The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-08-01

TIMELY SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT.
President OF the Board of Health.
Bad House Connections.

nized authority are eagerly sought for and rea
by the public
TINES reporter approached DR.. T.
Strstton, formerly president of the Board O
Health yesterday to get his views on the sub
iect referred to. In reply to the question
asking mis- opinion of the condition of tn
health of Richmond. he said:
As an humble citizen of Richmond. borr
and raised here have noted with exultan
pride her phenomenal rise and progress.
have been proud of her natural advantages
her healthfuness, her immunity from pesti-
lence and epidemics and have contemplated
with modification, almost dismay. her rapid
decline IN sanitary point of view and the
pltia6le place she now occupies as a healthy
city"
| DO you not think immediate steps should
be taken TO correct any evils that may exist in
| this direction
Yes, sir it is time that we retrieve the
| errors Of the past. redeem our city. and place
| her in the front rank again as one Of the
| healthiest cities in the world, cognizant OF the
fact that priceless lives are held in the bal
ance."
WHILE PRESIDENT.
did you not give the matter now under dis
| cussiOl considerable attention while president
| of the Board of Health"
Very naturally / did. and therefore it is
with no spirit Of egotsm that | refer TO the
| past when suggestions are made for the good
of our city, but rather with the hope that. 9TH
ers now coinciding with me. these suggestions
may tbe deemed OF sufficient value 20 be
made practical. First in regard to the sugges-
ton Of DR.. Oppenhimer as to the inspection If
plumbing.
When president of the Board Of Health
besides other inspections made by me as soon
IL of HIpbfbarfq M
fever was reported. at once visited the house
and made thorough examination of 1t and
the surroundings.
I'm this way became well acquainted with
the system Of connections usually made and
il was from an experience based on observa-
ton that wrote page "a, report of 1886. and
as my views have undergone no change will
refer you TO that report which IS as follows:
THE REPORT.
I've candidly believe that the greater pro-
portion Of our houses are not rightly connect
ed. We have thought deeply on this subject
and are constrained 10 admit that this portion
of our department is wretched failure. Cul-
vert connections are ordered by us. but only
two persons have ever notified us when they
were ready TO make the connections Per
mits are granted from the City Engineers
Office. the work is finished, the premises
marked connected and that is the extent of
the sanitary officers work.
Whether cement or mortar is used, We
know not. whether the pipe was of the right
size. of material that would last for a month
or for years is unknown: whether the ventila-
ton was complete or not we are never IN
formed; unless requests are afterwards made
for us TO examine tne premises we are at sea
Surely the.liyes Of our citizens are too pre-
ciOus thus 10 be tempered with. but year by
year proves the dreadful consequences OF our
folly.
I've do not believe we can hope tolessen the
force Of the above named d seases (diphtherIa.
scarlet and typhoid feyers) or report much
smaller mortality from zymotic or miasmatic
diseases generally until different sanitary
arrangement as 20 house connections
and sanitary inspections are decided on. We
need as inspectors professional plumbers with
the mechanical knowledge Of their trade to
do justice 10 this Office frsught with so much
interest 10 the welfare OF this community.
ewouldsug gest that all permits Recount
ersigned by them before the owner receives
the work as finished, and that they be held
responsible for the character Of the work
after it has passed their supervision.
HOUSE coNNEcTIoNs.
page %. The sanitary advantages accru-
ing from house connection with the sewerage
system Of our city the city and rain water
referred to in the first of the chapter cannot
be too highly estimated. but il behOoves US
to guard well that which may truly be asayOr
of life unto life 10 us or death unto death.
A most rigid inspection of these connec-
tons should be absolutely and unquellhedly
insisted upon II is useless to have sewers TO
RID us Of Nth when the concentrated essence
Of II is taken into our chambers, causing germ
poisoning and disease. and death striking
down with ruthless hand the falrest aud best
of our household. The sewer gas pressed up
into house connections should be carried off
by conductors and the closets ventilated out
OF the tops of houses. Care should be taken
that these conductors be OF iron and not tin.
Several houses have recently been examined
where the ventilation was seemingly perfect
but diffusion Of sewer gas had been taking
place for months through the tin tubing
corroded by the effects Of the sewerage rs it
entered the iron conductor leading into the
sewer, and we note that III two houses child
rem had died of diphtheria
The Superintendent of the City Water
Works and President OF the Board OF Health
recently prepared Gil ordinance Tor the better
arrangement of the closet system, by which
the entrance of sewer gas would be effectively
prevented, and presented II TO the conSldeTa-
ton Of the City Council.
I've regret that this ordinance never passed
nor were the inspectors appointed. cOnse-
quentiy the house inspections that we hoped
for never took place.
EXTENSION OF MAINS.
Page 2Si: We would respectfully recon-
mend the extension of the water mains as fast
as practicable. so that they may soon per-
meate every portion of our city; that all prem
ises be supplied with water. the water to be
charged for and collected as city taxes, and
that an ordinance be passed fOrbidding the
use Of well water as fast as the mains are |
extended into the different localities of the |
city.
I'm regard to DR.. Oppenhimers other sug-
gestion. we copy from page 80. report 1885, |
During the year some of our citizens took Is !
sue with us in regard 10 running water cOnuec- |
tons with sewer connections. We reported the |
cases to the Police Justice, who requested us 10
give our reasons for demanding the water
The letter 10 Hon. ID. 6. |
If Your Honor will notice the |
latter clause of section 81. chapter 80. you will
perceive that il reads as follows TheIowners |
Of lots with houses on them 10 which the city |
water is accessible. &c. IL it were not con- |
that water fixtures should be intro |
duced why it is that We are unable to order |
the culyeTt connections to be made unless the |
city water is ACCESSIBLE
- The Water Committee. recognizing this |
fact, have always followed sewers with water |
mains Hence we do not see how sewer con- |
nections can be complete within the premises |
i we do not follow the general rule as laid |
down by the ordinances without the premises |
The Board OF Health, vested with general |
sanitary supervision over the city III section |
IS. same chapter the power is delegated to |
them that If they shall deem il important 70 |
the health Of any neighborhood or the |