The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-08
THE THREE DIS AGAIN.
DIRT. DISEASE AND DEGRADATION
BROUGHT HOME TO MEMPHIS.
A Serious Menace to the Health of the
City Fostered by a Certain Glass of
Careless Citizens--several Remedies
Suggested.

| q EiiP " w
There must be cause for IL beyond
what appears to the naked eye or common
understanding.
! A general impression prevails among
the city authorities that this is the result
OF woeful abuse heaped upon the sanitary
service by certain class OF citizens The
opinion OF these gentlemen on the subject
may be accepted as reliable. They are
confronted with complaints almost daily,
have reports from the sanitary officers to
guide them, and find in every case SINH
lar line OF causes existing.
The attention of The APPEAL was first
| directed TO this undesirable fact by side
| discussion IN the Legislative Council at its
meeting Friday afternoon. Itcame upoyer
the petition OF Mr.. o. ii. Robertson for an
| extension OF the sewer system to two
houses he was erecting in the southeastern
part OF the city. Some members of the
council did not see how it was to be done,
in the face OF scarcity OF funds. Capt.
James Lee, jr., using the presence OF
smallpox as basis, referred in very forci-
able language to the unsanitary condition
OF the city. The captain said, in substance:
Both the sewer system and water
mains are in close proximity to the site OF
MIR. Robertson's houses, and am in favor
OF granting the petition il there is posi-
bility OF doing so. III there was more
earnestness among the people in this
direction, IL would be healthy sign. II
is too often the case that where there are
sewer connections no attention is paid TO
sanitary measures. Rather than pay
paltry sum for waterworks connections
the occupants OF houses flush closets with
buckets OF water, or make pretense OF so
doing. II is not difficult TO see how
loosely the work is done. The trouble is
that We permit people TO build these cheap
up-and-down houses. Force them 10 con-
meet with the sewers, and there the regu-
lation stops. The houses are rented TO
colorcd people, or an inferior class OF
whites. These tenants do not feel COM
PEELED TO pay for the water service, the
owner will not do so, and there the UNI
sanitary condition OF the premises begins.
| believe we should pass an ordinance re-
quiring water connection wherever sewer
connection exists"
but can we legally pass an ordinance
OF that kind?' inquired COL Randle.
1--WE can pass any kind OF law de-
manded by good sanitation" replied the
captain.
Councilman Graham went still further
in his views ON the subject, pointing out
where the worst sort OF imposition was
practiced upon the garbage, and there
fore sanitary department. In this depart
ment there were only about TWENTY-FIVE
carts employed, which consumed the en-
tire levy for that service. Were these
carts to take an early start and work faith
fully as long MS daylight continued, il
would be barely possible for them TO
cover the city in less than two DAYS. The
carts are sent TO every part OF the city,
Chelsea to Fort Pickering, and away out
10 the eastern limits. No matter where
the load was taken ON, II all had TO be
conveyed TO the city dumpboat, foot of
ltcalc street. From the Chelsea end of
the city the distance il fully three miles,
and from the lower end very nearly IA far.
MIR. Graham favored the erection OF Gre
matories in Chelsea and Fort Pickering,
where animal and vegetable matters
should DO burned, and thus DESTROYED
without the long and costly haul
Speaking more directly 10 the point OF
imposition, Mr.. Graham referred 10 the
great mass and variety OF garbage matter
the carts were called upon 20 handle.
These included stray Jumps Of coal, brick
bats, pieces Of wood, ashes, bone. and
stray plumber Of every character Where.
ever cellar was cleaned out, in obedience
10 instructions from the sanitary inspectors
or otherwise, the accumulation was thrown
upon the streets and remained there until
called for by the garbage department.
This was radically wrong, a gricvous im.
position. The ordinance governing the
removal Of garbage applied only 10 animal
aud vegetable or perishable matter, which
in state OF decomposition produced
disease and death. Because Of heavy de.
mands, caused by the grieyous imposition,
tho real object Of the garbage departments
creation was seriously impaired. In some
instances the cellar and general house
clearings amounted 10 half a dozen cart
loads.
Mr. Graham did not think this imposi-
ton should bc allowed 10 longer continue.
All garbage, other than OF the animal aud
vegetable or perishable kind, should be re-
moved by those responsible for II. Were
= regulation Of this character established,
the expense would fall lightly upon all,
and the work be properly done. A pri.
vate service would spring into existence,
and ere long the city's physical appear.
ance and unhealthy condition would be
thoroughly reyolutionized. Mr.. Graham,
IN support OF his proposition, rciened TO
former measure adopted by tho council,
prohibiting roaming cattle within the city
limits, q measure directed against dairy
concerns inside the corporation. AZ first
there was universal howl OF discomfort
and disgust, simply because tho PEG.
pie were accustomed TO nothing but VII
lagc regulations In the course Of time,
however, when they realized that Il was inn
pcntiyc 10 give the city metropolitan ap-
pcarancc, they wcro satisfied, until now
they would not have the old order OF
things restored for any consideration.
And what Is the RESULT Every day the
COWS are driven 10 suburban commons by
boys aud guarded, at the rate Of 10 cents
per month. II furnishes q paving occupa.
ton for the boys, aud the cows are meal.
culably benefited by the change.
Mr.. Heating Interviewed.
Mr.. Graham, Of the Taxing District
Council, at the meeting OF Friday after.
noon suggested cremation as the means Of
economically disposing Of the city garbage,
a work that now requires a great deal Of
time ON the pau Of carriers who have 10
travel long distances TO dispose Of each
load In some eases the whole way from
Chelsea 10 Bealc street, aud on the other
hand from Fort Pickering and the extreme
eastern confines Of the city TO the city
dump This entails q very great expense.
much OF which might be saved by line a..
tablishmcnt Of cfcmalory.
This being IN line with Mr. J, NJ Koat.