Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-03-01
COUNCIL FAILED OF ITS DUTY.
Influenced to Throw Out the "salt Ordin-
anoe"-The Measure Proper One,

Influenced to Throw Out the "salt Ordin-
anoe"-The Measure Proper One,
When it was announced some two
or three weeks ago, that Council had
instructed the Committee on Ordinance
to draft aud report an ordinance pro-
hibiting the use of salt TO melt snow
and ice, on the car tracks and in the
streets and alleys Of the city, great
many people rejoiced at this tardy dis
position to do a good thing, But when
representatives of the Street Railway
Company and other interested people
induced the committee TO report the
ordinance with a recommendation that
1t do not pass, there was disappoint-
ment, and when Council, Tuesday night
adopted the committees recommends
tioD, there was disgust.
The proposed law is in force In many
American and foreign cities, and it will
not be long until all municipalities
forbid the use Of salt for melting ice
and snow. That it is distinctly iniur-
Gus to both man and beast, is undoubI-
ed. Physicians aud horsemen know
the fact, and in New York City agents
of the Society for the Prevention to
Cruelty to Animals arrested employees
of Street Railway Companies as late as
last Monday for throwing salt on the
streets. That the Committee on Ordi-
nances was too prompt in deciding as
they did is conceded, and that the
measure will yet be passed, is hoped.
On the subject OF using salt on the
streets for the purpose indicated, the
New York Herald Of Tuesday said:
According to careful estimates made
by veterinary experts there are not
fewer than twenty-five thousand sick
and disabled horses in this city, all vic.
tins to the illegal sailing of tracks per-
sstently carried on by the street car
companies.
The following is copy of the letter
which was forwarded yesterday to the
president of each surface road in the
city,
SR:-The purpose Of this communica-
ton is to call your attention TO the follow
ing section of the Consolidation act, in or
der that ignorance of its existence cannot
be made an excuse if it becomes necessary
to take criminal proceedings for violation
thereof, and to advise that your employees
be required 10 comply with its provisions;
Section ,93S, Consolidation act Of the
city of New York.
Every person who shall throw, expose
or place, or who shall cause or procure TO
be thrown, exposed or placed in or upon
any such street, highway or public place,
except upon the curves, crossings or
switches of railroad tracks, any salt, salt
petre or other substance for the purpose Of
or 100 nh Oh "A I
have fallen or been deposited thereon,
shall be guilty of misdemeanor."
JOHN p HAINEs, President ). p. G. A.
President Haines will not bear the bur
den Of the tight alone The Board Of
Health is ready to aid and to take the
initiative in criminally prosecuting the
offenders.
Or. Cyrus Edison has not only an Of
fetal, but a personal interest in the
case, his horses being at present under
treatment with bandagsd feet, due to
the action OF the briny slush.
Eyes" said he Yesterday, 81 know
all about il. Fully thirty per cent. Of
the horses in this city are laid mp with
injuries inflicted by this poisonous
brine. My own horses are cripples,
and it is about time that the law was
enforced Let President Haines set
the ball a-rolling and the Board Of
Health will come 70 the front.
DR.. 5. X. Johnson, in charge OF the
New York Veterinary Hospital In West
Twenty-ffth street, and also a member
of the Board of Health STAFF, said:
There is a great deal OF sickness
among horses in this city, and the stu
alton is decisively grave. ! venture 10
say that $4,000 horses are suffering
from scratches" as q result Of tramp
ing through briny slush.
Scratches are sometimes fatal, ana
frequently disable horse for life. The
disease is simply the death Of the hoof,
brought on by intense chill. The flesh
above the hoof splits open and sloughs
off. There can be no doubt that the
brine generated by salt upon snow COW
cred by car tracks is responsible for
the serious mischief. The law should
bring the car companies up with a sharp
turn"
One express company, to prevent in
Jury its horses, tars their boots regular
" every morning, while another applies
vaseline. AS a further guard drivers
are under orders to avoid car tracked
streets.
The victims OF this seasons track
sailing are private owners aud small
truckmen ignorant Of the danger, and,
consequently, unprotected against il.
DR.. Charles McBuruey, Of No. . West
Thirty-seventh street, is among the sui
ferers. A valuable horse belonging 70
him is now under treatment, but IL is so
Injured that little hope Of its recovery
is entertained. Others who have affiict-
ed horses are C. S. Abercrombie, Of No.
25 East Twenty-sixth street. and
Charles Harrison Nixon. Of No - West
Twenty.ssyenth street.
I and salvation Oh ths best cure sor rhehun-
ism haze ever snoVn. Joshua zimmerman.
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