The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-05-11

system Of sewerage, that boxes and cess
pools shall be thing Of the past, that
an odorless excavator Is expensive. 1t
is true that we shall have thorough
system of sewerage, but whom?
The city of Metaphis dallted and de-
layed until q fearful scourge spurred
the authorities to rapid and effective
work after they had lost hundreds OF
their citizens by death due to infection.
Council is pushing the work as rapidly
as possible, but we need urgently some
thing to fill the breach between that
which we have and that which is to come.
Is 1t right or just to the taxpayers to
subject them rightly TO dangerous
effiuvia when a comparatively small
outlay will insure protection? say
rightly" advisedly, for in each and
every twenty four hours some Of our
citizens are exposed to the offensiyeness
of the vile carts, which are almost in.
variably SO filed that at each jolt some
OF their contents escape, splashing over
the public streets, ssturating the atmos.
phere for blocks, q menace to the health
and life of all within its scope. In
stances can be cited where the inbala-
ton of this polluted air has caused
disease and death.
II this be true what must we expect
whom tho heat of summer compels us to
sleep with open windows, and this
matter, fermenting mass, is far more
noxious. There are amongst us advo
Gates of the sealed barrels for the re-
moval Of this refuse, and tits true that by
their use everything would be gained at
points remote from the spot st which
these barrels ara filled, but which they
pass in transit; yet st the seat of action
the handling In open air OF this offensive
UilI nnl1nfn OF ~
neighborhood no matter how great care
be used (and none ls wasted, as a rule)
while with the odorless excavator there
is absolutely no stirring up of foul odors,
no noxious gases, no menace to sleeping
humanity, but the greatest possible
immunity from any danger from this
source. 1t will be years before all parts
of our fair city can be supplied with
sewers and this threatened danger of
dreadful cholera is almost upon us.
believe that one-half of the Illness dur.
ing our summers is due to this poisonous
eff1uvium disseminated by this crude
and most unsanitary method of sewage
transportation.
Thas which has been done in the past
toward more effective drainage, has di-
minished in marked degree the per-
centage of cases OF fever and with that
the mortality. Should we stop here?
Surely, if by the dictum of our boards
of health, this improved and approved
me thod of rem oval has boon regarded as
necessary to the protec lion Of healt tn in
the past, it is the more urgently called
for at this time, when the country is
threatened by a disease which breeds
aud spreads in unison, which causes
such terrible mortality snd which, when
once it has obtained foothold in com
munity, is so tenacious.
Tho price of health, as we'll as that of
liberty, is eternal vigilance and no
action should be withheld in a matter
so important to the public veal, that
would conduce to tho protec zion of the
citizens and of the fair name of our
Magic City.
May the outgoing Council crown the
good work it has done go we'll, and Sc
cure the lasting gratitude of long suffer.
ing humanity by the total adjustment
OF the bucket and cart brigade and the
install mentof the odorless excavator.
G. LANGDON.
Rn,11t,n Mou1o