The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-09-09
LEADING TOPICS.
Cholera, the Strikes and the
Worlds Fair in Chicago.
The Worlds Fair City Regarded as Safe
from the Asiatic scourge-The Head
quarters of the Switchmen-
Worlds Fair officers.
Especial Chicago Correspondence

the countries of Europe, its prevalence
at the seaport towns and probability of
its being brought to this country, give
rise to some serious apprehensions at
the present time with regard to an en-
terprise in which all Americans are
alike interested, whether Chicagoans
or not. &,
What would become of the worlds
fair if we had the cholera here next
season? What provision can Chicago
make to protect herself? Are her SAN
itary conditions and arrangements such
as to afford sufficient safeguard against
the Asiatic scourge?
This question was propounded to a
doctor and chemist. He said in the first
place he had no doubt the cholera
would reach here in spite eff all precau-
tions. He hoped, however, it could be
fought long enough to allow cold
weather to set in before it reached
here. In that case it would not do
much harm, as the germs were not ac-
tive in cold weather. But the danger
was, in that case, that the plague
would appear in force next summer
during the worlds fair.
The cholera scare is not a new
thing, even in recent years The dis
ease appeared repeatedly in Asia and
Europe during the past ten years. Each
time it was predicted that it would
reach this country, but each time
we escaped it. 1t is true, it never came
so close as to the seaports of Hamburg
and Havre. But even now it is by no
means assured that the germs will
reach this country. In spite of the
gloomy predictions of some. physicians
! am inclined to think we shall escape
the scourge this time as we did before
At all events no one should yield to
fear, for that is the greatest promoter
of disease.
Surprising, however, the disease
should reach this country the question
arises, how is Chicago equipped to fight
it? 1t may be well to make a statement
of the sanitary condition of the city for
the purpose of counteracting any APP
prehension that may be caused by con-
sidering the possibility of having the
cholera here next year. 1t may as well
be admitted that should the cholera be
here in 1898 it would be a serious blow
to the worlds fair and might necessi-
tate a postponement if not an abandon
ment of the enterprise. For while the
actual danger to life might not be
great there would certainly be a panic
that would keep people away and re-
duce the attendance so as to make the
fair failure.
There is very little reason, however,
to be afraid of an epidemic in Chicago.
The principal elements that transmit
diseases and make them epidemic are
absent in this city. The entire plan of
the city is such that it admits air and
plenty of it, the streets are wide and
straight, giving the wind free sweep
through them. 1t is true there are
some places where poor people are
huddlcd together in close, unclean
quarters, but they are few and widely
scattered. The sewerage system of
Chicago is excellent. Built on what
used to be a swamp and scarcely above
the level of the rivers and lakes now
intersecting the city, the entire
territory of the city, so far as Inn
proved, was raised over nine feet in
order to give sufficient fall to the
drainage waters. and it is n rare thing
for the sewers to get so full that the
water backs up and enters the base
ments.
The chief transmitter of diseases is
admitted to be the drinking water.
There was some complaint about this
during the spring freshets, but at pres
ent it is in good condition, and since
the new Lake View inlet was connect
ed the quality of the water on the
North side has improved remarkably.
The new tunnel which will take in
water four miles out in Lake Michigan
will be ready for use in short time,
and thus a supply of pure water is as
sured. As to the worlds fair itself the
grounds have been provided with an
extensive water system, drawing its
supply from a crib located in Lake
Michigan far enough south to be out of
the way of what little pollution may
be caused by the traffic on the lake.
The sewage is not carried off by the
usual flushing system but is to be treat
ed chemically and thus rendered harm
less.
To show the general state of health
in this city it may be stated that there
was not 4 single case of smallpox in
1891. The mortality is remarkably low,
being a percentage of less than 22 per
1000 of population. This is a year
when an epidemic of influenza pre-
vailed.
Additional precautions will be taken
should the danger from cholera become
more immediate, and it is safe to say
that Chicago will be comparatively free
from the scourge.
The recent strike of the switchmen
at Buffalo, which was ended by man
" surrender on the part of the men
when they saw they were beaten,
brings to mind the fact that Chicago is
the headquarters of the organization to
which they belong and the center of
the railroad labor organizations.
The Grand lodge of the Switchmen's
Mutual Aid association is located on
Pacific avenue opposite the board of
trade. 1t was the headquarters from
which emanated the plan for organic
ing what was known as the United
Order of Railway Employees, commonly
called the Federation" embracing the
men employed in all the branches OF
the railroad operating service except
the engineers. 1t grew out of the cell
ebrated strike on the Chicago, Burling-
ton & Quincy railroad and lasted near
ly three years. Recently it was dis
solved after it had practically been
dead for a year. While it lasted it was
the most powerful labor organization
in this country, but it attempted too