The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-03-18
SOURCES OF DANGER
To the Health Of the Public
Visited by City Officials
WITH "A VIEW TO REFORM,
The Quarters in which Dasos are
Packed like saFdines in a Box
Breeding PestIIOucc and
Disseminating Stencil.

Saturday afternoon Health Officer
Garrison devoted about three hours
time to the making Of q personal exami'
nation Of several OF the quarters in
which a number, about one hundred, oil
the Italian railroad laborers who have re-
Gently invaded this city and vicinity,
eat and sleep, DR., Garrison was led to
make this inspection by the frequent
references that have been contained in
the local press Of late to the
very undesirable mode OF living, both
from a sanitary and moral point, but
especially the former, that these dagos
pursue, In making the trip he was &C.
companied by Chiefoi Police Delbrugge,
a brace Of reporters and Policeman Bell,
The state OF affairs found to exist more
than corroborated all that has been
limited at. The scenes were disgusting
and the smells rank and sickening, but
at the same time the trip was an inter
esting one, and will In all probability DO
productive Of good.
There is at present no city law or
regulation that can be resorted TO to
force these Italians to cleanse themselves
and their surroundings and live less like
hogs, nor to prevent them from packing
themselves away in box OF room like
80 many sarlines. DIR, Garrison, how.
ever, took occasion to express himself
vigorously tothose who were In charge
Of the quarters, regarding the filthy con-
dition Of things and advised reform.
He also notified some Of the
owners Of the properties that
they would probably find 1t 10 their in
terest to see to 1t that the premises were
cleaned. Several OF the Italians have
evidently had experience in some other
city with regulations such as arc referred
to, for tho questions were asked, "Too
many mama here?" and "You wanta
more cleaned2' Both questions were
answered in the affirmative In a very
emphatic manner.
Last night, accompanied by Officer
West, DR., Garrison made q second short
trip, visiting some Of the worst places
for the purpose OF ascertaining whether
any move had been made towards clean.
ling up. In three OF the habitations, so.
called, there were signs Of improve.
ment. In one place in particular, q
room in the old brewery property on
Seventeenth street, in size about 20 by 10
feet, and not more than74 feet In height,
the five who occupy the den had gotten
great move on themselves. They
were asleep when called on last night,
but did not take the intrusion at all bad
| ", for as soon as they recognized DR..
Garrison they pointed out with m air Of
pride the walls and ceiling, which were
glaring white with fresh coats Of white
wash, and to the floor, still damp with
scrubbing, while the air was heavily
charged with the odor Of CarboliC
acid. They had no beadsteads except
two boards elevated on barrelsand boxes
for each man; n smoking oil lamp dimly
lighted the place there were three small
windows, but they were tightly closed.
Even with the improvements that
had been made, the place was
calculated 10 make civilized
being shudder. But that place was
an exquisite boadoir compared with
some Of the other places, notably the
'shot-tower" near the old brewery.
That place issimply indesCrlbably awful.
A gruesome and horrible place Isl long
very low room with cement floor, In
the brewery property, where there are
at present fifteen OF the dagos. It has
Just been opened; when filed as the
other places are, 1t will easily aCcommo-
date fifty. AT No. l125 Market street
there is big colony and confounding
variety Of smells.
DR.. Garrison rightly considers these
quarters as hot beds where contagious
disease would rapidly spring up and
spread, and will ask Council for some
authority to enforce sanitary rules and
regulations. Should smallpox or some
other contagion break out in one Of these
quarters there would be every reason
for panic and the city would be put TO
an enormous expense quarantining
against the injected spots.