The Portland daily press., 1891-03-18

No. found In bad condition ............ ...... 2l9
No. OF swine ordered removed. 8
No. of vaults; no sewer in street............. 1
No. OF water closets ordered Duit. .........., 100
No. of bad nkdrains, rubbish heaps, &C.,
ordered nxed or removed AIS
No. Of sinks found without traps. l48
No. Ct visits made on account Of contagious
No. Of vaults found in good condition... sS
NO. OF cellars found In good condition....... 289
No. Of sink drains found in good condition. 681
No. Of yards found In good condition......., IA
No. Of visits made, unclassifed, chiefly to
see that orders are carried out, or to
find parties OF whom complaint is made 1908
A comparison Of the above report with
those made in former years will show in
what direction our work changes from year
to year.
HOUSE TO HOUSE INSPECTION.
The necessity Of attending to work result
ing from complaints until the season was
far advanced, prevented the early resump-
tiOn Of house TO house inspection. The sec
tion Of the City now being inspected lies
south of Congress street and between Pearl
and Centre streets, exclusive Of buildings on
the wharves. There are In this section of
the City 1T houses, 421 stores, 442 offices,
176 shops and II stables. There are 12O ac-
cumulative privles, for the most part made
Of plank. 1l3 places without water closets or
privies, 62 without drainage, Ga without wat
er and 81 without sinks Of any kind. This
section has comparatively few dwellings,
but large number OF shops, stores and man
ufactories. Many Of these are found to be
In very unsanitary condition, owing very
largely, IL we may judge from appearances.
to lack Of water for flushing purposes; SO
adopted new rule, which has been duly ap-
proved, requiring all shops, stores or build
iDgs used, occupied OF let for the purpose of
manufacturing OF trade, to be furnished with
suitable and sufficient water closets and uri-
balls, which in respect to their construction
and supply Of water shall be satisfactory to
the Board Of Health. The rule will be found
on another page Of this report.
1t Is surprising that employers, for the sake
Of saving few dollars. will allow their
premises to remain In a condition which
seriously threatens the health Of their en-
pl0yes.
DRAINS AND SEWERS.
There are many portions Of the City still
unse weTed. and these comprise sections
where sewers are most needed, but the ar
preparation which Is put at the disposal Of
the Committee on Drains and Sewers, is too
small to allow the building Of any great
length Of sewers In any one year. With this
appropriation, the committe does the best 1t
can. but the year past 1t has only been able
to build 1888 feet Of sewers. and the list Of
unsewered streets found In the appendix Of
this report will show how much needed a
larger appropriation for this purpose Is.
Where Sebago water Is used, the City
should furnish ample means for Its proper
the Reighborhood Of the dwellings becomes
soaked with sewerage, with all the possible
train OF evil consequences. This Board can
do little permanent good in making owners
and tenants put premises in proper sanitary
conditions where said premises cannot be
connected with the sewers.
1t Is an open question whether this Board
may establish rule requiring all plumbing
work to be done to its approval, but there
can be no question that some official inspec-
tion Of plumbing is necessary. The misera-
BILE make-shifts for plumbing which are
found In some houses, the utter lack Of
knowledge and the cupldity which allows
such work to be done Is almost hey oud belief
In addition to this, but connected with 1t.
are two forms Of nuisances OF which we have
before spoken. but which may receive more
notice now, when the question of water rates
Is receiving so much attention. The first Is,
making the supply of water for water-closets
consist solely OF waste water from sinks. To
say nothing Of the yileness Of connecting
kitchen and other sinks directly with water
supply can be sufficient either In force or
volume. The passing OF a comparatively
small quantity of soapy sink water through
the bowl and soil pipe will not cleanse them,
In fact 1t Is quite sure to add to their foul
ness by reason Of the products of the dis
integrated soap.
The second is the direct supply Of water to
water-closets from pipes so connected with
the house piping that when the water level
falls below the bowl and the kitchen faucet,
foul air Is drawn into the pipes and the sub
sequent How OF water through the pipes be-
comes contaminated thereby. A proper In
spection OF plumbing would prevent these
and other evils.
A NEW HEALTH DEPARTMENT..
The contract for the collection Of house
and fish offal now under the care of Com
mttee of Aldermen, expires on the first of
next May. This contract was for three years,
OF which the City has paid $4,000 per year.
The receipts Of the contractor for collec-
tion Of night-soil were $500 less this year
than last, principally on account of the in-
creased number Of water closets substituted
for accumulative privies. Should this reduc-
tion continue, 1t will become difficult thing
to ind any one willing to take the contract
for this work, involving as 1t does large ex'
pense In preparation for its proper execu'
ti0n. In this case, since the work must be
done, 1t will be necessary for the City to
undertake Ii upon Its own account.
a Committee Of the Board Of Alderman and
Board Of Health showed that from $1,000
| to 1000 were expended by citizens yearly
| In dispOsing Of ashes and house rubbish, by
| far the largest part OF which was absolutely
wasted by being depostlted upon c;,I various
stead Of being intelligently disposed OF
where Il would have been OF great money
value to the City. At that time the joint
Committee unanimously recommended that
| the City should establish department
which should take charge Of the collecting oi
homse and fish offal, ashes and house rub
bish. and the cleansing Of rrivy vaults and
| disposition Of all these.
This Board again renews that recommend
| datiop, believing that such q department
we'll managed would insure a better service
and save money both to the city and citi-
Zens.
THE NORTH SCHOOL.
While not usually considered strictly with.
| In the line Of Its duty, unless formal com.
plant Is made, this Board has from time tC
time included the condition of the various
school buildings amongst its investigations
Soon after the opening of the fall term OF
the school so many complaints were male re.
specting the condition Of the privies and
privy vaults connected with the North
| School house. that the Board made them the
subject Of special examination and, ad
| dressed q communication thereon to the
| Committee of Public Buildings.
Our previous reports sufficiently express
our views upon the foulness Of the place
and we trust that the incoming city govern
ment will see that immediate steps are taker
to remedy the unsanitary state Of things ex
istiRg there.
| CONTAGIOUS DISEASES
We have received from the physicians o