Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-08-27
A LIVELY PAPER.
HEALTH OFFICER GARRISON COMBINES SAM
TART MATTERS AND PERSONALITIES
In Pleasant and Agreeable Manner Doeu-
ment Which Found Many Listeners IN
Council, Last Evening.


Health Officer Garrison presented d
long communication to Council, last
evening. and its reading, in the Second
Branch. was listened to with a good
deal of interest by both members ana
the lobby.
After referring to the dangers OF the
past summer, happily arrested by ma
ture rather than man. and calling at
tention to the Importance OF caution
and vigilance in sanitary matters, the
Health Officer said
1T would be wise to begin now, and en-
plov the interval between this time ana the
beginning Of next year in planning and ex-
ecnting measures bv which the city can be
freed from those causes and sources oil CON
tagion which. if allowed TO remain, VIII
probablv breed pestilence and be fruitful
in death. OF so much Importance IS the
enforcement of hygenic laws, rules ana
regulations. thatlthey should be car
ried ont 10 the letter. As gen
eral thing. cities adopt such sanitary
regulations rs experience and science have
determined best. They are OF necessity
made general, and in their nature demand
obedience from each individual. Inc ma
ture of preventable diseases IS such that
they permit no exception 10 the general
rules by which prevention Is secured;
While the obligations Of tho general ana
thorough enforcement of these laws extend
TO the entire community as whole, and to
each individual as part, II Is made
the paramount duty Of the hea I'm depart
ment TO Eenforce such laws. This city,
unfortunately. has no saitary department.
II has a Committee on Health, IL IS true,
but the chairman of that committee, III iall-
ing TO distinguish between his duties as "a
public officer and his personal preludices,
/ has hampered your Health Officer in the
discharge Of the duties Of his office, to the
detriment OF the people whom he repre-
seUts The money appropriated by the
Committee on Health in the spring was
insufficient for proper lnspcc-
/ ton OF the city. As con
sequence, have been unable 10 accomplish
as much as should have been accomplished.
/ | employed only two inspectors, and one OF
/ those quit because be could not get the
money due him for services promptly !
] have only one now, but should nave at least
/ four. as ii would require at least that many
to 90 the work properly, and they should
/ be employed the whole year round.
Thanks to the press of this city which
yields a mightier power than the chairman
of the Committee on Health, and which,
when il cannot legislate can still teach;
when il cannot command, it can still warn,
and neither the existence nor the absence
of power. neither the eXpcdiency nor the
iueXpcdicncy OF interference of the proper
authorities can exempt II from the duty OF
/ knowing what is alniss IN the sanitary
community. and diffusing that knowledge
/ r l.. = a frauaf.ul
recognition byIthe people of the importance,
use and application of that knowledge, as
indicated by their willingness TO cooperate
in the execution of sanitary methods.
During the last quarter of the present
wear. typhoid fever and cholera infantum
have ragged to an unusual extent, and the
mortality from those diseases has been I'M
precedented. They are scourges that have
left 'Racheis weeping in every home Tor
the children that are not; these trans
cending the limits OF individual action and
responsibility. appeal TO the Council for
protection. Shall that appeal be in vain
The right OF the City Council TO assume
control over the factors involved IN the
public health is fully conceded, and the
highest judicial tribunals have decided that
this right is included in the foremost
law Of self-preseryati0n. But Ignorance
Of the dangers of violation Of
the laws OF health, and the blind jealousy
and spite Of those who should be foremost
in the work Of public sanitation, induces
antagonism. when knowledge and applica-
ton to the evils sought TO be controlled
would meet with ready acquiescence.
Yesterday il was reported 10 this office
that six cases of typhoid fever
existed in single square in this
city, and that an alley running be
tween the two streets which enclose
the square was full OF pestllential filth. .
Last night beheld the spectacle Of the /
Chairman of the Committee on Health and |
his co-adiutor, Mr.. Farrell, cndeayoring to |
stop from the work OF inspection the single
remaining man in my employ The result
Of such a course has been, as II can never
fail to be. i loss Of valuable time TO the COM
munity.
1T is important that this community
should be instructed upon pertinent,
reliable. comprehensive, popular sanitary
knowledge knowledge Is power II IS
also true that ignorance is power. ana
scatters broadcast the germs of disease,
bearing sickness aud death and woe IN It's
train. There is no line 10 be drawn as TO
where sanitation should begin and where
end. ltmust be complete in order TO serve
the ends for which IL is established. Our
streets and front yards may
be inviting. refreshing ana
clean. and yet from the alleys and rear
grounds may come the infection OF disease
and death. Our streets may ne sweet ana
clean. but the absence OF sewers under
them may leave the back alleys teeming
with filth. and bacl, yards where soil IS sat
uratcd with the accumulated contents OF
privv vaults, serving as so many labora-
tories for the generation of poisonous tunes
and Eases, which find their way into the
sleeping apartments Of houses abuttng
therein. and poisoning their inmates. Pre-
ventive measures must be thorough ana
minute. The streets and alleys, the garrett
and basement, all must be subject to the
general law. The failure 10 provide TINS
I'm this city is due 10 proper sewerage
facilities as the foundation And as the
first step Of putting the city in good, safe
sanitary condition, a complete and thorough
system OF sewerage should be de-
rived. Council has already authorized
the CITY EnginccrtO establish bench marks
for grades Of streets and alleys. While
this work is being prosecuted, IL would be
well to make surveys with view 70 estaD-
fishing system of sewerage for the city.
Council has ordered the City Engineer 10
purchase a grade book, for the purpose OF
recording the grades of all streets and al
lcys in thecity. There should also be estao-
liShed and recorded in sewer
book. the grades Of all sewers.
showing the exact locations, distance, form
and depths below the curb. The sewer
book should also show the kind, size and
connections This system should provide
for the drainage Of every lot in the city.
II such system should he established, 1t
need not and should not be completed at
once but portions Of IL could be built from
time TO time as the growth Of the city
would require, and the state OF her finances
would permit, so that when completed 1t
would ensure perfect and thorough drain
age Of the city for all time.
4 great many sewers are put in fiat.
without regard to grade and are almost
useless. aud others are not deep enough 70
drain cellars and water closets and then
only half fulfill the purpose foryhich they
were constructed. This city is now engag-
cd in perfecting a good system Of street
paving. and by the time ii is completed the
necessity for sewers will be realized, and
the payemeuts will have TO be dug up and
left in bad condition 20 put in sewers At
increased expense Sewers are vastly
more important than street paving, and
should always precede. Street paving is
/ largely amatter Of convenience; but sewer
age. if properly understood, is
matter Of necessity, and would
materially aid in keeping the streets
clear and free from matter detrimental 10
| the public health.
In addition TO this, the hap-hazard
method Of sending a few men out every
spring to inspect the premises Of citizens
should be abandoned, and more thorough
and comprehensive plan adopted. Proper
] inspection cannot be made on the run. II