St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-12-23
ST. PAUL,s GOOD HEALTH.

We are almost at the end of another
year, and speaking in a general way, it
has been remarkably healthy one
conspicuous by very low death rate
and an absence of epidemies. While
nothing that in our Judgment would
be likely to promote the public health
has been neglected during the past
year, especial attention has been paid
to the condition of alleys and to endeay
Oring to educate those adjacent that
alleys are not public dumps. Much
good has been accomplished in this di-
rectiOn. We are lo0Sing annually 500
lives from what we term preventible
diseases that no doubt IS per cent
could be saved were the hygienic and
sanitary surroundings perfect. just
take the matter of sewers and water
supply alone. Our records show that
about 95 per cent of deaths from pre-
yentlble diseases occur where they have
no sewer connections or city water.
What does that mean? Simply that in the
vast majority of cases they have wells
supplied with surface water, into which
percOlate the contents of vaults and
ceSspools, perhaps laden with the
deadly germs of typhoid. diphtheria,
etc. Is it any wonder that disease APP
pears under these circumstances? We
have 10000 inhabited houses in st.
Paul. Less than 1900 are supplied
with our pure and wholesome city wa
ter, and less than 5000 are connected
with sewers. We have spent much
time and energy in endeavoring to en-
force city water and sewer connections
in aggravated eases where the surround
ings demanded it as an absolute neces-
Sity; but the present process is so slow
and unsatisfactory that we shall ask for
some special legislation during the COM
ing session that will enable us to accom-
plish something.
This year will show slight increase
in diphtheria over last. Deaths last
year were So; this year, up to Dec l. 81.
Scarlet fever shows a decrease this
year, 1887. 81 deaths: 1855, Is.
Typhoid fever, 1887, 145; 1888, 1872.
The experiment was tried this past
summer of disposing of our refuse ma
terial by shipping it down the river on
barges below the city limits, and there
unloading it into the river. The plan
has its good features as we'll as its
drawbacks. 1t certainly disposed of
the material at very small expense
compared with other proposed plans
with the same object in view. 1t can
not be held that it is particularly dam
aging to the river water, while the
sewers of our sister city and those of
our own empty into the same recepta-
Gle. On the other hand, it Is only
available about six months in the year,
and the dock where the barges are
loaded is nuisance. wherever it may be
located. These objections are about
sufficient to overbalance the good
qualities of the method, and after a trial
of six months it can now be termed
failure. During the year 22,615 pounds
of meat have been condemned; 1858
nuiSances abated, 80 arrests made, II
sewer connections enforced, 574 alleys
cleansed, 451 children vaccinated; the
contents of about $500 vaults contain
ing 13S.OS9 cubic feet of night soil and
IS, 33S loads of garbage. etc, have been
removed from the city. By actual rec
ord 9S per cent of vaults cleaned, rs per
cent of garbage and so per cent of back
yards cleaned are compulsory.