Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-11-09

quite NUMBER was caused Dy COuSulnp-
ton, two died from the effect of gunshot
wounds, and four were reported by the
Coroner. The report was carefully COM
pared with the attending physicians re-
ports, some irregularities were discovered,
and the Secretary was instructed to inform
the Superintendent of the City Cemeteries
that he must in all cases, where il is posi-
bic, secure the physicians certificate in
cases where post-mortem examinations are
held.
The bond of II. W. Earle, as a master
plumber, was received, accepted and placed
on file
On last Monday the Board of Trustees,
at their regular session, decided to attend
the meeting of the Board of Health, and
agree upon some plan of action whereby
both Boards could act in harmony. and
thereby accomplish the greatest good.
Trustee Nielsen was the only one who put
in an appearance. He said he was very
sorry that his colleagues had failed to be
present. As he was only one of the Board,
he did not feel at liberty to make any
promises. He said the Board of Health
was well aware of the fact that the last tax
levy was made prior to the passage by the
Legislature of the Act creating the Office of
Inspector of Plumbing, consequently there
was no fund out of which the salary of
that official could be properly paid, and
there would be none until next year
DIR. Cluness-This bill of Mr.. Bassett's.
the Plumbing Inspector, amounts to but
little-only $7o-and it does seem that there
should be some fund out of which it could
be paid Out of what fund has bills which
have been contracted in the interest of the
health of the city been paid
Trustee Nielsen-0ut of the street fund
generally, and that is so nearly exhausted
that | object to any further drain. The
amount in that fund now is entirely too
small to admit of my doing work which is
very much needed upon the streets.
Another gentleman asked the Street Com
missioner out of what fund the $1,000 was
taken for the fireworks, etc, at the late
Fourth of July celebration.
The Street Commissioner answered, out
of the general fund, and added that he was
willing, as one member of the Board of
Trustees, to allow the bill to be paid out of
that fund. He said he was very sorry that
Mayor Brown was not present, for it was
the latter's special province to look after
the city finance. Speaking for himself, he
said that he had assisted the Health Officer
at all times and i'll every way possible so
far as he could in his official capacity. He
said the amount due for such work in 1885
could not be paid out of taxes levied and
collected in 1886.
DR.. Nichols then read the section of the
code which made it obligatory upon the
Board of Health to appoint an Inspector
of Plumbing. They had done so, and he
hoped the Trustees would be able to see
some way by which the small expense in
Cured could be paid.
DR.. Cluness said the Board of Health had
been endeavoring to put the city in as good
n nd
kept the expenses down, not spending a
single cent that was not actually necessary
to protect the health Of the city. He did
not believe there was another Board of
Health in the United States that was more
economical or could make a better show
ing. During the past few months he had
visited number of cities where large
amounts were expended for the protection
of the health and the reputation of their
communities. Where this Board spends
cents other communities spend dollars, and
it is money well expended 1t was too bad,
he said, that the Board of Health, instead
of being handicapped, could not be met
with the same spirit that they manifest
themselves. For twenty years he had
served upon the Board of Health of Sacra-
mento, had given his time, and money, too,
and made strenuous efforts to improve the
sanitary condition of the city. The Board
of Health he thought, should be met with
a spirit that would tend to encourage them
in the good work, which is in the interest
of the whole people. He said this matter
was trihing, so far as the amount involved
was concerned, and the Trustees should
make some provision, in some way, to as
sist the Board in their endeavors TO i'm
prove the health of the city
Trustee Nielsen said he was willing that
-sel,., ii H.. 4 :
but he could not speak for the absent
members of the Board of Trustees How
ever he would lay the matter before them
at their next meeting, and he had no doubt
but that the matter would be settled salts
factorily to the Board of Health
Health Officer Ferral said that he wished
to corroborate the statements made by the
Street Commissioner. The latter had at all
times, both day and night, rendered him
all the assistance in his power, and per
sonally inspected the Chinese quarters
several times with him. Mr. Ferral then
stated that in his opinion a majority
of the cases of remittent fevers in the city
was directly traceable to imperfect plumb
ing and foul cesspoOls He called at a
residence, one day last week, almost in the
heart of the city, and found the entire
household. down with fever He asked
the lady of the house where the cesspool
was located, and she said in the basement.
Taking lantern, and crawling around
amongst a lot of rubbish, he found the
cesspool, which was OVERLOOKING Put
ting stick down, he found it
filled with solid matter to within
one foot of the surface. A wooden ventil-
ator from the sewer passed up along the
side of the house, the opening at the top
was on level with window, and all the
poisonous gases carried up by it found their
way into the building. There were no
traps in the pipes, and every washstand
and sink in that building was a ventilator
for the gases arising from that foul recepta-
Gle of filth. He did not wonder at the
family being sick; his only establishment
was that they were not all dead He did
not doubt but that many such cases exist in
the city. He was using all due diligence to
find them, and wherever a case of fever
was heard of, an immediate examination
was made. He believed the law relative to
plumbers, passed at the last Legislature, was
a good one, and if the Boards hands were
not tied in this matter all the new build
ings, and the old ones that are being re-
paired, would be constructed and remodeled
in such a manner that cases like the one
Just referred to could not occur. He said
he hoped the Board of Health would
change their rules and regulations so as to
conform with the statute and not conflict
with existing city ordinances. Then, he
said, an ordinance could be passed by the
Trustees that would enable the officers to
convict and punish all who refused to COM
ply with the law
Trustee Nielsen said the present regula-
tons of the Board of Health permitted the
discharge of solid matter into the sewers,
which was in conflict with a city ordi-
nance. He said he had been informed that
such connection had been made with a
sewer, by permission of the Plumbing In
spector.
DR.. Lame asked the Board if they had al
any time consented to allow the Plumbing
Inspector 10 permit parties to connect
water-closets directly with The sewers.
Plumbing Inspector Bassett. in response
to the question of DR.. Lame, read that sec.
ton of the regulations referred to by Mr.
Nielsen. and which he Interpreted to give
him that power. He had become convinced
that it was not the proper thing to do, and
the one referred TO was the only case where
such connection had been made.
Dr. Cluness-We desire to modify oul
rule and regulations, so they will comply
with all existing ordinances. 1t would bt
well to have them rewritten, and all the