The morning news., 1889-04-20
UNsANITARY SURROUNDINGS.
Protest Against Diverting the House
Drainage Fund.

At the regular weekly meeting of the
committee on public health of the Citizens
Sanitary Association, Drs. R. J. Num-,
George H. Stone and G. c. Hummel, and
DR.. j B. Read, president of the association,
were present.
Inspector Desvergers submitted his
regular report of food produce. He re-
ported that the street around the market
house is kept in as good condition as the
cobble-stone pavement will permit; that
the basement has been improved by relay
ing the pavement 10 the passage ways, and
the sewer connection to the river. The meat
vault is being improv ed, and meat boxes
have been ordered by the market committee
TO be repaired, except such of them as the
city marshal shall, upon inspection, con-
denim, which latter will be removed en-
tirely from the market. The upper floors
and stalls are kept as clean as the made
quate supply of water permits; butcher
carts and coverings as cleanly as such
common open vehicles tTaversinR sandy
roads can be kept; green groceries kept
generally in good condition.
The inspector reported that the city drain
age force has effected great improve
ment in the drainage of Jones
low lands between the Savannah and
Tybee railroad track aud the Savannah,
Florida and Western railway wharves east
of the Bilbo canal, and it is now engaged
draining the low places around the old
Lamar mill and the cotton warehouses near
by. The bitches on the Lamar lands con-
tinue obstructed, owing to the treading Of
cattle pastured on the grounds, and these
lands can never become sanitary until
either the cattle are fenced out or the
bitches fenced in. He reported the Ty-
bee railroad nuisance unabated. A
few lateral bitches leading from the
burrow pits of the roadbed to
the field drains have been cleaned
out, but they are too shallow TO effect
drainage of the pits and they are yet hold
ing stagnant water.
The burrow pits along the Savannah,
Florida and Western railway roadbed,
bad condition. They should have connect
ing bitches and an outlet for the escape of
water from them
The Bilbo canal is clear of weeds and OBJ
structions, but being the outlet for all the
filth of the Bolton street sewer, and open
along its entire length, the atmosphere Of
the district through which it passes is i'm
pregnated with intensely offensive effiuvia.
There has been no sanitary improvement
in the condition Of the Central Railway and
Ocean Steamship Company's low lands, old
canal locks are not yet repaired, though an
increased number of hands have been put to
work upon them. At low water an exceed
ingly offensive effluvia arises from the ex-
posed mud bed of the canal basin, and if the
condition of this basin is not remedied be-
fore the warm days come, malarial aff1ic-
tion to the inhabitants of that section of the
city in proximity to it is inevitable.
Nothing has as yet been done to indicate
ba al hV ha nj fNf ha
in any part of the city. Minis swamp,
south of the city, is now the most seriously
unsanitary place to the south of the city.
A number of ponds holding stagnant
water in Ditmersville also menace the
health Of the city, owing to their location
and proximity to the city.
The nuisance at the pond on the Wagner
farm, southeast of the city, has become
aggravated since the flow of artesian water
has been diverted from it.
The case of L. Putzel has been disposed
of, Mr. Putzel hsving been fined
So in the mayors court on Tuesday last.
The following resolutions and protest
were adopted by the committee on public
health, and approved by the executive
council of the association:
ResoEUed. That the Citizens Sanitary Associa-
ton of Savannah regards with amazement the
proposition made to the city council to divert a
sum of money from the purpose of house
drainage, and it deprecates policy which would
cripple the most important department of the
municipal government to strengthen one less
vital.
Without health there would be no city and no
need for an increased fire department. With
commerce ruined and the city depopulated, of
what use will be the fire engines, aerial ladder,
hose, etc?
The city can get along for a few months
longer with unpaved streets; and doubtless
other departments could be found in which
orlr ha IaA rnrffh VVaIxy
affecting the interests of the city; but to do
anything which would interfere with the health
of the city or retard sanitary work is inviting a
disaster far worse than fire, and against which
this asSOciatinn nrntesrR