The record-union., 1891-06-11

skeleton in the closet is to take it out,
rattle its bones and give ita decent burial.
Sacramento can take no harm from the
truth. It's concealment in such case as
that of retained sewage would be little
less than crime. To secure reform the
evil to be corrected must be exposed.
This rebuke by the Improvement AS
sociation members was preceded few
hours by report to the Trustees by
Committee of Inspection of Sewage and
Sewage Dispositions appointed by the
Mayor. This committee, led by ply
sician, reports in a manner that reflects
upon the statements of the Health Officer
1t proceeds-after treating of the possi-
bility of cutting out the drainage canal
and supplying it with new outlet ways,
from which to pump into the river. as a
means of handling the surface drainage
to do precisely what the RECoRD-UNIoN
did week earlier. That is to point out
that the sewage must be shut out of the
canal, and for the present trained to
and pumped into the river while per-
manent method is being settled upon.
The committee then proceeds to defend
Sacramento's health record and to show
that we have very low death rate; that
cesspools and foul sewers are not breed
ers of or aid to diphtheria, typhoid fever,
cholera, etc.; that the porous character of
our soil and the rise and fall of water in
it minimizes the danger of soil pollution
by filth-pits and cesspools, and so on.
Nevertheless the committee thinks our
sewage disposal methods ought to be
radically reformed. But if retention in
the soil under the enforced system of
''emptying and cleansing is not danger
Gus, why we should make provision for
other sewage disposal, or the care of
offal and sewage from factories, is not
comprehensive.
The truth is, them Health Officer did
not say that the public health of the city
is bad he did not say that the death rate
is high; he did not say that zymotic
diseases prevail. He did say that our
sewage disposal system is very bad that
all other conditions are SO good for this
city; that it is one of such high promise,
beauty and excellence, that its defective
sewage system is like a repulsive ulcer
upon clean, fair body, and ought to be
taken out at once; that we do by storing
sewage set up conditions that are a
menace to the people; that filth-pits and
cesspools are disease breeders, offenses to
eye and nostrils, and shame to an other
wise cleanly people.
Despite the committee. which appears
In part to be of the Improvement Asso-
citation also, we venture to range our
selves with the Health officer in his state
ment that the cesspools and filth-pits are
not the innocent affairs the committee
would have the people believe. DR..
Nichols by bare possibility may be wrong.
but just now he has all sanitary author
~ A AAA IiiehC ID any WHcT0 near
abreast of the intelligence and cleanli-
ness of the age. He is ''a new man., and
"a rustler," it is true, and we are aware
that new men and rustlers are obnoxious
to the old coach and stone in the bag. 90
day, come day sort of people. We need
new men and rustlers to stir the blood in
some of the animated corpses that are
holding the city pinned down to tradi-
tions ofa dead past and the conditions of
a ifeless present.
The RECORD UNION never has per-
sonal candidates (; it is never the advocate
of men and has no man-worshiping SEN
timent about it. But it does believe in
standing by courageous officials who
strive to do their duty. It commends the
energy and courage of DIR. Nichols. there
fore. Though it had at no time any con-
ference with that gentleman and took its
position without knowledge of his views,
it was aware that in endeavoring to put
this city into a cleanly condition, and to
still further better its health and mortal
ity records, he had brought upon him the
opposition of classes before whom he will
be forced down unless the people stand
by him.