The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1893-11-17

where the city water does not 20, and where
cesspo0ls are therefore not so common.
Wherever the city water goes il is neces-
sary to dispose of the water after IL has been
used. 1t will hardly do to put 1t on the
surface because there il more than can be
thus well disposed of. Therefore as the
cessp0ol method is dangerous, il seems
imperative that the city should furnish
sewers wherever 1t supplies water. That is
the rule everywhere-the two systems must
advance together. | advise that the Board
of Health at once place before the council.
the imperative necessity for beginning the
construction of sewers, and for continuing
the work until the main part of the city has
good general water supply, and sewers
cOextensive with the water pipes. This
would dispose OF the cesspOOl question; and
OF the dangers from the privy-system so far
as the water pipes and sewers extend. But
1t must probably be long time before these
systems Will be completed throughout,
meantime there should be systematic effort
to protect the users of well water from the
dangers OF typhoid fever Except for some
unusually large establishments such as
hotel, school, etc, Il @ greatest dangers to
water drinkers are from the privies nearest
the well from which the water il drawn.
AS rule the very nearest privy il the one
on the well owners own lot. Throughout
the city the privy vaults should be abolished.
Wherever the water and sewer pipes reach,
water closets should be used, connected
with the sewer. Where the pipes do not
reach. the dry earth system of disposal
should be adopted. If adopted there should
BIZ sanitary inspector or scavenger con-
stantly on duty, TO regularly visit the closets,
and to supply, II need be. the dry earth or
fha NJ tha
closets to safe distance without the city.
1t should be understood that the dry-earth
system soon degenerates into a nuisance
If not attended to, therefore its supervision
is essential. IL the city does not decide to
abolish all prvy vaults, 1t should certainly
forbid the construction of any new ones.
The same remarks apply tn cesspOOls. And
such orders should be enforced, an Inspector
being detailed for that purpose
1t has been objected that such sanitary
work as | have outlined is expensive. |
grant that at first sight it seems so; bat
believe 1t is not so expensive as trying to
live without such sanitary improvements.
1t is expensive to have each year fifteen or
twenty families suffering through a run of
typhoid fever. as has been your experience
this year. The loss of a few able-bodied
citizens, even if thy a:e valued at no high
er rate than an ordinary slave sold for a few
years ago. reaches up into the thousands of
dollars. l believe that these sanitary i'm
prOvements simply divert the payments of
money into Oth,r channels. that without
those imp Ovements. in a very few years
nearly or quite an equal amount in value
would be buried IN the graveyard.
should think it best IL great part of
the city should be at once supplied with
water and sewers. Ii this cannot he done
| should certainly advise that as much as
can be done should be dune at once.
Very respectfully,
HENRY b. BAKER.
The following report was acc pied and
the amounts ordered spread on the tax roll:
To the Committee on Streets and Sidewalks:
Gentlemen. Il herewith report the compile
ton of Howell, Ada and Lee streets, the cost of
same being for each
Ale sfr n