The Wilmingtonian., 1885-06-20
CLEAN THE CITY,

err in this cousiry during the summer the
Board of Apportionment and Estimate or
New York city has granted the sum of $3.50
900 as fund to be applied to the puIrose
OF cleansing the city in anticipation of the
approach of cholera. The municipal au-
thorities ofNew York city consider that the
condition of the cholera plague in Europe.
fully warrants the precautions they propose
undertaking and have agreed upon plan Of
inspection and removal of garbage, rubbish
and refuse from the tenement house dis
tricts
This work, as the Herald says constitutes
special service in view of what is consid-
cred all emergency
Now il this emergency exist aud there ap-
pears to be the best of reasons to give the
suppostion fair credence, a relative respun-
sibility rests upon the Health Boards of
other communities, therefore upon ours of
Wilmington. In New York city the au-
thorities have employed for the district
South of Fourteenth street, one hundred
and ten persons and ficty-fve carts, and as
many men aud vehicles as may be necessary
will be allowed for other sections of the
city. This is in preparation Of what the au-
thorities consider very possible advent of
the cholera plague.
We have no wealthy Board Of Apportion-
ment in Wilmington nor any excess of funds
in the municipal Golfers applicable to spec
ial service. But if the emergency demands
an expenditure, such expenditure must be
made. Other municipal authorities eonsid-
er the matter one of serious Importance call
ing for immediate exertion and practical ac-
tion. Wise counsel will not be Indifferent
at this moment.
The citizens would ask the Health author
tiles of Wilmington for plain concise
statement as to the sanitary condition of
this city. Can our Health Board rerort,
for the satisfaction of the people Of Will
mington that the city is in IA good sanitary
condition.
How is Wilmington prepared to ward of
the approach of cholera. Should there be
an extended term of hot weather, arc the
city authorities supplied with plentiful
store of water for generous and oft-repeat-
ed flushing Of sewers and guttersP Are or
dinary health laws, those commonly sugges-
tive to any intelligent citizen observed?
The writer while stroliug up King street
the other day, saw two, vegetable trucker
seated upon crates alongside the gutter be-
tween them was large crate of semi-docay-
ed tomatoes, quite unfit for human food,
this they were industriously sorting, and
leisurely throwing the bad fruit into the
gutter alongside them, The attention OF
some butchers doing business in the neigh
boihood was called to the incident, they re-
piled that it was not au unusual sight.
Now it is a fact, no matter what brilliant
reports Of the sanitary condition of this city,
we may so often read, it is fact that at
times, and not very seldom, there is a most
shameful stencil arising from the King
street cutters. Numerous citizens will at
test the statement 1t should be stated
however, to the credit of the butchers along
that street that they are most Industrious in
the practice of the virtue of cleanliness
Some of their stalls are very models of order
and purity. The citizens of Wilmington
have right to ask why ordinary health
laws are allowed to be iafrnged in the open,
unhindered way referred to.
In other parts of the city noisome stencil
es arise from the open brick runuels that
traverse the public pavement. This is au-
other fact that our citizens will attest
Worse than that fecal matter has been seen
in these runLels. To see kitchen refuse
thrown out in this way is also not at all un-
usual.
1t would be matter of more practical
and intelligent qualification to us to hear
and see that these minor details of SANTA
ton were looked after with close attention
by the authorities, than to read the oft-quo-
ted tabulations of the comparative health
statistics of different cities showing Will
mington to be the healthicst city in the
IInion