localities.
they being well known
After careful investigation and thorough
study Of the matter from ali It's bearings. the
only solution Of this diiiiculty-in the opinion
of the Health Departments the removal Of
these people TO some other portion Of the
city where the natural drainage aud the water
supply will not be so prejudicial 10 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
will undertake voluntarily. A compulsory
removal is out Of the question, as the Coun-
ell decided at their last meeting their re-
moval If accom- plshed, must be al the ex-
pense Of the city. If this is favorably con-
sidcred. committee should be appointed 10
secure another location, estimate cost etc,
and report rs soon as possible when action
can be taken.
FLATS IL THE SIXTH WARD.
Emanating from the bluffs in West St
Paul are a 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 stagnating
from year 10 year accumulating 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
II possible than the Health Department to
have the nuisance abated, and some OF them
have, while others are now filing their res
pectiye lots, but with the steady supply from
the springs this procedure makes no material
difference as regards general results. The
flats are fat, and when one lot is filed the
water simply seeks its level somewhere else.
A large main sewer is more than badly
needed-commencing several blocks west of
Dakota avenue aud running east to the river.
the necessary steps for the construction of
which should not be delayed. The idea is
practicable, as there is fall Of one foot in a
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 TO have filed 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 all
sewers, often, at regular intervals, especially
during winter mOnths-sewer gas is createu
probably nearly as much in cold weather as
warm, and as fresh air is excluded so much
fpO Il -
injurious effects OF the gas, when It does OBJ
tain an entrance, is therefore greatly in
creased.
We do not want nor wish TO
be sensational nor exaggerate,
and have endeavored to present
nothing but plain unvarnished facts in this
communication, but with a strong probable
ity OF a cholera invasion in the spring, if not
sooner, the necessity of vigorous aud i'm
mediate action is apparent 10 all, by all
universally conceded and not only
conceded but demanded. These
locations that l have called your attention to,
think no one who has examined them will
deny that they are veritable hot beds for the
reception and propagation of disease germs,
and, under the present circumstances, they
cannot be regulated too soon but they are on
large scale and we need your assistance.
Vast sums of money and labor have been
expended in Paris during the past season in
sanitary precautions, and when the dread dis
ease has been carried into their midst by tray
eler from the infected districts 1T finds the city
to considerable extent prepared, and what
might have been a terrible scourge, now bids
fair to be held in abeyance. will quote a
few extracts from cablegram OF November
10Th: "Cholera as disease in Paris is fast
81 1ar lfv,rr I..-a
ing their eXhortations to the authorities. as
well as to the people, to use every precaution
in their power to combat not only its present
attack, but to provide measures for the com.
plete stamping out of the scourge." They
say: THAT any feeling of security during
the present winter, even liz the event of the
total disappearance of the epidemic, is false,
for the latent germs of the disease are likely
TO be excited into quick life on the first APP
proach of the coming summer. Crowds of
fugitives are already filling the London
hotels.'
1t is suggested by appointment members of
the government, that the city of Paris bor-
row so, 200, 900 francs and expsnd it in san
itarily improving the capital But to return
to st. Paul, it will do no harm to look at these
suggested improvements from a financial
point, we have only to assist nature in a
proper manner and our city can be made
second to none in the world in this matter
of health. Do it, and if the cholera reaches
our seaport cities you will get dollars back
where cents were expended.
In conclusion, will only remind you of
the fact that when you strike blow against
cholera, you are duplicating the same action
against diphtheria, scarlet and typhoid
fevers. Very respectfully,
HENRY +. Horn. NJ. D.,
President Board of Health.
Nov. 90, 1884.
Hon. G. ID. O'Brien. Mayor Of St. Paul: