St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-02-24
THE CITYS NUISANCE
Night Soil and Offensive Re-
fuse on the Banks Of the
River.
intolepable Odors That Make
Life a Burden to the
Unfortunate.
The Apparent Effect Of a
Gigantic Nuisance on the
Death-Rate.
Sanitary Laws Made by the
Sanitary Laws Made by the
Legislat ure Said to Be
Unconstitutional.

Two years ago the council appropriate
ed quite an amount of money for the
erection and maintenance of crema-
tory for the destruction of organic mat
ter by fire. The crematery was built on
Hennepin island and proved a great
success. 1t destroyed over 1000 dead
animals and several thousand barrels Of
butchers offal and ether offensive mat
ter during the last year of its existence.
The city fathers, without any special
investigation, ordered the furnace to be
closed at The request of few Eastsiders,
who complained that the offensive odorS
issuing from the chimney fue consti-
tuted a nuisance. 1t was discovered,
however. after the plant HAD been con-
demned, that the disgusting smells did
not emanate from the cremat0ry, but
from large peat bog that had been
burning all summer in Southeast Min
neapolis. This placed the aldermen in
an embarrassing position, and rather
than to admit their hastineSs and be-
come the laughing stock of their con-
Stituents they bolStered up their nerve
and stood pat"
The city is now practically in the
same condition it was before Che prob
lem of the disposal of waste matter was
agitated. The dead animals are removed
to the stockyaFds, and the garbage.
animal manure and other offensive re-
fuse is dumped into the Mississippi
river. The city now maintains two
dumps-or, rather two nulsances. One
is on Hennepin island, near the Tenth
avenue bridge, and the other is at the
nn6 of tho MochinrioT1
bridge. When the water is low the
refuse aecumulateS- on the banks and
shoals or the river, and creates a null
sance which makes life a burden to
those who unfOrtu Dately have to con-
tend with IT. The night soil is depos-
tied at the lower dump, and the banks
of the river for mile below are heav-
lily encrusted with this refuse. which
causes
AN INTOLERABLE NUISANCE.
IL citizen commits crime by main
tanning petit nuisance in back yard,
what does the city do when it maintains
gigantic nuisance that doubtless has
been the primary or ultimate cause of
several hundred deaths during the past
two years?
1t is not probable that medical science
has been sufficiently developed that the
origin of any sickness that results in
death can be directly traced to the city's
nuisance, but any person with common
sense. after thoroughly studying the
question, will be convinced that the Of
fensive aroma that permeates the air
along the banks OF the river is anything
but conducive to health.
THE DEATH RATE STATISTICS
in Health Commissioner Kilyington's
annual report show that the Sixth and
Seventh wards. which are near the
river, have been especially unhealthy
during the past year. The number of
deaths in the Sixth ward has been
nearly double that of any of the other
twelve wards, and perhaps it might not
be amiss to presume that the vitiated
atmosphere that results from the refuse
on the banks of the river has had tell
ing effect on the mortality.
If street cleaning plays as prominent
q part as experts claim for the preserva-
ton of health, it would seem as though
it would be an absolute necessity that
the banks and shoals of the river which
runs Though the center of Minneapolis
should be kept free from decomposable
substance.
THERE Is NO BETTER
investment for community than that
which tends 10 preserve the health of
its citizens. The demorahZing effect of
epidemics upon cities is too well known
to need any comment.
Under the present order Of things the
citizens of Minneapolis are absolutely
at sea as to where the Jurisdiction pe-
poses affecting the grievances they suf-
fer frOm-bad plumbing (Which often
causes sewer gas), filthy vaults, ETC..
and it is not to be wondered at that
every now and then the health depart
ment is roasted by some eXaSperated
person. The last legislature formulated
certain laws for the health department,
but they were not comprehensive enough
to meet all requirements Of a perfect
sanitary system.
"a mans house Is his castle. If he
maintains nuisance there it is his
business, not the business of the de-
partment. If the nuisance causes sick
ness the health department can
quarantine the house." That Is
the substance of an opinion recently
made by Judge Emery, of the municipal
court. While that may be sanctioned
as law 1t is not good sense. and should
be annulled, for the simple reason that
the result of infection is sonthing terri
BILE. Take for instance sewer gas aris-
ing from defective plumbing, which
causes diphtheria, or some other malig-
nant disease, and the patient, before he
is quarantined, travels about and
spreads the infection far and wide.
1t is very evident that remedial legis-
lation is needed regarding the abate-
ment of nuisances, and the city officials
vide some other means for the final dis
posaI of the refuse of the city.
THE National OT1TFO0u