The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-09-03
THE CITy's HEALTH.

Richmond has been exceedingly unhealthy
this summer and iss condition is still very far
from desirable. The mortality has been
mainly confined TO children. and the chief
cause Of the large number Of deaths among
them has been that dread disease diphtheria.
Truth compels us to say that this is due to
a culpable degree to the carelessness OF our
city officials. The report in The TIMgs yes
terday Of the terrible state Of Affairs
in some portions of the city. based
upon tho tour OF inspection made
Tuesday by the Board Of Health proves
this beyond contradiction The terms mol
some" Presidential" and horrible" applied
by our reporter TO the condition of certain
localities, as revealed by this tour, are by DO
means exaggerated. In the district CON-
prised between Byrd street. running around
in q semi-circle 10 Catherine, where diphthera
at present prevails. the most fragrant viola
tons of ordinary common sense rules OF
sanitation were discovered: foul sewage.
pestilential garbage and death dealing filth
were everywhere abundant and the great
wonder is that the localities where this state
Of things has been permitted so long to exist
has not been visited by malignant and muir
derous epidemic.
Nor are complaints Of gross carelessness
in regard 10 these death-breeders confined TO
the district visited and reported on in these
columns. On the Brook road. adjacent to
the city's limits. comes the story OF extreme
filth. which has brought forth legitimate fruit
in the death and serious illness of number
Of persons. and unless something is speedily
done the regular weekly circular Of the Board
Of Health will show a still larger number Of
victims than heretofore OF such gross negh-
gence.
Something should be done. and tie sooner
the better. In the first place. the Board OF
Health. the Health Committee Of the Council
and the police should thoroughly investigate
these complaints and Immediately take steps
to remedy the evil The city unhesi'atingly
spends money in the grading and widening
of her fashionable and thickly settled
thorougLfares. and surely money could not
DO put TO better use than IN the drainage and
sewerage of these localities where the health
of the community Is threatened.
In the next place Shockoe creek should be
looked after. That is the receptacle OF all
the sewage from large and thickly settled
portion Of the city yet it is allowed TO mean
der almost throughout its length according
TO itsI own, anything but sweet, will, chang
ing its course at pleasure, and occasionally
Overlooking its banks. leaving pestilential de-
posts on the surrounding lands. 1t should
be Strengthened wherever practicable and
confined within walls on each side from It's
entrance into the city's limits 10 its mouth.
This is u suggestion which has often been
made but never acted on. Some day that
polluted stream will play havoc IN its neigh
borhood, and then it will be too late to save
the lives of its victims.
Then again we have our blind alleys. The
TIMES has already called attention to the
necessity of their being opened but so far
its warnings have fallen on empty ears. SO
long as these blind alleys are allowed 10 re-
main, so long Will there be in our midst per-
feet nurseries of disease They should be
opened from one end to the other. so that tho
city's garbage carts can easily pass through
them to carry off the accumulations of refuse
which now for hours are allowed to tester and
rot beneath the rays Of the sum- giving out
poisonous gases which are being inhaled III
the lungs and absorbed by the blood Of all
exposed TO their influences. This will cost
money and time. but the cost will be as moth
ing compared with the vast benefit which
would ensue to the entire community.
THR TINES is no alarmst and would
greatly prefer to present the most favorable
side possible of this picture. But its mission
is to speak the truth, and by nothing more
than by the subject Of the city's health is the
plain truth more imperatiyely demanded.