The record-union., 1892-08-31
CLEANING UP.

The energy with which the authorities
have gone to work in San Francisco to
cleanse the city is worthy of all praise,
and especially is commendation due for
the determination to purge Chinatown of
its invitation to disease In this the
Chinese head men, the Consul and the
Six Companies, have seconded-indeed,
Ied-the authorities. The chances are
that San Francisco will leave nothing
undone to prevent cholera lodgment.
We have Chinatown infinitely worse
than that of San Francisco, because it is
located in a warmer climate and has
poorer drainage and is not frequently
enough patrolled by health officers. 1t
would be simple precaution to have the
Chinese ConsuPs proclamation sent here
for distribution, if it has not yet been
done. 1t is said TO have exercised a re-
markable influence upon the Chinese in
San Francisco, and to have set them to
work, in the matter of cleaning up, with
spirit that is full of hope for thorough
cleansing or Chinatown.
We cannot afford to delay here. The
cholera may not come-there is strong
reason for the hope that it will not-but if
it does it must find US prepared, SO well
prepared that though this is warm val
ley the pes viii find here no invitation to
hnger. Every day of delay will but in
crease the danger and augment the NOR
tality when the pest reaches us, which
everyone hopes may not happen, and
which preparation will tend to prevent.
But the sanitation of the cities of Cali
fornia must not be left to health officers
only. They are few in number, and their
work Will be slow when the vast task be-
fore them is considered. The help thew
need, that which will give US earliest re-
suits, is the aid each householder can
render. Let every one living upon lot
as tenant or owner at once see to it that
the drainways are cleansed, the cesspools
ventilated and rendered inuocuous: the
filth pits disinfected; the subfoor spaces
ventilated if possible, and if not that they
be disinfected, mold, and rotting matter
be removed or negatived if it cannot be
taken out. All house pipes should be
cleaned by the most powerful agencies
the health officers advise: sinks should
be kept clean; garbage receptacles
frequently cleansed; ventilator pipes to
cesspools and water-closets should be car
ried well up into the air above the house.
tops, and current of air induced through
them.
All decaying vegetable and animal mat
ter should be burned, never buried; fire
is the great disinfectant and DESTROYER
shallow burial of rotting matter is often
worse than exposure to the action of the
sun; under no circumstances should the
householder permit burial of such matter
in the lot on which ne resides. The house.
the stable and the outnouses should be
cieansed very thoroughly, and kept in
good ventilation.
The people ought to consider them
any who throw decaying matter into the
streets or alleys; the alley is great con-
venience, but it is made also by the care
less and contemptuous great nuisance.
1t is the most difficult of highways to
keep clean and ought to have daily at
tention and be made as pleasantly passa-
bic as is the street.
These are but suggestions that indicate
how the householder can aid the officials.
With every householder acting city can
be thoroughly cleansed in a week. Once
done, to keep it in good sanitation is not
difficult task, and clean city diligently
patrolled by fearless health officers can
not suffer much from the cholera; it de-
spises cleanliness and will give us the go
by if we are diligent and thorough and
give no heed to the cranks and careless
and the few who believe sanitary science
TO be yalueless.