Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-08-04
Two Possible Nulsances.
, Nnor ot the D1spatch

To Me Editor OF The DIspdtch:
Though reside 10 Richmond, yet | have
neither chick nor child, as the saying Is, aud
do not own an inch Of ground, am tnpelled
to cali public attention 10 what l apprcbend
bid fair to become two dangerous nuisapces.
I refer 10 the building, AZ this season OF the
year, OF the street railway, 10 which the
Council hiss allowed the right OF way along
Marshall street from the Medical College out
TO the Fair-Grounds, and 10 the excavation
Of that part OF EiShih-street tunnel which IL TO
be worked from pit sunk at point on
Eighth street midway between Marshall and
Broad. directly opposite the school OF the
ST. Johns GeYnsn church, and immediately
adjoining the Richmond High School The
German school has, suppose. an attendance
OF fifty scholars, the Richmond High School,
| suppose. about three hundred. Both
schools commence In September, which Is,
I believe, the most unhealthy month OF the
year.
A few years ago IN summer time, when
the CITY railway was extended from Ninth
up Main street, DR.. J. Grattan Cabell, then
president Of the Board Of Heasb. peulioned
that the work be postponed to The winter,
upon the ground that II had been deU dScer-
tqinsd that the upuraing Of dun In the sum
mer tsme was sure to breed sickness. His
warning was dfaregpreed and the work vent
on. ! happened to be IN his office. pear the
corner Of Main aud Third streets. in the al.
tumn Of that year, when the work had pro-
crossed that far, and he called my attention
TO se prevalence OF lyphoid'ieyer 10 That I'M
mediate ueiehborhoOd. ascriblng 1t to the
predicted cause.
And tins is just whist appreheDd for the
residents OF Marshall street II Mr.. Nash is
permitted TO build the road he represents,
and il the EIghth.Street Tunnel COMPANY IS
permitted to open deep pit in the summer
time and eXclyate from It a: point IN con-
tact with some three hundred and iiity chill
dren, who msy spread fever ell over the city.
Ittapd ready TO show that The public in
forest does not require the building OF Mr..
Nash's road at all, or, for the matter OF
that, Of the Eigh,h-street tunnel; but | do
not touch those points now. | con-
template solely the influence Of the work
upon the health Of those, aud especially the
children, who will be compelled to inhale
the poison OF this fresh-turned earth. am
thinking Of human hie.
To tins question call the attention OF the
mothers and fathers OF these children aud Of
the School Board aud the Board OF Health.
II all these should he satisfied that there Is
good ground for apprehension OF the cORse-
quence declare TO be possible, then should
think an Injunction could be easll z obtained
restraining these corporations from eDdan-
gering The public health by such nuisances.
II It shall be found that there is no ground
for apprehension, well aud good. Or IL in
difference shall prevent shy move in sani-
tary direction, then | can only say to the
boards and the chlldren's parents that II
they can stand II / can. MADISON WARD.
We publish the foregoing communication
not as endorsing il, but because its writer IL
a highly intelligent gentleman. But, like
ourselves, he is "no doctor" No doubt the
turning up Of the sofia few inches OF damp
vegetable mould-might prove injurious TO
the health OF 4 neighborhood; but we doubt
that there is any danger 20 be spprehended
from any clay or other thing that will be
taken out Of the tunBel. Did tunnelhnE
Church Hi breed disease there? We do
not recOllect that it did. Did the con-
struction OF the existing Electric Line
breed diseassi Not that we ever
heard. Clay street from Seventh west
ward for several squares hss recently been
dug up Just deeply enough to disturb all the
earth that we consider likely to produce dis
ease. This was the City Engineers work.
Don't lay the bad consequences-ii any re-
sult--tO the railroad company.
We beg pardon. We turn the matter over
b the doctors. We hope tAst they will take
the trouble either to warn the public or TO
quiet their apprehensions.