Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-03

Surely the world do move" For 50 long
. time that the memory of the Oldest in
habitant runneth not to the contrary. loyal
but illogical Baltimoreans have eulogized
the filthy system Of surface drainage by
which their city rid itself Of liquid that had
better have found its destination in some
less obtrusive fashion. The superiority of
this primitive arrangement over even the
best sewerage methods was continually
claimed and every little while more or
less learned statistician would arise and by
the skillful use of figures and the discredit-
ing of naturally healthful surroundings
prove to the satisfaction of his fellow Bal
timoreans that sewers were Satanic inven-
tons that had for their object the murder
of Innocent beings who were foolish enough
To reside in places where surface drainage
was not. But the influence of these latter
day public schools has worked miracles and
now the Municipal Sewerage Commission
Of Baltimore, after patient and painstaking
Investigation. says to the city council that
the commission has no hesitation In report
ing that in it's Judgment a thorough sys-
tenn Of sewerage Is an absolute necessity
for the city. and that measures to effect IT
ought not to be longer delayed. THE ex-
perience of other cities in this country and
in Europe" say the experts. warrants and
confirms the conclusion at which your COM
mission has arrived The statistics show
that thorough drainage by a proper sys-
tenn Of sewerage secures improved health
and diminished death rate" Incontro-
vertible logic that ought to have prevailed
long ago; the application of the plainest
variety OF common sense. Advocates of the
surface-drainage crime should read the re-
port Of the commission and be enlightened.
Especially interesting Is that portion of it
which says that Baltimore has long and
IT is believed has justly laid claim to be
one of the healthiest of American cities.
This fact Is frequently urged as an argu-
ment for continuing the present system of
cesspools- Your commission does not and
cannot believe that the health of the city
Is due to the existence Of these filthy pits
in the yards of nearly every one of its
$1,000 tenements. 1t is believed rather that
the high and salubrious location Of the city.
with its abundant supply of pure water.
has been sufficient in the past to counter
act largely the effects Of the noxious con-
ditions referred to. These are. however,
now becoming worse. the soil is becoming
saturated with the filth and danger is to
be apprehended therefrom should the gen.
eral conditions of health be changed by the
importation of diseases from elsewhere"
The apprehension intimated has solid foun-
dalton and the sooner Baltimore realizes
the fact the better will IL be for Baltimore
and the cities In its immediate vicinity. 1t
Is no Secret that thoughtful Washington
ians have been much concerned lest the
unwholesome conditions consequent upon
the continual tempting of Providence by
countless cesspools should result in the ap-
pearance of some devastating epidemic in
Baltimore. The concern was not unnat-
ural. for Baltimore and Washington are
closely related and great outbreak Of dis
ease In one would surely disturb the
other. Few IL any of the cities are so
thoroughly prepared to combat epidemic
Is this national capital and the men
who have been interested in the construc-
ton of its sanitary Notifications will be
delighted to hear that there Is probability
OF immediate. radical and much-needed i'm
provement In the conditions too long prev
alent in its near and dear neighbor. That
the reform will be beneficial in more ways
than the most important one Is shown by
the commission in its reference to the sew
ers constructed in recent years to carry of
storm water. These sewers" says the
commission, have been eagerly awaited of
by citizens along their lines to correct
Herewith and thus get rid Of house drain
age and other waste water. AS conse-
quence We find good buildings with mod
ern improvements going up in such local
titles. greatly enhancing the taxable basis
Of the city" Whether the sewerage ques-
ton be looked at from the sanitary or the
purely financial and selfish standpoint the
proposition to adopt the report is worthy
the support of all good citizens. Baltimore
cannot make a better investment.