The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-08-30
KEEP THE CITY HEALTHY
WHAT THE CITIZENS SANITARY
ASSOCIATION AIMS TO DO.


Nights Meeting at Metropolitan Hall
"A Committee on Organization APP
pointed = D@ LeAerdy Suggests t.
Line of Sanitary Reform.
A meeting of the members of the Citizens
Sanitary Association was held last night at
Metrov Olitan hall to consider the re-
organization Of the association ard its
work. Since the death of its president, DR..
j. g. Thomas, four years ago, the association
has been imperative.
In calling the meeting to order, Vice
President j. H. Estll stated that it had
been called at the request Of DR.. j. c. Le-
Hardy. After several years of inactivity,
he believed that the emergency has arisen
for a reorganization Of the associations
work. R. B. Reppard, ESQ.,, was requested
to act as secretary.
DR. LIE HARDY'S PAPER.
DR.. LeHardy presented the following
paper, Introductory to the resolutions which
be afterward offered, and which, upon mo-
ton of Col John Screven, were unaui-
mously adopted:
Mr.. President and Members of the Citizens
Sanitary association:
The belief that it is in the power of this asso-
| citation TO allay, in a measure, the excitement
| which has prevailed in savannah ever since the
proclamation Of yellow fever in JacksonWlle,
and the conviction that it is our aim to bring
about many needed sanitary reforms, have led
| me to have this meeting called.
Whenever IN epidemic of yellow fever occurs
the moisture of earth and air is always in ex-
cess the solar heat intolerable, and the city and
its surroundings generally in a filthy condition.
But this year the records of the signal service,
published in the daily papers, show deficiency
| of solar heat amounting, thus far, to $3.50, and
a deficiency of rainfall Of 1914 inches below the
average of the last fifteen years The city is
| cleaner than ever before, and the mortality I'M
usually small These are all facts which indi-
cate degree OF health, comparing favorably
with any previous year.
NO CAUSE FOR FEAR.
There is, then, at this time, nothing in their
physical surroundings, to account for the fears
| OF the people. The cause must be sought
| rather in their ignorance of hygiene, aud where
can they be taught the principles of this i'm
portant science A? believe that in this organi-
| cation Will be found men capable OF giving such
instruction. During the period of its active
isteuce this association accomplished much that
was of permanent good to the city, among
which may be mentioned, the draining of
| Hutchinson's Island, Improvements in plumb
Ing and house drainage, in the sanitary arrange
ments of public schools, in the drainage outside
| the city. It gave to our people nearly all the
| knowledge they have of sanitary matters. | do
not think that claim too much when / say,
that TO the impetus given to public opinion by
| is lie the present improved condition of the
city. Unfortunately il drifted into foreign
polemics, and ceased to be useful. That such a
finale should never occur again ought to be the
| concern of every member.
REVIVE THE ASSOCIATION.
| We should revive our association and make
such changes in its plan of organization as will
secure its permanent activity in the future.
The management of its affairs should be placed
in the hands of men who understand practically
the nature of pestilences, and the best means
for their prevention. Our operations must be
carried on by an executive for ever on the alert,
and active. This executive body should be the
thinking and working part OF an association in
which is represented every interest of the citi-
zens With a broader scope of action, and
money to use whenever necessity requires we
will be able to prevent not only needless
panics, but to do that which is much more use
ful, namely, to prevent the occurrence of the
conditions capable of causing epidemic in
the city. by carrying out sanitary measures
which will place Savannah permanently beyond
their reach,
| SOME THINGS TO DONE.
The regulation Of public and private stables,
now to be found everywhere in the most popu-
| lated part of the city, the frequent removal of
filth from alleyways and dark corners; the re-
moval of decayed fences; the ventilation of
yards; the establishment of public uruals and
| latrines, of public baths and of play grounds for
boys and girls. In fact of everything calcu
lated to improve public health and morals. We
might also take under cognlzance cert Yin evils
| perhaps not strictly under the jurisdiction of
the city, but still having a very important bear
ing upon the health of It's people, such IS the
| carrying of meat open wagons through the
dust and heat of the public roads; we might
cause the abolition of those ''dreadfully smel :
ing and nasty butcher pens and the establish
ment of an abattoir under proper supervision
the thorough drainage of railroad and other
properly east and west of the city, and many
other things | could mention.
TO REoRGANIzE THE WORK.
Impressed with the necessity of the immedi-
ate revival or this ASSOCIATE N upon a practical
basis beg to off r. the following resolutions;
/. HpSO SANITARY
citation is DESTROYS of increasing permanently it's
usefulness to the citizens OF Savannah.
2. Resolved, That a committee of five (of
which the vice president shall be chairman) be
appointed by the chair TO devise such changes in
the plan of organization as will secure this object
and report to a general meeting of the assoca-
ton to be called by the presiding officer upon
the request of the chairman of the committee.
The chair, in accordance with the resolu-
tions, appointed the Glowing committees
DR.. J. c. Lehardy, Col. John Screven, Col.
George A. Mercer, DR.. r. j. Num- and
Capt. II. n. c. Smith, and the vice presi-
dent.
THE CITY'S HEALTH.
DR.. R. J. Num-, in referring to the city's
sanitation, s lid that Savannah presents
curious record in sanitary matters. II the
work of sanitary Improvement which is
now in progress we're done every year, Sa.
vannah would be the healthiest city in the
United States. The mortality among the
white population is very small. 1t is diff
cult to explain, he said, why Savan-
nah is SO exempt from tropical diseases
on the one hand, and from northern dis
eases on the other, except by the fact that it
is too far north to invite Diseases prevailing
in the tropics and too far south for the
propagation of those di,eases which prevail
at the north. Savannah, he said has not
received justice at The hands of northern.
statisticians who fail to recognize
the fact that the mortality of
the city's white population is exceed
ingly small, and they base their statistics
upon the mortality of the entire population,
without regard to race
THE SALE or BAD PROVISIONS.
DIR. Mum favored the appointment of an
Inspector of provisions Large quantities
of decayed aud dlsetsed meat and of spoiled
fish and vegetable. he said, are sold TO the
colored people every week. Quantities of
decayed meat, particularly hams, are
brought here from the north and west and
sold TO the colorei people, because it can
be sold cheap here, and it cannot
be sold elsewhere at any price
Such food brings disease in its worst forms.
Dr. Num- believed that a movement to pro-
hibt the sale Of unsanitary food is within
the province OF the association.
Or. Bulioch indorsed DR.. Nunn's views,