Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-09-03
MUCH ENERGY SHOWN
AT LAST EVENINGS SESSION OF THE CITY
HEALTH BOARD.
The Work Of Putting the City in Better Sanitary
Condition to be Commenced at Oncs-Vari-
GUS Departments Asked to Coop
crate in the Work.

There was a very important joint
session of the Council Committee on
Health and the Board of Public Works,
last evening, at which the sanitary con-
dition of the city was very generally
discussed, and energetic steps taken to
improve the already pretty satisfactory
condition OF the town.
To this end resolutions were passed
enlarging the powers Of the Health
Officer, and calling upon the Board OF
Public Works, the Police Department
the Fire Department, the Gas Board
and the Water Board for aid.
The Health Officer was authorized to
employ an Inspector in each ward, as
we'll as o clerk, and several thousand
circulars, containing sanitary and
health hints, will be distributed through
out the city. Citizens were also asked
to aid in the good work by all means in
their power.
When the meeting had been organized
DR.. Campbell. Chairman of the Board,
said
81 have called the Committee on
Health together, gentlemen, to devise
ways and means, in consequence OF the
cholera scare, to clean up the city.
They are cleaning up everywhere,
and although we are in the
interior, we have direct commu-
nicatlon with Baltimore, and l
consider Baltimore a more dangerous
place for us than New York City. They
have from Baltimore line OF steam
ships to Bremen and another to Ham
burg. 1 had talk with the Health
Officer Of Baltimore while East. They
are cleaning up through the City Health
Board, but have also called TITO aid
everything-the police department, the
firemen, the street cleaning force, etc.
They have also established quarantine
of from three to eight days on vessels.
, They have there what is called police
patrol on the Bay, in conjunction with
Virginia. and they go all over the Bay
continually. All these will aid the SAM
tary and health authorities, and
they will be of great value. They
are laying particular stress upon the
thorough examination of the markets
and the large commission houses, throw
ing out everything not perfect In the
way Of green fruits, etc. The health
inspectors 60 through the markets with
big wagon and dump in all unhealthy
or unwholesome stuff. They ask no
questions, but sweep away all that Is
not fit for food l saw them at work
| in Essex market. They had a big
wagon piled up with all sorts OF things.
I did not actually see much stuff seized,
but saw some. They are paying par
ticular attention to this food inspec-
tion.
| DR.. Caddle-Ought we not cooperate
with the County and State Boards OF
Health?
DIR. mpbell-The State Board is
superior to US, and they will come in
when they think it is necessary, but 1t
is our business to take care of the city,
ard we are supposed to do it. All local
boards Of health are expected to do that.
If there was cholera in this State, or in
Baltimore, the State Board would prob
ably look after trains-say at Martins
burg, but it would be our business to
look after trains IN our neighborhood-
saw at Benwood. We might then have
to cooperate with the Marshall county
authorities. l have called the Board
together tonight to take measures to
clean up the city.
DR.. Caddle-Mr. Chairman-I move
that the Health Officer be authorized to
appoint a sufficient number OF inspect
ors to examine and report upon the con-
dition of the city.
Mr.. Farrell-Dr. Spragg, what do you
consider the danger line in our city?
DR.. Spragg-What part of the city?
Mr.. Farrell-Generally speaking, yes;
where would cholera breed?
DR.. Spragg-Well, l should consider
the Eighth ward the worst place. The
drainage is bad down there
DR.. Caddle-Are not some OF the al
leys in other parts of the city 6adP
DR.. Spragg-Yes. .
Mr.. Farrell-Is there any danger OF
cholera breeding here?
DR.. Spragg-No, not now; but 1t
might breed if the germs Of the disease
were brought here.
Mr.. Farrell-Doctor, is the city dirty,
in your opinion?
DR.. Sragg-Well, some Of the streets
and alleys, vaults, etc, might be better
DR.. Campbell-We ought to notify
people to clean up themselves to some
extent.
DR., Spragg-Yes, and plumbing ought
TO be looked 20. l would call attention
to another thing. When you notify cit
liens 10 clean out an out-bullding they
often take out three or four barrels and
stop there. That which remains is just
as bad as that which is taken away. We
ought to have authority TO compel them
to clean out-buildings to the bottom, and
then disinfect. Many people think that
when three or four feet has been taken
out, that that is enough. Every vault
in the city ought to be cleaned out 70
the bottom, and then be thoroughly dis
infected. ! suppose some vaults in the
city are twenty or thirty feet deep-old
wells and the like. Twenty barrels
don't mark them, hardly. l know Of
one where ninety-six barrels were taken
out, aud it hadn't been cleaned for
twenty years.
Mr.. Farrell-They just skinned it.
DR.. Spragg-Yes. If you tell man
he must clean down to the bottom he
wants to kick you clear out of town.
DR. C9ddle then restated his reS0lu-