The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-26
CLEANLINESS AND HEALTH.

As one result of the general use of natural
gas Indianapolis will be cleaner town. An
enormous mount of bituminous coal is
burned I.~-e-more than in most cities of the
size, owing TO the manufactories-and in con-
sequence the air is heavy with SCOT and
smoke much Of the time. This nuisance has
not grown to the proportions reached in Pitts
burg before the advent of gas, but it is
sufficiently great to add largely to the bur-
dens of existence, and has much to do with
giving Indianapolis the name of ''dirty
town" But the change Of fuel, which will
clear the air, win not entirely remove the
reproach; il will not clean the streets The
streets Of the city have been for long time
shall it be said years?-n condition which,
to put it mildly, can not be described well
kept. This is said with due allowance for
season and weather, and with reference only
to the cleanliness, and not to the character of
the pavement. This is particularly true of the
business and downtown streets. Last season
from early spring until late fall the cutters
from Georgia to New York streets, we're filed
with collection of paper. straw, ashes, old
shoes, sweepings and miscellaneous refuse If
the accumulation scraped up into the
customary heaps preparatory to removal dur
ing this period, the teamsters assigned to the
duty of carting it off must have been lost on
the road since there is no authentic record
along the lines that clean gutter was seen at
any time last year.
The summer sun beat down upon them and
they were an offense to the eye and the nos
trils. The stranger picking his way from the
Union Station along the blockaded walks
Illinois or Meridian streets, and by the side of
the flth-laden cutters cannot be favorably
impressed with the management of municipal
affairs. When he follows the trail to the
transfer car and beholds that hideous obstruc-
ton the main thoroughfare, the wonder
must increase. The condition of Circle street
with its rows Of express wagons must arouse
compassion for the occupants of surrounding
blocks, and the pity can only deepen for the
unfortunates who dwell near the market
square. There is no excuse for this state of
things. The authorities have, evidently
proceeded on the slovenly housekeepers
theory that it was not worth while to clean
house in tie fall because the dornicile would
get dirty again before spring, and in spring it
seemed a needless expense and trouble with
SO much dust flying about.
If the city has not provided for the proper
care of the streets it is time the city did.
Neglect of such matter is misplaced econo-
my. 1t is important for many reasons that
the city should be made attractive in appear
ance, and in no way can this be accomplished
more readily than by the cleanliness and neat
ness of it's streets; but, after all, appearance
is little, compared with the sanitary necessity
Of such a course. Cases of typhoid fever be-,
came alarmingly frequent last fall, and ply
sicians have not yet accounted for the exist
ence of the disease to their own satisfaction.
Certainly ii was seldom traced to the home
surroundings. Is it not probable that many
q mysterious case of this plague was produced
by the emanations from the shiny cutters
under downtown Office windowsi At all
events it is to be hoped that the combination
of sanitary, aesthetic and business reasons
for q reform in this direction will lead the
authorities to have the city cleaned up and,
once cleaned, to keep it so.