Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-09-11
FILTH IN TEE CREEK.
TIE HEALTH COMNITTEE RESOLVES ON WIG.
OR0US ACTION.
Looking to Putting Stop to the Pollution Of tn
Stream by Fulton ButChsrs-0lSimS
Against the Oity-Ohsr
City Business.

]
At last evenings session of the Coun-
/ ell Committee on Health the question
Of preventing the further pollution OF
the waters of Wheeling creek was gone
into with considerable earnestness, and
| immediate steps will be taken to abate
a nuisance and a menace to the health
Of the city which has existed for years,
and which has In the past been fruit
| full source OF complaint.
The matter was brought to the atten-
ton of the Committee last evening by
Health Officer Mccoy. who dwelt at
some length upon the practice Of some
OF the butchers of Fulton Of throwing
all manner of offal from their slaughter
[ houses into the stream, where it lays
during periods of low water like that we
are now passing through, decomposing
aud fermenting, TO the great danger OF
the health of the community. The
! Health officer referred TO the dams IN
the creek, aud said that while they were
maintained ostensibly for the purpose
| of obtaining ice In the winter, their real
purpose was TO form pools for the re-
ception Of slaughter house refuse in the
! summer, and gave il as his opinion that
/ they should be removed. Recounting
! efforts already made in that direction,
| DR.. Mccoy said that the Weimer dam,
which was within the city limits, had
been opened, and the stagnant water
| and accumulated filth allowed TO pass
out, but the other dams, a little higher
I'D the creek, were within the corporate
| limits Of Fulton, and were still being
maintained. Not only should the dams
/ be removed, but the pOluting of the
! stream should be absolutely prohibited
| Proceeding, DR.. Mccoy said that otd-
cials of the town Of Fulton had held
/ repeated consultations with him, the
/ Health Board of the town being very
anxious 10 have stop put TO the pres
ent practice OF the butchers, and some
! legal advice had been procured. Under
/ it, the Doctor said, he was war
ranted in saying that the
practice of using the creek as
| . dumping ground for Objectionable and
misunderstanding refuse was unlawful,
and that the city could put summary
/ stop 10 such practices, even though the
| offending parties polluted the stream
several miles outside the limits of the
city. lie urged the Committee to give
/ the offending parties warning, and to
/ follow up that by arrests il the practice
was not stopped. In the course of his
| remarks, DR.. Mccoy stated that the
| Messrs. Schenk, doing business in Full
/ ton, were not offenders, as they consumed
/ all their refuse, with very small and
unimportant exception, in the manu-
/ facture OF fertilizers, and not only that,
/ but they had offered TO WORK up the
refuse OF the other butchers, il 1t was
delivered to them, but this the other
butchers would not do, they apparently
prelerring to dump the staff into the
creek as the easiest method OF getting
I rid Of il.
I The Committee considered the matter
/ for a good while, and finally adopted
resolution calling upon the County
/ Board Of Health, the Fulton Board of
| Health, and the Prosecuting Attorney
and Health Officer to meet with the
| Council Committee 10 take concerted
action, the meeting to be held al the
/ call of Chairman Caddle, Of the Council
/ Health Committee. During the course
of the discussion, reference was made
10 the action OF this city 10 building
y rpltnVA
/ the city of Bellaire Of the mass or i'm
purities dumped into the river at the
| lower eud of this city, and there was q
general expression of opinion that the
cities and towns on the river north Of
Wheeling, commencing with Martins
| Ferry aud ending with PittS6urg should
I 10 like manner be compelled 10 burn
| their night soil and other Objectionable
/ matter, now Dolluting the Ohio.
The Committee recommended for pay
ment bills aggregating $50 SO, aud
/ listened to the report of the Superin-
/ tendeut of the crematOry for the
month Of August. This report showed
| that there had been burned during that
month $50 cart and wagon loads Of gar
| bage. 564 barrels and boxes, loads OF
paper, 81 dogs and cats, horse aud PSF
| barrels OF night soil.
The Health officer reported that the
sanitary condition Of the city was excel
I lent aud that the services Of the
| inspector had been dispensed with.
The Superintendent of the Crem-
atory reported that his Office had been
/ broken open and = clock aud some