The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-06-22

WHAT CHAIRMAN CHRISTIAN THINKS
or THE REMOVAL.
tie Gives His Reasons nj fength-He
Relieves the Popular Voice
Deadly opposed To it.

There has been no question before
the City Council for some time that has
excited more concern than the pro-
posed exchange of the Clarke Spring
property better known as the Small
Pox Hospital groundsl for property adj
iacent 10 the Reservoir Park. The
proposition was made by Major James
/ II. Dooley through his agents. Messrs
j. Thompson Brown & Co., real estate
agents.
The matter at the outset attracted
Dublic notice. and in Council circles set
our municipal lawmakers 10 thiuklng.
The various phases through which II
passed has been fully reported in the
| ZINES.
The last move on the board was the
reference of the resolution authorizing
the exchange TO a JOINT committee com
posed OF the Committee on Grounds and
/ Buildings and the Committee on Health.
This Joint committee decided TO re-
port favorably for the exchange. only
/ Mr.. l.. T.. Christian. chairman of the
Committee on Health. voting adversely.
The matter now goes to the Common
/ Council for adoption. aud the Board Of
/ Aldermen will afterwards take It into
consideration. The talk on the streets
was such as TO induce a TINES reporter
/ To see Mr.. Christian and ask HIM 10 give
/ for publication an expression Of his
views and observations since the action
of the joint committee.
MR.. CHRISTIAN INTERVIEWED.
Mr.. Christian was found at his Office,
and answered willingly the following
queries put him by the ZINES.
You are chairman Of the Committee
on Health. believe. Mr.. Christian, and
also funeral director
Yes. sir.
will you tell the TINES as briefly as
possible what YOU think of the removal
of the smallpox dead
" il should not Doe done. The neces-
sity does not Justify the risk. The me-
cessity is ab0u, this: The Clarke-Spring
property is bounded on the east and
south by Hollywood, west by Banks
town. some private property, and the
/ Old Reservoir, and north by Ashland
street 10 contains thirtyiive acres.
with from 80 to 300 graves Of persons
who died of small pOX about 1852. when
the hospital was there located, m a
space about 1870 by l40 feet The west
ern boundary of thiscklot Is the ex-
/ IRENE western boundary of the Clarke
/ Spring property the southern bound
ary Is about 800 yards from the north
ern boundary of Hollywood and about
/ 100 yards from the edge of Banks
town cemetery. Thus 1t Will
be- seen that the bodies are bm led out
of the way. nearly adjacent To two
cemeteries. and not IN the track of inn
prOycments. AS they would. were they
placed anywhere between Clay and
/ Chaflin streets. After much clamOr for
"A city cemetery i'm tine west. Banks
town was purchased 90 S26 .O0O, con-
tanning bout ifty-two acres. which
joins Ciarke'- Spring. The eN-
: perleuce of all cemeteries is, chat in "a
few years thcy find themselves
in want of more .hnd. aud Outlines
when 10 Is too late This land can be
added 90 and made part of BankstOwn
cemetery. III this OF future Council
do not favor this. Hollywood ia few
wear. will be willing purchaser. as
this is the only land which they can
get. That would boz great improve
mcnt. Why should the city not hold
tor the demand instead Of au iudi-
vidual or corporation The property
which is Offered in exchange CONF
mences ON Che south side of Ashland
street and runs south towards the
river. with ana irregular width. contain
ing about forty five acres.
DIVERSITY OF OPINION.
"Therei is adversely Of opinion among
the real estate men as 10 the values
and some say the ciiy's property Is
worth more. others say II would be
AN advantageous trade To- the city,
las the matter was explained To- them
/ by Mr. Brown. who is negotiating ~.
bat it never entered their minds that
/ this battle-ground would be disturbed.
/ The city should and will own this
land when necessary. Imperative de-
mands require the public money at
present. improvements. etc. must be-
~ after consideration for the present.
As 10 the risk. smallpox,
classed first among contagious diseases.
Is more demOrahzIng 90 a community
/ than any other known 10 the medical
profession. This city and its citizens
/ have had some experience with IL. and
memories yet llnger There is unques-
| tionably danger of spreading the dis
ease by disinierment tine opinions of
some of our physicians TO the contrary
Notwithstanding. Doctors not charged
with the public he1lth-that is. not con-
necled with Boards OF Health, pay very
I little attention 10 sanitary matters-as
/ fl..r o.. aud ra flar.f.r. fl..f fgrtt-
petcut authority on such subjects, espe
cially on the spur of the moment
Health officers are the best authority !
What do they say 2
ADVISING AGAINST 1T.
DIR. Cabell, the former president Of
our Board of Health, SAYS they should
not be disturbed. the present Board
cOncurring. Surgeon General john Is.
Hamilton. United States Marine Hos
ptal Service says the risk ls too -reat
to consider such plan. DR.. James A.
Stuart. Health Officer of Baltimore.
says no man can guarantee the removal
OF danger Or. b. L. Loyal, president
Of Norfolk Board Of Health. advises
against it-Dr. h Stanton. Cincinnati:
Dr. Oscar G.. ID. Wolf. Chicago. Dr. G..
/ +. Dunlev, ST. Louis. DR.. Charles G..
/ Wilson. New York. and president Of
the Board Of Buffalo concurring. Dr.
/ G.. c. Ashmun, Cleveland, thinks it can
be done without danger. The opinions
of seven of the most prominent boards
are against il. i'm addition to General
/ Hamilton and cur former and present
Board of Health. also other authorities
received by Or. Oppenheimer. while one
only gives it any favor. These officers
are skilled sanitariars, most OF them of
/ long service.
This city is i'm no condition to give
favor 10 such speculation. II done
without the spread Of disease the minds
of citizens will be ln constant suspense.
Criticism Will be- the order of the day,
and the city will not be- benefited. On
the other hand. all the chances are IN
favor of bad Itsults. What does this
mean Cost the city from $1,000 10
$4,000 for hospital. vaccination, &C..
slagnati0n OF business. aud checking of
rapid improvements which have
added so materially 10 the wealth OF
our city, 90 say nothing Of the loss Of