The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-10-17

{&<cessaty Tor Uerofe Measures n =
/ Frenf street. BIo<k-
Numerous complaints have been
made from time TO fine BY residents
In the CoiHaan row on Front street.
b<tween Columbia and Marion, -bout
the sanitary condition Of the open
ground 10 the rear Of the baildiags.
Attention has already been drawn 10
the cstorz that made L extremely dis
agreeable for pedestrians TO pass cer-
tain points on the block mentioned.
and any one who takes trouble 30 ex-
anlise the space in the rear vii not
be astoni he'd AZ the condition OF the
atmosphere whea lie sees the prem
ises- The tide. il Is true, approaches
and covers the area included IN the
book, bit owing . the presence Of
packing cases, barrel. boxes and other
waste matter that has been dumped
/ IN. the water filters It's way in and
back again without earring OF the
sewage which Is gradually accamulat-
| ing on the bottom The water pres
ent has not only ztagnAnt APP
pearance, but q pestIsential esFusion Of
gases. more or less destructive
20 health. Some people imagine that
salt water retains IN solution the gases
evolved during the decomposition Of
organic matter, whieh IS not only mis-
se4ding bat the cause OF many abuses.
While the salt water acts as 3 conserv-
ator, more or less. il eannet prevent
the atoms OF newly formed gases from
obeying the laws OF specific gravity
when such gases are insolnfie IL sat
water-viz: rising o..fhe surface and
diffGxing Themselves through the
atmosphere
Ii the deposits Of animal and yege-
table refuse had free egreSs 20 receae
with the tide, then the effects would be
inappFeeiable; but when coored up IN
an open space by intervening obstacles,
as in this case. the exhalauons are
more deadly than those Of malaria
breeding swamp and act rs the har-
bingers OF typhoid fever ard other
forms Of disease.
4 PosT-IsTELLIsEscEE reporter not
long ago saw heap OF purifying sal
mon lying underneath dwelling
house near the American fish market
on Marion street, which had
been ignorantly and earelessiy
thrown there by an Italian
fish dealer. Ir. Coiman, who hap
pened 10 be passing at the time, had
his attention drawn to the matter and
Immediately ordered the fish to be re-
moved by the offending person. Just
below Mr.. Buffers fish stand on the
same street, there is a foul mass OF
garbage which has been deposited
there at intervals during the night. by
whom il is not known. The authori-
ties have been on the WATCH for the
perpetrators OF the deed, but have
failed 10 detect them.
Several gentlemen from Boston who
were on business visit to Seattle dur
ing the summer. had occasion to visit
the American fish market, and one OF
them, doctor by profession, was loud
in his denunciations of the lack OF san
itary precautions shown in the vicinity
He was fervid in his praises Of the
city and its wonderful progress, but
could not understand how such q de-
feet in the eity's welfare could
be overlooked BY the authorities. In
his opinion, the exceedingly
healthy climate prevailing alone
averted the outbreak OF serious dis
ease. The only safe remedy Tor the
existing condition of things i a filing
in of the open space, bat this viii
scarcely be undertaken until the re-
placement OF the frame houses by
Stone and brick structures Ii should in
the meantime be seen 10 by the health
officer that all sewers, If any, empty
ing their contents into this space are
continued until they reach water that
viii wash the sewage Immediately
away. and that ali infractions OF the
the city laws governing health are Wis
tied with such penalties as will pre-
vent abuses and preserve the public
health,