The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-04-18
HEALTH BOARD CRUSADE
Nuisances Which Menace
Health to Be Suppressed
Extended Powers.

Vigorous, indeed, are the measures the
health authorities are taking in anticipa.
tion of the visitation of cholera or typhus
or any other scourge which may visit this
country this summer. In fact, Jersey
City has taken uEro itself G house clean
ing spell. aud is rapidly cleansing itself ol
its load of dirt-the accumulation OF
years-and will, it is believed, and GER
tainly hoped. be able to rear its head, and
proclaim itself to be as clean a city as
Philadelphia. or any other city on the
continent of North America. The health
authorities are very much alive-aIert.
keen. and energetic in supDressing and
eradicating many of the evils which have
been a reproach to the city and which
have sullied her fair fame.
THE CRUSADE BEGAN.
Health Inspector Benjamin has donned
his house-cleaning hat and gloves. so to
SPEAK, and has secured q brand new
broom and soap galore. with plenty of
brushes and ''eloow grease" and has In
augurated a vigorous crusade against
Dirt and Disease, aided by an efficient
corps of HealIh policemen. He has nine
men to assist him, one for each precinct,
one for clerical work, one for the water
front, and one to investigate smallpox
and other contagious diseases. For the
efficiency and honesty of his aids Inspec-
tor BENJAMIN offers every guarantee.
"a new era has been inaugurated In
Jersey City" said he to a NEWS reporter
yesterday, land it is one that will be
marked in her history. Ii the city never
got cleaning before, it will get one now.
Since March l, when we began our house
cleaning, we have done some nard work,
and it is up hill work, too. | am doing
my utmost to increase the competency of
this board. To begin with, our house to
house inspection has already been pro-
life of great and good results.
We are visiting all the hotels anu lodg-
ing houses In the city, and each person
il provided with book in which he enters
all the de tails of his inspection. Then
we record all these details in table
specially prepared for their entry. The
house number and street, names OF owner
and tenant, number of stores, rooms on
each floor. number of wash bowls and
toilet rooms, number OF windows In eacn
room. size of room, how ventilated and
condition OF plum bing and beds-are all
entered on the table so that we can tell
at glance where we are at.
THOROUGH INSPECTION.
I'VE also look after the condition of the
animals. whether well or Passaic water Is
used; chickens, horses, dogs, goats, hogs
or cattle, ali of which is eutered on the
books. making complete record of every
house. We also lock after the garbage
of every house.
BURN THE GARBAGE.
"And right here is where / want to
make strong point and bring this ques-
tion before the public and have the
people of Jersey City aid us in
our WORK in SO far as they
can, and that they can do to very great
degree. Iknew Of no better medium: for
that purpose tnan The JERSEY CITY
News. which circulates SO extensively"
And that point is?'' '--'-
..That point is. that every housekeeper
should burn the garbage and the old
papers and rags, and nc- leave them for
the health Department to dispose of. 1t
is such simple matter to do that [ cannot
understand why people don't do it. It's
cost is only a match, and match isn't
much when the health OF a household is
taken into consideration. For that mat
ter, the rags and paper would cook a
meal, and that is economy enough, good
ness knows.
q, OTHER HEATH WORK.
.tAll gthe entries which the men have
turned in thus far have not been entered
into the Journals of the Board. but that
will be done as soon as we get into
better running order. And that won't be
long. In addition to the work which the
Board has undertaken. and Of which /
have spoken, we have extended our field
of usefulness to cover every point where
the city's health is endangered. We are
enforcing, in the strictest manner pos
sibIe. the law which provides that
permits must be. secured for the
privilege of carrying fat and bones
nf fhn rifV
Another thing which has come under the
care of this department., and where it
should properly belong, is the disposal of
dead animals. That department has
never been i'll my charge before. spoke
to Superintendent Smith about letting it
come into my department., mentioning
the fact that it would be properly
done. as we would check back all
reports. He agreed to the propo-
sition. The result was that this morning
we had nineteen reports OF dead
animals on the streets, four horses, one
COW, and one goat. The rest were dogs.
They were gathered In an hour and re-
ported back TO the department.. Formerly
the police would look at the, slip and take
their time ABOUT 1t. We acted quickly
on the reports with the result that the
animals were disposed of in short order.
GOOD WORD DONE.
"On Saturday I took drive through
the Second precinct, and the Improvement
already made there is decidedly great.
1t is only two weeks since we took hold
there, and you would be surprised at the
results already secured.
s'One other thing we are taking hold of
wish to mention. | have the designs of
dog badges for every city, and ere con-
sidering which ono l sh IL select. We
intend to keep close watch on the dog
question that year. and will enforce the
law governing their taxation.
II might say. in conclusion, that this
Board is keenlv alive TO the necessity that
exists tor keeping the streets OF the city
clean and for the suppr ession of all health
nuisances, and the Board will do a II in its
power to destroy them. Jersey City will
no longer be the butt of alleged wits be-
cause of ner uncleanliness. -
TIE COUNTY BOARD.
As Usual, 1t Holds an Utterly Unim-