The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-06-10
TIE DUMPS MUST GO.
Disease Breeding Deposits That
Should Be Abolished.
How the State and City Laws Are
N1olated~Some Facts That House,
holders Should Consider.


each householder and head of family the
famous remark of the late Boss Tweed:
what are you going to do about it?"
The fact that garbage OF all kinds has
Tor years past been permitted to be de-
posted in vacant lots in various parts of
the city, leaving a fostering mass to en-
danger the lives of the people, especially
OF children, has been too frequently
commented upon in these columns to
need further mention. The abuse of this
privilege, it is alleged, has led the author
tiles to enforce the city ordinances, the
violations of which have heretofore been
winked at.
The new issue raised, which is attract
ing the attention of the property-owner
and taxpayer, is. will not this new order
OF things entail upon the public an in
creased expense for the removal of refuse,
ana where will it be possible to find a
dumping-place for such material?
THE BOARD OF HEALTH's ACTION.
In an interview with DR.. II. l.. Nichols,
Health Officer, he stated to a RECORD
UNION reporter that the City Board of
Health had for long time tolerated the
depositing of such material upon low
lying lots, with the understanding that
only ashes, dirt and such other material
as was not subject to decay, and conse-
quent eXhalatlon OF mephitic gases,
should be used; but upon inquiry it was
found that the confidence of the board
was being abused, rendering necessary
the enforcement of the city ordinances
under which that body was working.
The property-owners, he thinks, will
not suffer from an increase in the cost of
removal of garbage, by reason of the TACT
that many owners OF outlying hog ranches
are anxious TO secure swilI for food for
their animals.
In the light of past experience, how
ever, this argument is untenable and all
leads up to the proposition of the absolute
necessity OF the city owning a crematory,
both from sanitary and economic stand
point
CHARACTER OF THE DUMPS.
The Health officer seems to overlook
the fact that the garbage complained Of
that which is most likely to breed disease
is decayed and decaying vegetable and
animal matter, which does not and can
not enter into swill or food for hogs. So
that the hope the doctor expresses is
without foundation.
The refuse that Is now dumped inside of
the city limits is the garbage that forms
the subject of the present agitation. Los
Angeles has solved the problem by erect
ing crematory, and that is what must be
done here, also.
Besides, crematory is an admirable
instrument for the disposal of great deal
OF night-soil, that is now dumped, but
which, by the way, is not nearly so dan
gerouS as disease breeder when exposed
10 sun and air on dump, or when mixed
with earth, as is decaying vegetable and
animal matter and the east OFF, of
hotels, restaurants, home kitchens, pack
ing establishments, fruit and fish mar
kets, etc.
THE STATE LAW.
In this connection it may be of interest
n hot he
State has considered this a matter of suf-
tclent import to legislate thereon, as APP
pears in the subjoined chapter from the
Penal Code the Act having been passed
last winter and approved in March:
Every person who puts the carcass of any
dead animal, or oifal from any slaughter
pen, corral or hatcher shop, into any rlver |
creek, pond, reservoir, stream, street, alley, |
VINO attempts to destroy the same by fire
within one-lour of u mile of any city town
or village, except 1t be in a crematory, the
construction and operation of which is salts
factory to the Board OF Health in such city,
Town or village; and every person who puts
any water-closet or privy, or the car
cass of any dead animal, or any ofiaI of
any kind. in or upon the borders of any
stream, pond, lake or reservoir from which
water IS drawn for the supply of the inhabi-
lants Of any city, city and county, any
town In this State, SO that the drainage from
such wateT-closet privy, carcass or otlaI may
be taken up by or In such stream, pond, LAX
or reservoir; or who allows any Water-closet
or privy, or carcass of any dead animal, or
any ofial Of any kind, 10 remain in or upon the |
borders of any such stream, pond lake or
reservoir within the boun daries of any land |
owned or occupied by him, so that the drain |
age from such water-closet, privy, carcass or
Uhal may be taken up by or in such stream,
pond, lake or reservoir; or who keeps any
horses, mules, cattle, swine, sheep or live
stock OF any kind penned, cOrraled or housed
on, over, or on the borders of any such stream,
pond, lake or reservoir, so that the waters
thereof shall become polluted by reason
thereof; or who bathes in any sucn stream
pond, lake or reservoir; or who by any other
means fouls or pOIlutes the waters of any such
stream. pond, lake or reservoir is guilty OF a
misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof
shall be punished as prescribed in Section 377
OF this code.
THE CITY ORDINANCE.
Following are the provisions of the city
ordinance under which the Board of
Health is working through the Health
officer and Sanitary Inspector:
Section T. IL shall not be lawful for anv per
son TO slaughter any animal within the city,
or to erect, maintain, or use, or cause to be
erected, maintained or used, within the cirv
any house, shed or other building as slaugh-
ter-houSe. or TO dress or clean any slaughtered
animal within the city; or to keen ary nit
pool or Val Of standing water for tanners or
Overs use, or for any other purpose whatever
that will render it unwholesome or Offensive.
or TO discharge, leave upon, place or keep in
any street, alley, public square, lot, yard or
other place within the city, any noaious PRIV
sink or cesspool. manure, stagnant water |
cleanings from any privy, sink or cesspool, or
any dead animal, bird or fish, green hides or |
skins, putIid, unsound, unwholesome or refuse
flesh. offal, garbage, or filth ofany kind or mai |
uie whatsoever.
Section s. Chapter w, Ordinance II. pro-
viGeS that the Health Officer shall make a svs-
tematic and thorough examination OF ali parts
of the city, where any noxious OF offensive |
substances are supposed to exist and shall in |
the day time be permitted to enter any house
store, stable or other building, and when he
shall deem it necessary cause the floors to be- |
raised Tor the purpose OF examining cellars. |
vaults. sinks, drains or pools: and he snail
have the right 10 enter on any grounds preni- |
Ses. or lots, where offensive or noXiotis sub
stances are to be found, and cause all stagnant
water to be drained on, and all pools sinks
drains or low ground to he cleaned and kept
in good condition. He may direct how said
promises may De cleaned or purified.
The penalty for the violation of the above
ordinances is a fine of not exceeding $500, or
imprisonment.
But IT Is DONE.
If the laws We're rigidly enforced there
would be 10 cause for complaint but
such is not the case. Let any person re-
siding between Capitol Park and X street.
between Tenth and Fifteenth 60 to a
south window of his house at night when
the wind comes from that quarter, and he
will have no difficulty in locating the
dumps by the pungent odor of decaying
yagefabIe aud animal matter there de-
posted.
where all the local conditions are favor
able to GOOD health, children have lately
been afflicted with diphtheria, measles and |
scarlet fever. True, these diseases have
not existed in vlrulent form, but they
ebo,1Id not exist at all, and would not but !
for the dumping OF refuse matter In the
low lots south of r street, where it rots
r.,o,,tS rOiSOninp the atnlOsDhara