The record-union., 1892-11-16
A LESSON AND A PROPOSITION.

For the month of October the health
reports show that the mortality was the
lowest in this city known for several
years, and that the sanitary condition
was remarkably good. This was due
nnquestionably to the cholera scare of
August and September, the result of
which was general cleaning Of premises,
cleansing of drains and cesspools, and
removal of decaying matter, supple
mented by disinfection of premises and
stricter enforcement of the sanitary laws.
The questions very naturally suggest
themselves: "Why should the city re-
turn to its former state, and why should
it not be kept in good sanitary condition
all the timer" There is not only no rea-
son why it should relapse, but every
reason why it should not. 1t can be
made the rule, as well as not, that every
day and week of the year shall have a
good sanitary record. The verdict of
cleanliness costs nothing it is a money
maker and comfort promoter. 1t costs
infinitely less to keep premises and
streets clean than to fee doctors and pay
for occasional hasty clean-ups.
Just as soon as is possible we want to
get rid of our cesspool system, dispose of
garbage by cremation, and of sewage by
chemical precipitation. Those things ac-
complished, this city would enjoy a
health record second to but one in the
United States, and could laugh at cholera
threats.
We submit to the people this question:
''Why not employ the next three months
an examination of drainage systems, and
selection of two or three out of the best
that are adapted to our situation, and
then proceed to estimate closely the cost
of each?" This done, we would be ready
to put into use the most economic the
moment we feel financially able. To go
into this examination and ascertain these
facts, will cost Sacramento about $500.
We submit that the game is worth the
candle.
We arrive at the figure given in this
manner. Let the Trustees appoint five
citizens who, for public spirit. will serve
their fellow citizens; an engineer, a finan-
cier, physician specially informed in
sanitary science, a thorough mechanic or
builder, and the Street Commissioner.
These to be requested to act as a commit
tee of advice and information to the
Board.of Trustees. They to be allowed a
clerk at 500 for full service, and S1O0 for
stationery. postage and expenses incl
dental to meetings. This committee, by
correspondence, should secure reports of
the experience of other cities in sewage
disposal, copies of their surveys, bills of
expense, cost of operations of systems.
etc. The committee should report about
March 1st its judgment as to what sys-
tenn is best adapted to this city, and its
probable cost. We will thus have a basis
upon which to rest future operations.
The difficulty in this city always has
been that we delay repairing the root un-
Ill the rain sets in; we do not provide fo1
water until the fire begins to burn; we
put off to the last moment that which
must be done. AS a result what we do is
done hastily and at undue cost.
A single example will prove this truth
Last April the RECORD UNION called at
tention to the need for levee improve
ment and urged that plan and the cost
be looked into then, that when agreed to
the necessary legal steps could be taken
in ample time. But despite urging moth
ing was done until late in the summer,
and work not begun until about the Ist
of November. Winter will find us, there
fore, with unpacked lavees, fresh and
soft, and not hare and arm, as if we had
built them two or three months earlier
which we might have had done just as
well as later.
So, too, no steps were taken to clear
up the city and enforce health laws rig.
idly until the cholera actually reached
the United States, though the warning
and the need were constantly presented
to the people and the authorities, by tbs
city press, for months before.