The morning call., 1892-09-10
need MORE INSPECTORS.
The Mayor and Health Officer
Want Them.
TWELVE MEN ASKED FOR.
But While the Mayor Is Willing to Accept
"Ths Calls" Offer, Or. Keeney
Still Hesitates.
TWELVE MEN ASKED FOR

Officer Keeney yesterday. There should
be twelve additional men TO the six now
employed. The present force is over
worked Hundreds Of complaints OF exist
ing nuisances are coming in, and the force
of inspectors is inadequate to pay proper
attention to these complaints.
Z" If they find complaint is just the occu-
pant is notified to abate the nuisance with
in twenty-four hours. but the inspector has
no time to see that the requirement is car
RED out, as he has to investigate new conf
plants.
"There should be second OK auxiliary
force of inspectors to see that the parties
have complied with the notice, and If not.
to take measures to abate the nuisance at
the expense of the property-0wner or holder.
This cannot be effectually done with the
present limited force.
IF the Fnan, e Committee of the Super
visnrs will give me means to employ addl-
tional inspectors will put them at work at
once and stir people up to the necessity of
abating existing nuisances and prevent
future iDfractionS of sanitary laws.
This shows that DR.. Keeney is fully alive
to the needs of the hour.
Warning has come from the Atlantic coast
that the deadly scourge OF AslatIc cholera
threatens the country.
The latest telegraphic news is not reas-
suring. The public safety turns upon one
supreme need, and that is the thorough
cleansing of this city Of San Francisco from
all impurities that the cholera may find no
fertile Judgment for the disease germs.
Before the city can be cleaned, and in
order that IL be kept clean after the abate-
ment of all nuisances, there must be vigil
liant and continuous sanitary inspection.
The force employed by the health au-
thorities is utterly inadequate for this mo-
mentous work.
DIR. Keeney, the Health Officer, has asked
for the appointment Of twelve additional
health inspectors and an additional appro-
priatlon of $1,000 to meet the critical emer-
gency.
Those familiar with the highways and
byways of san Francisco and with the filth
fostering In many out-of-the-way places
need not be told that DR.. keeney has not
asked too much. But what is to be said at
this juncture of his course in hesitating TO
accept tenders of voluntary aid In his
work?
THE MORNING CALL has offered to fur
niSh additional aid.
1t proposed to pay for the services of
competent aud reputable physician as an
additional inspector, to be subject TO the
orders and discipline Of the Board OF Health
and DR.. Keeney himself. The expense
would not be light by any means, but The
OAl4L Is NiIiuS " Ucdi IL.
The offer has not yet been accepted.
An iii" stands in the way, though there
ought to be no Ifs" about 1t.
IF / find il necessary to avail myself
of your laudable proposition ! will notify
YOU"
makes to the timely prefer of help, and
then he asks the Supervisors for twelve
more inspectors.
Who will say that the necessity Is not
obvious and was not obvious long ago.
DR.. Keeney is kind enough to say that the
proposition is .'laudabe."
Mayor Sanderson, who Is the executive
head of the city and is president Of
the Board of Health, fully realizes the neces-
sity.
His own reply to THE CALL offer when
first made is in evidence.
In his letter of acknowledgment he
wrote:
"Your very liberal offer will meet. have
no doubt, with a cheerful response on their
the Health Boards part"
In his office he spoke about 1T as follows:
1.-The offer is too good 10 refuse. The
presence and cooperation of such ply
stefan as THE CALL proposes to lend us Will
be invaluable. l am confident that the
board will recognize this fact and do nothing
to hinder THE CALLS good work. A re-
fusal would be unwse from many points of
view"
enlightened and sagacious officer He
recognizes the peril, faces it and counts the
aid of allies in the tremendous labor in
volyed in its removal.
The Demon of Filth in all populous cities
is like the tabled hydra-headed monster
slain by Hercules, the greatest scavenger of
mythology, for he cleaned the Augean
stable.
The Demon of Filth no sooner suffers the
loss of one OF his ten thousand heads than
another takes its place.
One dreaded nuisance is no sooner abated
than another quickly arises to menace the
public health.
Until those who accumulate filth and
scatter 1t on the street and heap it in back
yards are taught by penalties the evil of
their WAYS the mischief will be repeated and
filth will accumulate.
The local health inspection corps should
be Te-eDforced, In order that a campaign
against the common enemy be successfully
waged and maintained.
If DIR. keeney. for any reason of his own,
does not want newspapers physician and
agent to help him. he certainly ought TO get
aid elsewhere as soon as possible.
He says he needs all the help he can get,
and nobody will deny the assertion.
Let new inspectors be appointed at once,
and let the city guard against the incoming
OF the scourge.