The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-07-30
Shall we Invite Cholera.

Now that there is prospect that the chol-
era will visit this country and do almost in
finite damage to places which by neglect
OF sanitary conditions invite it, the citizens
OF Boston are congratulating themselves
that their great and expensive sewer system
is completed. Formerly the sewage of Bos-
ton was discharged through open-mouthed
drains in front and rear of the city. Their
Back Bay, like ours, was a receptacle
OF the sewage of large part of the city, and
in certain conditions of the tides and atmo-
| sphere horrible exhalations arose from it
making the whole "West End'' place of
Indebtedness. The papers we're filled with
| just such communications as have appeared
in the PRESS within few weeks. The
building of the intercepting sewer carrying
the foul discharges far out to sea, where
they are pumped into the ebb tide only, has
proved complete remedy. The Herald of
| yesterday said regarding this NATTER
1t is exceedingly fortunate for the city in view of
possible contingencies. that the long work of build
| ing the new sewer has been completed. There can
be no question that in hc cities of southern France
the extension Of the disease has been largely aug
mented by the imperfect character of their sewer
| age systems. When open and foul sewers run
through denaely crowded portion of city. it
not at all strange that they should disseminate
the only two prolific seeds of disease, and if the
sewers of Boston einptied now, as they formerly
did, at vaFous points along city 'front.' discharg-
ing their streams at all stages of the tide the op-
portuniGies for dissemination of contagious mat
ter would be in every way favorable than they
ruhn nj Alnn ~
removed to long distance. The best local medical
authorities seem to be of the opinion that with
excellent liabilities and with careful administration
the part of the health authorities, there is no
reason why the disease should make its presence
felt in this city. We have spent a great deal of
money for the purpose of guarding the health of
our people and it will be source of great satisfac-
ton If it is found that these expenditures have been
one means Of preventing the sickness, suffering
and death incident to the incoming of great pes
thence
If Boston escapes, or breaks The violence
of, great epidemic by such means, it is not
too much 10 say the whole cost of the sewers
will be saved in single season. And if the
plague should strike Portland unprotected,
and prevail here during next Summer the
city will lose sum not easily calculated per-
haps. but certainly larger than necessary
improvements will cost. Think of the inn
mense money cost involved in such fleeing
from homes as that would occasion, of the
paralysis of business, of the idleness of work.
ing men, of the stunning of the city
by the crowds Of travellers, to say moth
ing of the losses by actual sickness and death.
and it will appear very clearly that to do
what is necessary to secure the public health
Is not extravaganza but certain economy
The time to provide against the peril is now.
The special committee of the City Council
and citizens is diligently at work and the City
Council last evening provided the means to
secure the advice of high expert authority
concerning the work in contemplation.
When the plans are perfected, the important
question of their prompt execution will come.
No plan, however good, that is not executed.
will serve to protect the city.
General Neal Dow's communication is an
other er pGrte and unfair presentation of the
circumstances of the occasion of the visit of
the committee of the Law and Order League
to the Mayor. In the first place he gave out
for publication only one side of the written
correspondence, suppressing the other, and
now he attempts TO give an account of what
was said at the personal interview. which ac-
count we have good reason to think is in
complete, and does further injustice to the
motives and course of the Mayor, who, how
ever, has no explanations to make in this
connection, We do not suppose that Gen
eral Dow would be wilfully unfair; but with
regard to matters of this kind he can hardly
be thought an unprejudiced witness or an
impartial reporter. We have no substantial
difference with General Dow concerning the
nature and extent of the violation Of the
laws now noticeable in this city. but
public sentiment cannot be rallied to
insist on correction of the evil by
obviously unjust treatment of those charged
with the execution of the laws, treatment
which seems more like persecution of in
dividuals than reasonable effort to secure
cooperation in public aims.