The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1894-06-01
Timely Suggestions.
BRADFORD, VT, May 2S, 1894.

10 the Editor Of the United Opinion
1t will doubtless be conceded by all that
the public health is of paramount and vital
Importance to the welfare OF every commun-
ity, whether city, town or village; this is SO
self-eyldent that it would be simply waste
or time to attempt to argue the question.
That the State as whole looks upon the
matter in this light is evidenced by The fact
that the Legislature, acting as the represen
tall'es OF the people, appoint Health Off
GERS for each town, whose duty it is to use
every available means to prevent the intro
ductlon OF contagious or infectious diseases
into the town; to prevent their spreading as
far as possible, should they obtain lodg-
ment by the use of fumigantS and disinfec-
tants; and to see that the sanitary conditions
within the town are such that their incep-
ton shall not be within their jurisdiction.
The introduction of a water system into
the. village of Bradford has been of inesti-
mable advantage to her citizens, as well in
thelr. public as in their private capacity;
supplying as it does, the foundation for as
good system of fire protection as can be
found IN any city or town in the State and
being amply sufficient for all the demands
| that are liable to be made upon it tor dec
AIDES to come. AS have said, the advanta-
ges are inestimable; but in its wake have
come disadvantages which, unless prompt
ly attended to, will in large measure, tend
derived.
In the former days, when people were
compelled, from self-intereSt if from moth
ing else, to be sparing in the use of water,
the old system of surface drainage was we'll
enough; but now, when there is probably
more than ten times the quantity of water
used for household purposes alone than
was formerly the case, that system is not
can not be sufficient. Every pint of dish
water which is allowed to spread itself on
the ground yields its quota of disease-bear-
ing germs: how much more so then must it
with the numerous privies and cesspools
which abound In the village and are insult
ficiently cared for. Take. for example,
that ceSSpOol at the corner of CObble Alley
and Main Street. Ever since the frost be-
gan to come out of the ground in the spring,
that CT spool has been pouring its contents
over the sidewalk and down Main Street
until the powers of Nature, evaporation and
absorption combined. sufficed to check its
course; during its course, it has, as might
naturally be expected, constantly given off
Odors which were not only offensive, but
positively dangerous to every passer by.
Let any intelligent man go down to the
Doe meadow and examine into the state of
things from the Stevens tenement property
northward as far as the meat market and
what will he find? Veracity will compel
him to state that so long as things are as
they are, just so long will they be a stand
ing menace to the public health and dis
grace to the community.
| might cite other instances, perhaps not
so bad but bad enough, but these will Suf-
fee.
These things should not be! What is our
Medical Officer of Health doing? What
are our Town and Village officers doing
that they allow this state of affairs to con-
tinue? They have the power, and it is
their manifest duty, to see that these NUS
ances are abated. They are elected to run
the public affairs for the general go0dof the
public. and as | said before, this portion of
their duty is of Uitdl Importance. Pay
them for their services like men ("the la
borer is worthy of his hire") but haze 1t
done.
OF course, without a general system of
sewerage, these evils can not be successful
ly overcome, but they can be very conSid-
erably abated. Until the matter of prop
er sewerage system is taken up and attend
ed to, we can never feel safe from plague
of typhoid fever or other deadly disease
such as has so lately and so disastrously
visited the town of Windsor. Why do not
our public men, those who are the pioneers
of such improvements as we have side |
walks, water supply, etc, take hold ~ this |
question and agitate it thoroughly? 1t may |
cost us each quite few dollars, but would |
we not all of us rather pay them out for
this purpose than for doctors bills and pos |
sibly funeral expenses?
That the public, through your columns |
may be awakened to the gravity of the sit |
lation, is the earnest wish of
Yours respectfully,
HERBERT W. GwYN.