Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-09-17
a TIME FOR ACTION.
The City Authorities should Not Plsy ut
Cleaning Up the Town.
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Cleaning Up the Town.
To the Editor Ofths REGISTER.
SIR:-From personal observation, and
from reports which reach me as TO the'
tenor of the talk at the last meeting or
two of the Council Committee on
Health, it occurs to me that II we are
really confronted with the emergency
of probable visitation from cholera,
the local health authorities, and those
who should cooperate with them, have
not, as yet, distinguished themselves IN
the proper manner. There seems TO De
decided tendency to take hold OF
matters in a half hearted manner, ana
TO work at cross purposes. Health
officer Spragg has, l believe, lnaug uF-
ated his share of the work in as nearly
the right manner as the facilities at his
command will permit, but from lack
of both means and method, the good
which has so far resulted is not appar-
emit to the average citizen. Let US look
at the actual situation.
The crematory is confessedly In pad
shape, either from lack OF gas or some
other cause, and has barely been able to
handle, during the past three weeks,
the stuff coming to it through the orol-
nary course Of scavenger work. AT the
same time it is notorious that the gar
bage has not been removed as prescribed
by ordinance, and the fact that over
thousand orders to "clean up" nave
been issued shows the inetficiency OF
the scavenger system in ordinary times.
II the facilities for destroying NTH are
not more than barely equal to the work
when the filth isn't collected, what shall
we look for when there is semolance
OF an effort at cleanliness, and when,
say, one-half OF those receiving notices
set about carrying out the orders given
them? What will be done with the
stuff accumulated? Is it to be gathered
together simply to pollute the air after
having been stirred up and all its latent
powers in the way OF breeding disease
germs developed?
Secondly. what provision has been
made for disinfecting filthy localities?
If an alley has been a dumping ground
for such an extent that the Board OF
Public Works is called upon, in time OF
threatened evasion by pestilence, TO
clean it, is it not probable that the filth
saturated soil needs attention? III so,
what has been done in that direction,
or what Is TO be done? If sewers re-
vuire flushing because of their accumu-
lations OF filth and their foul smell, do
they not also require publication in an
other direction? If not, why not? The
Health Committee has ordered three
barrels of lime and fifty pounds or cop
peras! Is this done, ia good faith, for
the publication of city of forty thou
sand people, or is it merely to be used
as q beginning, to make somewhat
sweeter the foul-smelling apartment In
the basement of the City Hall?
The Superintendent Of the water
works is said TO object TO the use OF
water from the reservoir for flushing
sewers. Is this true, and If so, has he
good cause for the objection? Ii he
has, why are not fire engines ordered to
the river to pump water3
These queries might be extended.
Let me suggest, Mr.. Editor, as a citi-
zen, that this is not time for foolish
ness. We are either confronted with a
serious state of affairs, or we are not.
If there is an element of danger in the
situation, and there is necessity for
action by the city health authorities,
let the action be commensurate with the
need. II the crematory is imperative
or inadequate, let there be a prompt and
vigorous remedy applied. If disinfect-
ants are needed, fifty pounds of cop
peras will hardly fill the bill. If garbage
is not collected in ordinary times, the
same means can scarcely be sufficient in
times like these. II there is not suf-
ficient water in the reservoir for use in
flushing sewers, let it be pumped from
the river by fire engines. If the Board
of Public Works, or any other depart
ment is not making an efficient effort,
let there be correction at once.
If there is going to be visitation OF
cholera, there is necessity for energy.
If not, why these inefficient etfortsP A
new crematory, to burn coal If gas is
short, could be built in ten days, work
ing day and night, II necessary. There
are plenty of idle men and lots Of teams
available to remove filth and garbage.
Disinfectants are cheap, and the water
in the Ohio can be turned into the sew
ers and used to flush the streets from
the pumps of four fire engines, if the
plugs cannot be used. If it is worth
while doing anything at all, let Council
order move all along the line. Three
weeks have been largely wasted so far.
CTTTYUN