Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-09-16
TAKING PRECAUTIONS.
AN EMERGENCY MEETING OF THE HEALTH
COMMITTEE,
AT Which There Was Very General Discussion Of
the Situaion-The Board Of Public
Works Scored.

The Council Committee on Health was
summoned in some haste and on very
short notice, by Chairman Campbell,
last evening, to deliberate, first, about
the condition Of the crematory and the
short supply of gas, and second, to dis
cuss the general cholera situation, and
the means taken to clean up the city.
The session was not particularly
harmonious one, especially the trst
half-hour, there being quite difference
of opinion as to the condition OF the
| furnace on the hilltop. When it came
| to the cholera and local cleanliness
| however, there was more unanimity,
and a resolution to buy three barrels OF
lime, fifty pounds OF coDperas, and
three empty whisky barrels, was passed
with a whirl.
The Committee also agreed-or atleast
| the Chair made the announcement, and
there was no objection to hereafter sit
as d Board of Health during the continu-
ance OF the cholera emergency.
During the progress of the meeting,
Dr. Campbell severely scored the Board
of Public Works, for failure to do its
duty in aiding in cleaning up the city,
and said he hoped the reporters would
quote him as saying so. Firemen asked
TO flush sewer at Chapline and Twen-
ty-second street, objected, and one said
he would strike. DR.. Spragg, Health
Officer, stated that yesterday morning,
at Main and Tenth street, while sewer
was being flushed, Supt CumminS, OF
the Water Works, objected TO the use OF
the water and said lie wanted it stopped.
He also said the fremen were violating
q city ordinance, and could all be ar
! rested.
The session. opened with the reading
of letter from the Natural Gas Com
PIANO Of West Virginia, by DR.. Campbell,
but before perusing the document, the
| Doctor took the Committee to task for
not responding 10 his call, saying he
did not call the Committee for fun, and
in times like the present there ought TO
be quick response.
Mr.. Farrell-Doctor, who are you
| lecturing; those who are present, or
| those who are absent?
DR.. Campbell-Those absent.
Mr. Farrell feel better.
The letter from the Natural Gas
Company stated that no given supply
of gas could do good work at the
| crematory, so long as the system Of
pipes was as at present. The furnace
also needed refining, and the checker
work had almost burned up. The
Company submitted plan for an i'm
proved system of burning gas. The
committeeman thought the proposed
change would involve an expense of
$500 or 5000, anu quite lively, scattered
and not very harmonious discussion
ensued, which ended in reference Of
the plans to c. a. Robinson, Dennis
! O'Leary and Nick Reister, for an expert
opinion. Supt. Dunn, In the course
! of the general talk, said
| the furnace was not as bad
| as represented, and would edo" until
January il gas was furnished. Without
sufficient gas no system of pipes or
| burners would be effective. He said
! that he had ten barrels of night soil and
ten or twelve loads of garbage on the
! hilltop, which he could not burn, and
DR.. Spragg said permits for about 800
barrels of night soil were out, and 100
barrels might come up during the
night. One thousand two hundred
householders had been ordered to clean
up. It was also developed that during
August 4S4 carts, two wagons and 300
| boxes and ba rrels of garbage had been
! burned, together with five horses, one
COW, four sheep and fourteen dogs and
| cats, and 395 barrels OF night soil.
The Committee gradually got off on to
the subject Of the cholera and the
! cleansing of the city. DR.. Spragg said
| the fire department was willing to aid
! in the work at all times, and sewers had
! been flushed out in various parts Of
town. The Board of Public Works was
also cleaning up, but there had been the
| objection to the use of water noted
above. DR.. Campbell took decided ex-
| captions to the statement OF good work
done by the Board, and cited anumber Of
streets as being filthy. The Board was
not, according to his idea, doing any
! thing like what it should, and 1t was
! quite severely handled
! The question of disinfection came up,
and after a prolonged wrestie with it,
! the Health Off er was ordered TO buy
| three b.rrelS of lime, fifty pounds Of
copperas and three empty whisky bar
rels, and Council was asked 10 give the
| Committee the use of room in the
basement OF the City Hail. although
there is no room there which can be
pressed into service. The evident idea
OF the copperas and whisky barrels was
TO mix diSinfectinS solution to pour
down sewers. The quantity ordered
would probably be enough for one sew
er. The lime is TO b. sprinkled over
! garbage on the hill top, while it is
stacked p there waiting to be burned.