Feliciana sentinel., 1892-09-17
LEADING TOPICS.
Cholera, the Strikes and the
Worlds air in Chicago.
The Worlds Fate City Regarded Safe
from the AsiaLic Scourge-The Head
quarters OF the SsrItclsmen-
Worlds Fair OnicerS.
Especial Chicago Correspondence.

The march of the cholera through.
the countries of Europe, its prevalence
at the seaport towns and proba biiity ct
its being brought to this country, give
rise to some serious apprehensions at
the present time with regard to an en-
terprise in which all Americans are
alike interested, whether Chicagoans
or not.
What would become of the worlds
fair if we had the cholera here next
season? What provision can Chicago
make to protect herself? Are her san
itary conditions and arrangements such
as to afford sufficient safeguard against
the Asiatic scourge:
This question was propounded to a
doc.ur and chemist. He said in the first
place he had no doubt the cholera
would reach here in spite eff all precau-
tions. lie hoped, however, it could he
fought long enough to allow cold
weather to set in before it reached
here. In that case it would not do
much harm, as the germs were not ac-
tive in cold weather. But the danger
was, in that case, that the plague
would appear in force next summer
during the worlds fair.
The cholera scare is not a new
thing, even in recent years. The dis
ease appeared repeatedly in Asia and
Europe during the past ten years. Each
time it was predicted that it would
reach this country, but each time
we escaped it. 1t is true, it never came
so close as to the seaports of Hamburg
and Havrc. But even now it is by no
means assured that the germs will
reach this country. In spite of the
gloomy predictions of some physicians
] am inclined to think we shall escape
the scourge this time as we did before.
At all events no one should yield to
fear, for that is the greatest promoter
of disease.
SupposinS. however. the disease
should reach this country the question
arises, how is Chicago equipped to fight
it? 1t may be well to make IA statement
of the sanitary condition of the city for
the purpose of counteracting any ap-
prehension that may be caused by con-
sidcring the possibility of having the
cholera here next year. Itmay as we'll
be admitted that should the cholera be
here in 1898 it would be a serious blow
to the worlds fair and might necessi-
tate 4 postponcment if not an abandon
ment of the enterprise. For while the
actual danger to life might not be
great th"re would ~ar+";.1- - >,--.-;.
that would keep people away and re-
ducc the attendance so as to make the
fair a failure.
There is very little reason. however,
to be afraid of an epidemic in Chicago.
The principal elements that transmit
diseases and make them epidemic are
absent in this city. The entire plan of
the city is such that it admits air and
plenty of it. the streets are wide and
straight, giving the wind free sweep
through them. 1t is true there are
some places where poor people are
huddlcd together in close, unclean
quarters, but they are few and widely
scattered. The sewerage system of
Chicago is excellent. Built on what
used to be a swamp and scarcely above
the level of the rivers and lakes now
intersecting the city, the entire
territory of the city. so far as i'm
proved, was raised over nine feet in
order to give sufficient fall to the
drainage waters, and it is a rare thing
for the sewers to get SO full that the
water backs up and enters the base
mcntS.
The chief transmitter of diseases is
admitted TO be the drinking water.
There was some complaint about this
during the spring freshe'S, but ut pres
ent it is in good condition. and since
the new Lake View inlet was connect
ed the quality of the water on the
North side has improved remarkably.
The new tunnel which will take in
water four miles out in Lake Michigan
will be ready for use in short time,
and thus a supply of pure water Is as
surcd. As to the worlds fair itself the
grounds have been provided with an
extensive water system, drawing ITS
supply from Il crib located III Lake
Michigan far enough south to be out of
the way of what little pollution may
he caused by the traffic on the lake.
The sewage is not carried off by the
usual flushing system but is to be treat
ed chemically and thus rendered harm
luss.
! 10 show the general state of health
! in this city it may be stated that there
was not IL single case of smallpox IN
| 1891. The mortality is remarkably low.
| being a percentage of less than - per
900 of population. This is year
| VIXEN an epidemic OF influenza pre-
vailed.
Additional precautions will be taker
| should the danger from cholera become
| more Immediate ard it is safe 10 say
| that Chicago will be comparatively free
| from the scourge.
The recent strike of the switchner
| at Buffalo, which was ended by a man
| " surrender on the part of the lner
| when they saw they We're beaten
brings to mind the fact that Chicago i:
| the headquarters of the organization tt
W hich they belong and the center o
the railroad labor organizations.
! The Grand lodge OF the Switchmeut
| Mutual Aid association is located o.
| Pacific avenue opposite the board o
| trade 1t was the headquarters from
| which emapated the plan for organiz
| ing what was known as the tnitet
Order of Railway Employees. commonl,