The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-20

The Aldermen fu Mr. Wngncr's BcbatG
The following is from the board of mayor
and aldermen Of the city Of Water Valley,
Miss, September Is, 1883:
Whereas, Serious charges against the sanitary
condition Of the Yocona cotton mills situated In
this city, were published TO the world by THE
MENrIus APrEAL Of date September II, 1855 and
Whereas Said charges are Of nature 80 revolt.
ing that justice TO the employees IN said mills rs
well as TO the public demanded an investigation
by the health authorities and the board Of mayor
and aldermen Of said city. being directly charged
with the enforcement of sanitary laws therein, I'm.
.mcdnicly, ON reading these charges, resolved
themselves into committee 10 make this inyest'
CATION, and IN accordance With said resolution ON
the 18th day OF september proceeded TO snid lo'
conn mills, aud as the insult VI said Investigation
thcy find as follows.
The Yocona cotton mills arc situated In the
northern part Of the city, about one mile from the
Illinois CCntml milTOad depot Immediately on the
line Of said road, uu well draincd plat of land OF
about twenty acrcs, and thcrc could be nothing on
the outside ON the premises 10 contribute to an un.
healthy condition IN the factory. The water used
By operatives u from wells, aud Il ~ clean aud
healthy any In the city. The factory building II
two story brick, 10 oil appearances substantially
built we'll ventilated and while IL has not al the
improved methods iur sanitation, thcrc could BE-
no complaint on account of ventilation, heating aP
paritus, lire oscaics, etc. The operatives, - lar ~
-v-slld be- asccftaluud irum those examined and
from observation. nrc cuntcntcd aud healthy look.
ing. We questioned closely as 10 the number Of
deaths nnd amount ui sickness among the factory
people, aud to our surprise learned that Ia seven
years thcrv have been only WO deaths among mill
upcmuyc, and one Of these The clusc Of death was
dirccty tniccablc 10 constitutional troubles which
could not H. attributed To work IN the factory nr
~ A. Gout county health oficcr, being present nj
this investigation, iudoncd this statement irom
having attended the patient The pfiyies CON
ncUtcd with tie Institution hro iour IN
number, two icing Immediately attached 10
the mills and two On the grounds outside
Tie one on the uOrh eide OF the mill
/, used by males. the one ON the south exclusively
by female operatives The two un the outside are
iir the use oi the men. The rule 4 20 cleanse
thf,s of thczs pflyios once cach week aud Use lmV
httwccn clcanings aud four Opcmiiycs testified
that this rule was observed, but one cmployo,
whose duty Il was clean these pTiyies stated that
thcsc clcaniurs actually took place every other
wUck and lined every week. AL agree, however,
that the pryiCs connected with the buildings, were
g'uau.ci Whenever they were observed 10 bo Of.
ffslyp. Iu this CuuncCtinn Il was observed that
the supcrIutcndUuts olluc Il situated nearer the
uriyy u.Ui uy females than any other department
iu ihc factory hcius within twenty iect distant
Fr.m uAuH. iftinu the tenement houses belonging
tl thc l.ll. were iudnl 30 ~ wooden structures,
IInaIrly H. lr. IHr Ir'Hrut acting supcHnien'
.rU. o. been living ln "rc OF thc.o houses TOT
..HT r..Hs. They .fc god comfortable tenant
fus.# Il a ll.C .. average aud thgif outside appear
ff..t lU.i .n conclusion We hud that Tie state
Uyn. uuUdt go bf tho cnrr'pandcnt Of lni
ffFElls AHFatI. sl t.rHs tlu luCunn Cotton mills
IfU .uutsUlUi o. suNurluul'l ~ the innts ~ NC
,Ho. ami Ut conclusions and publications In this
uHIFtt nfr uuuulIiNrulF fulHt
&doplcd aud ordeFcd spread upon the minutes
W. A. lliHuiNU,
MayOr
l. r. nLUrNT,
JO-. a. GuOnwts
JNO. ~. TAYLOR
+. a. llrEyIY,
JoLL Groom,
W. J. iitsuus.
Aldermen.
A,county health oriccri viii state that ! &C
t6tupani,d tie buar ln their inspecting tpu
above st forth, and indUrc sud subscribe % thl
fetIff n. 4. 1Uyr, " u.