The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1892-09-02
SHOULD ACT AT ONCE.

Elsewhere 10 tonight's issue will be
found notice from the Secretary of
the State Board of Health recon-
mending that the utmost precaution
be taken throughout Minnesota
toward preventing an outbreak of the
cholera here, should it appear upon
this side of the water. He advises
that strict cleanliness be insisted up
on, and that all filth and everything
tending to the breeding of disease be
promptly removed. The matter which
this circular calls attention should be
promptly attended to by those whose
business it is to look after such mat
tiers. Every foot of the great state of
Minnesota should be put in such
shape, that should that dread disease
be brought to this country, it will find
nothing here to feed upon. Filth is
the great breeder of cholera when
that disease exists. That removed
the great danger from it as an cpl
demic is taken away. 1t is useless
to get needlessly alarmed over the
matter, but it is well to get aroused
to point where every proper precau-
tion will be insisted upon and taken.
In this respect Mankato should
move at once. The conditions of por-
tions of the city are such that should
cholera ever reach here it would find
an excellent field in which to work.
For weeks and months our local
Board of Health has tried to get some
thing done that would lessen the dan
ger to the city from epidemics and
contagious diseases. But in vain. 1t has
appealed to the common council that
action be taken that would cause some
improvement to be made in this line.
The matter has been dallied with I'M
til the point where forbearance ceases
to be virtue has about arrived. Some
of the alleys and by-wayS in the city,
especially in the vicinity of Front
street are reeking with filth, and the
health officers have time and again
poiuted out the danger to the people
which is lurking therein. They have
formulated a plan whereby this dam
ger can be removed or at least re-
duced to a minimum point and had
an ordinance prepared and presented
for the approval Of the council, where
by these ideas may be enforced and
the health of the city placed beyond
question. But the city legislators
dawdle away their time on incOnSe-
quential matters and allow the filth
to accumulate, and the pest-holes to
send forth their sinking OdorS to en-
danger the health of the entire city.
But the time has arrived when some
thing must be done. To longer delay
the matter is criminal and if the
council will not join with the Board
of Health in taking every step posi-
BILE for the future safety of the city,
then mass meeting of our citizens
should be called and public senti-
ment created that can not be resisted
Our city should be thoroughly clean
ed from end to end at once. The rec
concentrations of the health officers
should be carried out to the letter.
The expense which this would entail
would be mere bagatelle to the loss
of human life that might result from
an epidemic in our midst, for human
life cannot be reckoned in dollars and
cents.
MankatO may not have the cholera
even though it should reach Our
shores, and with the steps that are
being taken there is every reason to
believe that danger from that source
is very remote, but that in no way
lessons the responsibility that rests
upon our citizens to see that the city
is thoroughly cleaned at once. In
time of war it is always a good plan
to he ready to meet the enemy An
ounce of prevention is worth more
than pound Of cure.
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