The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-04-09
A SANITARY CONVENTION,
Hygiene aud Kindred Topics to bs Discus
sel-A Good idea.

On Wednesday OF next week, the l7th
inst, DR., George |, Garrison, the Health
Officer OF this city, and DR., William NJ
Late, Of Clarksburg, the two members
for this congressional district Of the State
Board OF Health, will meet in this city
with DR.. L, o, Myers, the head OF the
County Board OF Health, for the purpose
OF examining those who desire 10 become
liCentiates OF the State Board OF Health,
In the evening 1t is proposed to hold a
sanitary convention, probably in the
chamber Of the Second Branch OF Coun.
Gil, TO which all who are in any way
interested in the matter Of public
hygiene and its relation to public health
will be cordially welcomed, While It
will be held under the auspices Of the
State Board Of Health, those who attend
the convention will be expected to take
charge Of and organize 1t, and conduct II
just as done in any other convention,
II Is not the purpose to have
any long, dry scientific essays or
addresses, but instead to discuss in a
plain, homely fashion, plain, homely
facts, Such lively topics Us the disposal
OF garbage and water supply will be
brought up and discussed, Under the
head OF garbage this city can be ebrought
forward US a glittering example OF the
need Of reform, There are about 5000
habitationsln this city aud the collecting
OF the garbage from these habitatiOns is
let by contract TO five men, whose
bids will aggregate about $1,000,
During certain cold months they
are required by ordinance to visit
each house once a week aud collect CUR.
bage. In other months they are re-
Quired to make visits twice a week, but
during the months Of June, July, Aug.
ust and September the ordinance says
they shall visit each house once q day for
six days week. This makes IN aver.
age Of 1900 habitations each collector
must visit dailyl OF course everyone
knows that this cannot be done, even II
there were no collecting to be done. Add
to the collecting the long haul to the
Crematory, and the situation BE-
comes a ridiculous one. The fact
Is the collecting OF garbage in this city
Is farce. Even during the months
when only one visit per week Is re-
quired there arc hundreds OF habita.
tiOns that are never visited and the
residents either have 10 dispose OF their
garbage themselves or else they let II lie
and rot and breed disease. or course in
the summer time when the amount Of
garbage is largely increased the condi.
ton Of things becomes much worse, es.
pecially for the public health.
Those who are interested In this gar
bage question will be welcome to this
convention, and also those who are in.
terested in the water supply question,
with special reference to its contamlna.
ton from sewage. The physicians and
OF the surrounding towns are
invited TO attend.
In connection with this matter the at
tention Of the public Is directed TO the
statistics OF this city for the
quarter ending March 81, published in
this issue. Special attention Is called to
the number who died Of typhoid fever
aud pneumonia, which DR.. Garrison
says Ii large. The causes OF the deaths
from those diseases will be among the
topics to be discussed at the convention.
1t will be made an interesting question
for the laity as well as tho profession.