New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-05-09
Sanitary Suggesting.
Commemorate Efforts of the Local
Board OfHealth.

In the annual report of the Board of
Health, submitted to the City Council
recently by the Secretary of the Board,
Mr.. G. w. III. Heideman, suggestions
of prime Importance and in the interest
of the city's sanitary conditions were
offered, and it is necessarily for the
welfare of our citizens to profit by the
noteworthy articles brought forward.
Although the general health of the
city during the last year was satisfac-
tory, no great epidemics having had a
hold on the public, several cases of con-
tagious diseases, notably diphtheria,
have come under the consideration of
our physicians. and the efforts of the
board have been mainly exercisedin this
direction, inquiring the into cause of the
dreaded disease, seeking for preventive
methods, and hindering the spread of
the malady. A very important step
in this direction was the examination of
drinking-water, which revealed the fact
that in general the quality of this most
Important fluid was an unexceptional
one, and that the deep wells of the city
especially furnish a pure article. That
portion of the city, situated south Of
State ST., and which harbored, as is
shown by the record in the hands of the
Health officer, the majority of the cases
of diphtheria, claimed the thorough
criticism of the board, who, after exam
ming into all other conditions, came to
the conclusion that the swamp, extend
| ing from St. Alexander's Hospital to
Hauenstein's Brewery, was probably
the prime cause for the prevalency Of
disease in that locality. This opinion
is certainly correct one, when we
consider that the vast amount of decay
ing matter harbored in the swampy, al
though not impossible land alluded to,
charges the atmosphere with disease
germs, causing such plaques as malaria
and other fevers.
The board very properly recommends
to the city council that immediate
drainage should be resorted to in de-
priving that large strip of land of its
dangerous character, and it presents at
the same time positive proof of the eff
| cacy OF drainage, which was resorted
to last year in the case Of the swamp
bordering German Park.
Iii of the utmost Importance that
the city council take this matter in
hand at earliest opportunity, and enact
such proceedings as will not only rid
| the immediate residents of the swampy
| neighborhood of a public nuisance, but
insure to great extent the general
health. of the city. We doubt not that
the honorable council, with it's custom
airy expeditiousness will devote early
attention to the matter.
Regarding sewerage the board has not
been able to offer full suggestions, it
| having, considering the absence of gen
eral water-Works. no proper basis to
| consider. At the present lime sewer
| age IN this city is yet in its primary
condition, we having to depend on the
| occasional rains to cleanse our cutters
and tunnels. but so long as we have no
constant supply of water, street-gra-
ding and gutter building shout / receive
| very careful attention, such as it has re-
| ceived at the hands of our street-com-
! missioner.
Were the city to possess water-works,
this very important topic could easily
and shortly be discussed, and we only
hope that the matter, which las at the
| last session of the council been referred
to the Board of Public Works, will be
thoroughly and favorably considered.
With an abundant and continuous
supply of water, the low-lying lands,
properly drained. Well-constructed gut
tiers, and an energetic Sanitary Board,
such as we have now, it would be an
easy matter to earn for our city the
honor OF being, as the secretary of the
board enthusiastically puts it: the
healthiest city in the Northwest.