Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1892-09-26
CONDITION OF FREELAND.
THE TOWN AS SEEN BY THE BOARD
OF HEALTH.

Health in the Borough.
The members of the borough council
met in special session on Thursday even
ing for the purpose of hearing the report
OF the board of health. The members
OF both bodies were all present. The
meeting was called to order by President
DOORS, after which DIR. A. S. Mcknight
secretary of the board of health, pre-
sented and read the report. 1t was
approved and is as follows:
FREELAND, Pa, Sept. 20, 1892.
To the Council of Freeand Borough
Pursuant to the resolution of your coun-
Gil, passed September 6, 1892, the board
of health met the evening of above date
in the Office of DR.. Frank Schilcher, and
organized by appointing DR.. Frank Schl-
cher as president and DR.. A. S. Nc
Knight, secretary. John B. Quigley,
appointed as health officer of the Dor.
ough, was indorsed by the board.
1t was ordered that none of the moneys
appropriated to the use of the board by
the council shall be used, nor any bills
contracted by the board be paid, unless
signed by the president and secretary of
said board.
The secretary of the state board of
health of Pennsylvania was notified of
the appointment of a local board of
health, and asked for rules, regulations,
etc These supplies were received by
the secretary, and cover all the subjects
concerned in sanitation, sewerage, nu-
sances, contagious diseases, preservation
of public health, etc.
Any councilman or citizen of this state
and borough need not be ignorant of such
important matters. These supplies are
for his welfare and inspection, and all
information will be cheerfully furnished
by the board by applying to any men,
per, or the secretary of the same, or the
health officer.
By order of the board circulars were
printed and circulated, advocating clean
Ilness, the abatement of nuisances, etc
Posters were also printed and displayed
over the borough intimating a removal
OF alley nuisances and disinfection of
same, calling upon all people to keep do
nestle animals fowl, etc, off the streets,
alleys and lots, while the same was being
done.
An inspection of the borough was be-
gun by the board and continued eyery
day between the hours of 9 and 4 P. NJ,
until the borough limits were reached.
The result of these inspections would
astonish you. The president N the
board has the list. 1t is not advisable
that names be mentioned in this report.
The street commissioner was notified,
and by his direction, and under the su-
pervision of the health officer, men,
horses and wagons were engaged, and
the board has the pleasure of stating
that every alley in the borough has been
cleaned up, garbage, offal and rubbish
removed, the alleys disnfected, and
never in the history of the borough has
the work been so well done.
But we would regretfully say, that
while so much has been done, there is
still much more to be done. We men
tion few, viz:
|. Water closets to the number of
twenty or thirty are overfowing the
surface. Two-thirds of all the water
closets in the borough need disinfection,
and at least one-half need cleansing.
II. Stables are filled with accumulated
manure, garbage, offal, and in many in
stances your board would report that
they are used for family water closets.
Ill. Pig-pens are in very filthy con-
dition, and by reason of their faulty con-
struction are positive nuisances, the
stencil being almost unbearable.
~. Manure piles are allowed to accu-
mulate near to street and alley lines, and
every rain washes the material over the
same, and animals, fowl etc., scatter the
matter over the cleaned up portions of
said streets and alleys.
V. Premises, particularly yards and
lots, are made the dumping ground for
all kinds of filth and garbage, offal, etc.,
and allowed to accumulate in great
heaps. Cellars also are little better than
cesspools, by reason of rains and no
drainage.
VI. By reason of above facts and con-
ditions, we have had in the past dipthe
ria, scarlet fever, spotted fever, and
numerous contagious diseases, too manv
to mention.
When any contagious disease breaks
out in house or family, there is no at
tempt at preventing the spread of such
disease. The inmates of such house 90
wherever and whenever they please-to
churches, halls, from house to house.
The well mingle with the sick. The
children of the household are allowed to
go to our public schools, to Sunday
schools, to entertainments, etc. In cases
of death the corpses are kept the regula-
ton three days, public funeral allowed,
iiichuo aiu pubilC my lleu, Olu die yOuuS
are allowed to kiss the corpse, and so
the disease marches on.
In the light of this nineteenth CEN
tury, with the knowledge we have of
disease and its prevention, knowing that
filth is the abiding home of disease and
that it is not essential to our condition,
to allow it to remain, accumulate and be
blown and washed over this borough, is
crime. 1t means pestilence, sickness
and death. AS board of health we ask
that remedy be used.
With no desire other than desire for
the welfare of the community we ask
that wherever the ordinances at present
existing are defective, to amend the
same; that where we have no ordinances
touching these points that new ordin-
ances be created. We have an ordinance
relating to small pox. But by reason of
vaccination small pox is almost a thing
of the past.
Should we as board of health, allow
matters to 90 on in this way, when we
know we ask only what is right and
proper, is to prove false to our duties as
good citizens and faithful officers. We