St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-05
humanity could to protect our people against
its dangers. c. d. O'BRIKS, Mayor.
Novem Der o. 1884

/ 10 tne hOnOraOlc, the Mayor anu the ION
mon Council OF the City of St. Paul:
GENTLEMEN: For some time past | have
been engaged in making a personal inspec-
ton of different parts of the city, with view
OF ascertainiug its deficiencies, their location
and the remedy. I shall first present fol-
your consideration few facts and figures in
connection with the portion Of the Fourth
ward known as ''Swede Hollow" and the
! Connemara settlement. Above the Seventh
street I'll, built down in the valley Of Phaleu
creek, are shaDties 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 to sanitary measures. Their only
facilities for drainage are the creeks, these,
of course, carry off 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 or streams is
too well known 10 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 investigation and thorough
study of the matter from all its bearings. the
only solution of this dificulty-in the opinion
of the Health Department-is the remol al OF
these people 10 some other portion OF the
city where the natural drainage aud the water
supply will not be so preiudicisl to their own
and the public health as their present site I;
but removal at this or any Other season Of the
year means 10 these people expense and
hardship, neither of which they
will undertake voluntarily. A mpulsory
removal is out of the question, as the Conn
Gil decided at their last meeting their re-
moval if accom- plished, must be at the ex-
pense of the city. II this is favorably con-
sidered. committee should be appointed 10
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 ia 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
latteriy this stream mas been com pletely
obliterated by the construction OF street and
other improvements, and the water now col
lects in pools which lay there staguating
from year TO year accumulatng 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 an xious
If possible than the Health Department to
have the nuisance abated, and some OF them
how xynfl 10 f,fu hi
pective lots, but With the steady supply from
the springs this procedure makes no material
difference as regards general results The
fats are fiat, and when Que lot is filled the
water simply seeks its level somewhere else.
A large main sewer is more than badly
ELECTROMAGNETIC several blocks west of
Dakota avenue and running east to the river.
The necessary steps for the construction OF
which should pot be delayed. The idea is
practicable there is 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 endeavoring TO have filled by the own
ers; II do not succeed | shall ask your
assistance later. Now that We shall shortly
be in possession OF such magnificent water
supply, provision should be made to flush all
sewers, Often, at regular intervals, especially
during winter months-sewer gas is created
probably nearly as much in cold weather as
warm, and as fresh air is excluded SO much
more from dwellings during cold weather, the
injurious effects of the gas, when it does OBJ
tain an enhance, is therefore greatly in
creased.
We do not want nor wish To
be sensational nor exaggeratp.
and have endeavored TO present
nothing but plain unvarn shed facts in this
communication, but with a strong PROBABLE
ity of a cholera invasion in the spring, If not
sooner, the necessity of vigorous and i'm
mediate action is apparent to all, by all
universally conceded aud not only
conceded but demanded. These
locations that have called your attention To-.
/. think 40 Que who has examined them will
deny that they are yerItabe not beds for the
reception and propagation OF disease germs,
and, under the present cireum stances, 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 in to their midst bv tray.
eler from the infected districts 1t fluids the city
to a considerable extent prepared, aud what
might have been a terrible scourge, now bid.
fair To be held in allegiance. / will quote n
few extracts from cablegram of November
18th: ''Cholera as a disease in Paris is fas
subsiding, the best medical experts are unit
ing their exhortatons to The authorities, a.
well as to the people, to use every pracaution
in their power to com hat 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 durin 2
the present winter, even ir 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
p.oach of the coming summer. Crowds OF
fugitives are already hling the London
hotels"
1t is suggested by prominent members of
the govern IN emit that the city Of Paris hor-
row 50,000,000 francs and expend 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 financial
point we have only to assist nature in q
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 we're 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 F. HoYT, NJ. D.,
President Board of Health.
Hon. c. d. O'Brien. Mayor of ST. Paul:
SIR: AT meeting of the Ramsey County
Medical society, held on the evening of ia,
oath inst, a committee of physicians were
appointed, two from each ward of the city
viz: First j. Fl. Murphy and H. F. Hoyt;
Second, Park Richey and Talbot Jones
Third, D. w Hand and c. E. Smith: Fourth