The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1884-07-23
SANITARY MATTERS.
INTERVIEW WITH THE MAYOR
THIS MORNING.
The Existing Regulations State OF
City as Compared With 1886
The Mayors Idea.

The intensity of the heat this summer
Is not new topic nor Is the discussion
Of the sanitary condition ofihe city, and
the probable dire effects OF the cholera,
II II made lis appearance. II viii there
fore be of interest to those who are I'M
decided as to whether the sanitary regu-
lators are TO rend the following report
of an interview LIGIrf reporter had
with Mayor French this morning. II
will positively set Mt rest all the doubts
and feors Of that portion Of the COM
munity. The first inquiry conrieonsly
answered by the Mayor was:
What arrangements exist for the pur-
pose OF cleansing and purifying the city,
The Mayor Hillary, Main and
Alamo plazas are all sprinkled
with water daily. the city pay
ing the owners of the street sprink-
lers the sum of Sl2 10 per month for
each plaza. Military plaza is swept
daily thus keeping II entirely free of any
accumulation Of garbage caused by the
hucksters. The privles and cesspools
have their contents removed by the
Fertilizing company. Last week there
were 2i7 privies disnfected.
Reporter--What ordinances are there
on the sanitary laws and how are they
enforcedY
Mayor-Citizens are required to dis
infect their privies every week or 10
days. The city furnishes lime and sui
phate of iron for disinfccting purposes
In cases where citizens are too poor to
pay same.
Reporter How many sanitary in
spectors are therer
he Mayor-There are live inspectors
employed by the city, but it Is
great mistake people make,
they cry out for sanitary inspection and
imagine that inspectors can do more
work than the 30 carts.
Reporter-ln what spirit do the pub
lie obey the order Of the sanitary in
spectors?
The Mayor-Everybody obeys cheer
fully and without murmuring. I am
having all the cellars In tue city, par
ticularly Commerce street, cleansed and
lime put In them.
Reporter-What becomes of the or
dure and filth that il collected by the
soavengers
The Mayor-It is taken by the Fer
tilizing company and Its constituents
destroyed.
Reporter-Are the public allowed TO
place refuse In the gutter for removal by
the scavengersy
The Mayor--They are not allowed TO
do so except In boxes and barrels.
Reporter-Do you consider the sani-
tary condition Of the city improved
since 1865?
The Mayor remember In that year
all the disinfecting was done after the
cholera came here. think the sanitary
condition of the city considerably i'm
proved since that date. With regard to
the smells that have been complained of,
the privies cannot be rendered deodorous
where no system Of sewerage exists.
Reporter-In the event Of an epidemic
breaking out, what means has the city
at her command for isolation of infec-
tious cases.
The Mayor-That whole matter is in
the charge Of the committee of the Board
Of Health, appointed at it's Inst meeting.
consisting OF Drs. Herif, Tyner and
Braunnagel. 1t is the intention of this
committee AS soon rs they have formu-
lated a plan TO submit 1t TO the West
Texas Medical association for that body's
approval
In conclusion, the Mayor Informed the
reporter that the sanitary officers all
make their reports TO the City Physician
and the Street Commissioner. The Street
Commissioner has charge of all the carts,
and any nuisance is reported to the City
Physician, who Immediately takes the
necessary steps TO its removal. The
Mayor further asserted that the work of
cleansing and purifying the city was
being prosecuted vigorously by the
various officials, and the good work that
has already been done is plainly evident.