The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-09-05
TO WARD OFF CHOLERA.
The Work Mapped outby the coun-
Gil Health Committee Begun.
APPOINTMENTS OF INSPECTORS
VIII be Finished by City Health ON
Ger spragg to.day---The Work Of
Cleaning up the City Already In
Progress.-.The Back River Cess
Pool Source of Contagion.

The meeting of the Council committee
on health Friday night has already
borne some fruit. DR.. spragg had his
appointments Of sanitary inspectors
completed yesterday. but one of the
men chosen could not serve, and the
list will be revised to-day. DR.. Spragg
will give his personal attention for a
day or two to some special sources OF
danger, among these one or two Italian
boarding houses and other dago domi-
Giles, which are peculiarly filthy.
These will be thoroughly cleaned and
fumigated. Orders for the proprietors
to do this will be given to-day, and if
they are not respected the health Office
will take steps to enforce them rigor-
ousiy.
The resolution OF the health commit
tee asking the cooperation Of the police
department in putting the city in good
sanitary condition was read to all the
members OF the force Saturday, and
they seemed to be glad to render what
service they could.
The work Of cleaning the dirtiest
streets and alleys goes on under the
direction OF the board of public works,
and some excellent results are already
noticeable. The washing out Of cutters
and sewers by the fire department will
begin early this week. Even ii the
cholera does not reach the United
States, the work now in progress will
add much 10 the sanitary candition OF
the city, and the natural improvement
OF the general public health will be
worth all the trouble and money ex-
pended.
a SOURCE OF REAL DANGER
The government dam in Back river
has always been considered highly un-
sanitary, and has been the subject of
remark and good deal Of feeling dur
ing the summer and fall months.
Never, however, has public sentiment
been SO pronounced and bitter against
it as within the past few days Aug
mented, perhaps, by the fear Of chol-
era, it has grown until there is q de-
mand on the part OF Bridgeport and
Island residents that immediate steps
be taken to drain the cess pool above
the dam by making an opening or gate
reasonable, and it is Of the most vital
Importance that it be done quickly. II
an epidemic of any kind should make
its appearance in this locality there is
no doubt that an opening in this dam
would be made some night with dyna-
mite. 1t would then be too late to ac-
complish good, and such step would
no doubt be detrimental during the
prevalence of disease, but it would
pretty certainly be done anyway.
The sewerage from 9 part Of Martins
Ferry, Etnaville, Bridgeport and the
Island is flushed by water works and
the dashing little summer storms into
the back river during low water, when
there is no current over the dam, to
settle in the bottom of the stagnant
water. Wheeling creek often runs out
from the influence OF hard local rain,
bank.tull of water, loaded to its fullest
carrying capacity, with animal and
vegetable matter, which sinks to the
river bottom above the dam to lie and
rot and breathe forth contagion. For a
distance of two miles the creek drains
what is almost solid town. Strict
sanitary measures have been adopted
recently at other Ohio river dams.
They are being cleansed, and unless
similar action is at once taken with the
back river, Bridgeport and the Island
and Wheeling inhabitants may have
reason to deplore it. Public safety de-
mands prompt action in the matter.