The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-06-19
PUBLIC HEALTH MENACED.
Places That Need Attention by The
City and County authorities.

Work of the Public Health COMMITTEES
OF the Citizens Sanitary Assooia-
ton Medical Director LeHardy's
Report Of What the Health Authori-
ties Of New York and other Cities
Are Doing-The Sewerage Question.
Inspector Desvergers Of the Citizens
Sanitary Association reports the follow
ing matters as having been brought to the
attention Of the committee on public
health at its last meeting:
The upturning Of an immense quantity
o. mud and dark, offensive soil in the
making of a sewer connection at the in
tersection of Gwinnett and Price streets,
under permit dated June IS from the
city authorizing an excavation 7x75 and
10 feet deep and the enlargement of the
excavation, by permit, on June a.
An increase in the quantity Of water In
the borrow pits of the railroads in the
vicinity of the city from the recent rain
fall.
An increase in the number of sheets
of water and ponds in the depressions on
the lands Immediately south and south
east of the city and the saturation of the
grounds especially in the territory be-
tween Ditmersvile and Tatemville on one
side and the White Bluff road on the
other, owing to the impaired condition of
the auxiliary drains of the De Renue
canal from weed growth and cattle tread
ing.
The exceedingly offensive and perni-
cious effluvia which arises from privy
vaults and cellars since the recent heavy
rainfall and the hot weather succeed
ing it.
The filthy conditions existing in and
around many of the small tenement
houses of the city, particularly those in
low localities on the outskirts of the city.
The continued existence of cattle marts
and stock pens and COW stables within
the city.
The continued unsanitary condition of
the Ogeechee canal basin.
Thenecessity for more vigilance in look
ing after droppings and Accommodations in
and about warehouses, cellars, depots and
yards while the vegetable transportation
season continues.
MEASURES TAKEN IN NEW YORK.
In connection with these matters, the
following from the Annals of Hygiene was
was submitted by DR.. LeHardy, as an ex-
ample Of what the health authorities of
New York city deem expedient at this
time: "The New York board of health
held a special meeting March 20 to take
measures to lessen the death rate and re
duce the danger Of the propagation of
cholera and other infectious and con
tagious diseases among the tenements,
and passed the following preamble and
resolution:
Whereas, It is Of great Importance to the
welfare Of the city that the cleanliness neces
sary to the preservation Of the public health
should be secured without delay therefore
Resolved, That o thorough and systematic
inspection be made OF the sanitary condition:
First, of yards and cellars second, Of roofs
and roof tanks; third, Of water closets, plumb
ing and house drainage fourth, Of the walls
ceilings and floors OF every tenement in the
city; and wherever any want of cleanliness
or any defect In plumbing or drainage, or any
other unsanitary condition is found, TO order
that said premises be Immediately cleaned
and repaired.
DR.. Edison, sanitary superintendent in
New York city, thereupon commenced
the work Immediately
DR.. LeHardy also laid before the com.
mittee report made March 4 by Col
George Il. Warning, consulting engineer
for sewers and santa ryo matters of the
Cityof Memphis, on the condition of the
sewers of New York. The report starts out
with a history of the system of sewage
now in operation In Memphis, following
with reference of the results to the
health and prosperity of the city, and
suggestions relating thereto. The follow
ing is brief summary of the portions
which are of general interest:
after the epidemic of yellow fever,
which decimated Memphis In 1873 and
again in 1879, greatly reduced its popula.
ton and ruined its prosperity, commit.
tee from the American Health Associa.
ton and National board of health was
sent there in order to study the causes OF
the epidemic and to recommend sanitary
improvements intended to prevent its re-
currence. The sanitary condition of the
place had never been good, and when the
people began to return to their homes
after the exodus of the second fever year
1T was as bad as it could be.
ACTION OF THE CITIZENS.
"The spirit of the leading men of the
city at that time was, however, most ad
mirable. They determined that the
stricken city should be put again upon its
feet, and that right start should be
made in the effort to regain its strength
They foresaw the advance that was pos
sible, and to pave the way for it they de
cided that whatever the board-of health
committee should advise must be carried
and the splendid modern city of to-day is
a monument to their manly and resolutc
effort, the full value OF which can
pc appreciated only by the few
who know the woful condition from
which they have raised 1t. A system OF
sewage was commenced on Jan. 81 1880
and before June | more than eighteen
miles of sewerage were constructed and
since then thirty-two miles have been
constructed. The system recommended
by Col, Warning and adopted consisted OF
small earthenware pipes, carrying OF
foul sewage only, from which rain water
was rigidly excluded and in which the
occasional irregular and unreliable flush
ing during rains was to be replaced
by the daily discharge of auto
MATHS flush tanks at the heads
Of all the branches Of the sewers. The
work done in 1880 improved the sanitary
condition Of Memphis and the city once
regarded as doomed has since become OK
ceedingly healthy and prosperous"
Col. Waring further says that the
work then done has had another effect,
it has revolutionized the methods OF
sewering the smaller towns. Not only
have the principles first set forth in
Memphis in 1880 been added to
in the construction of the thirty
two miles of sewers referred to,
but the same system, however has been
adopted in all parts Of the country until
it is safe to say that in the work executed
and now ON hand the total length of SINH
lar sewers is not less than ] 900 miles. He
says that naturally, as with all new
processes, notifications have been made
in the arranOfrnent construction and