New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-28
DIR EMERY'S EYES WIDE OPEN
WHAT THE BROOKLYN HEALTH COMMITS
s1oNER SAW WHILE ABROAD.
COMPARISON BETWEEN BROOKLYN AND FOREIGN
CITIES AS RESPECTS sANITATioN-folNIs
IN WHICH BROOKLYN ExcELs.

pur,nv his recent visit to Europe Health Commits
sioner Emery OF Brooklyn gave some carefui atten-
tion TO the subject Of sanitation disnfectoh sewer
ace and allied matters in foreign cities In some
respects he found them far In advance OF brooklyn
and other American cities but In other features
no was convinced that they could learn not little
from Rrooklyn Dr. Emery was asked day or two
ago regarding the results OF his observations ana eA
pressed his willingness TO lay them pefore the reau-
ers OF The Tribune II he had had more time al MS
dsposal he would he said. have been glad 70 make
more careful and extended comparison OF the meth
DDS and operations OF health departments In the
cities Of the Old World but his official duties would
not permit him to be absent from Brooklyn for
great while. Summing up the results OF mis- IN
ouires and personal examination. he said:
after seeing the methods OF the cities OF the Old
World in dealing with sanitary matters. 1t is in
teresting TO make a comparison with those OF our
own cities. and particularly Brooklyn while my
visit abroad was too short to go very much Into de-
tail in any OF the cities. except perhaps Glasgow,
and only TO few OF them, YET lot thc Pur-
poses OF comparison enough was seen to Indicate
the strong points we'll the weak points as COM
pared with our own.
I'm Paris. as is well known. the streets are kept
scrupulously clean. and the cutters are hushed
every dav with large quantities OF water. which Is
carried on through sewers thereby flushing them
daily Journey through the sewers OF faris indi-
Gates the large quantity OF water when IS daiy IN
use In them. and only iiiniteu a"'ou"' VI o'''"''
sewage smell is found
HOW THEY MANAGE THINGS IN PARIS.
II was particularly interested in the management
OF the markets and abattoirs IN Paris everything
which is brought into the city in the way OF food
products Is taxed either directly or indirectly by the
corporation and in consequence a large amount OF
money is obtained for the care OF the markets ana
abattoirs. The chief abattor and market, known as
the Abattoir de la Vilette. was the only one whch
l visited I went early one morning. The abattoir
and market cover nearly forty-four acres the
ground being nearly equally divided between them.
Stone buildings paved with asphalt or non-absorb-
ent material on the inside together with square
block pavement throughout the whole space arc
feature which enables them TO be easily cleansed
Here also a large amount Of wafer is used
The abattoir is open from In the morning until
0 at night Every particle OF material brought into
the abattoir or produced In IT must be out at
D. M Every inch OF surface. floor space street
space and sidewalks Is scrubbed every night by an
army OF workmen with hot water and soap. ana DIS
infected by phenyle solution. In consequence OF
which the whole is scrupulously neat and clean
feature OF this abattoir. and Is the same with the
three others in the city Is that every particle Of
material is utilized. from the finest meats down 10
the refuse which is made into fertilizers.
sCRUPULOUs CARE EXERCISED
The ahattolr Is separated from the market By
canal with an elevated bridge connecting them. All
OF the epace. even that on the bridge Is scrubbed
every day The market IS paved with regular
square block pavement. Tho buildings are huge.
open shedlike structures with glass roofs. All the
"a tile are brought into the cy by train. from which
they are driven 70 the various sections assigned 10
them in the market. The morning l visited this
market there 4c0 cattle on sale. most OF them
sold TO be slaughtered In the same abatio!r. ~ an
instance 81 the scrupulous o, all waste products
| may say that the dropplngs ~ tho cattle sheep
and hogs are sold regular contractor for 500
a year An admission fee Is paid for every head OF
cattle and every sheep hog sold In this market;
All the cattle killed In the presence OF trained
veterinarian. and saw a carcass cut down and de-
stroyed because OF the presence OF tuberculosis IN
A. All the dressed meat sold In the abattor pays
q heavy to the city. Tho market A. well A. the
abattor is entirely scrubbed and disin'eciei every
night
1T was with great regret that ! contracted our
Own methods OF dealing with this matter. The
Health Department OF Brooklyn however. has un-
der consideration the establishment Of an ahattoir
where all killing done In the city shall be under the
supervision OF the department
Il learned that the garbage OF Paris was collected
every night and taken outside the city where IL Is
picked over by hand. and all material that can be
| used for food selected and the remainder used
for feriilizlng purposes.
only recently has It been made obligatory upon
the physicians OF Paris 10 report all contagious
there Is considerable complaint but have doubt
that they will fall into line they have done in
other cities where such practice has prevailed
longer.
WHAT MANCHESTER AND GLASGOW ARE
DOING.
The city Of Manchester Is now eSpening 'i"o-
600 for the purpose Of pulling down the buildings
upon and filing in large area OF the lower part
OF the city rasng the grade and getting ri of inc
closely but-up section Indeed. 1t seems to be iheir
policy TO remedy what the city OF brooklyn by its
sanitary regulations and building laws seeks n pre-
vent namely. the overcrowding OF building space. 1t
not being lawful In Brooklyn to erect n tenement
house upon more than 20 per cent OF IN" lo' mus
securing light and ventilation for the best interests
OF the inhabitants. This contrast can also be OBJ
served between the cities Of Brooklyn and New
York and Glasgow. where they have been expanding
a large amount OF money to tear down unsanltary
sections OF the city and open up streets and let
More time spent by me in Glassow in In
being generally conceded to have the best municipal
government n The wod bT Ism Msa Is ah
| Officer Of the city. Under his administration the
city authorities have expended large amounts OF
money In tearing down unsanitary sections ana
erecting lodging houses and warehouses;. ana they
have also built the largest ana mnes, CONTAGIOUS
They now engaged in cre.-lng ,ti,l another one
At Rock @ ON wh seIvaefe " '
"a system Of sewage disposal Is in operation
! which treats the sewage OF onc-thrd Of the most
thckly settled part Of the city. and which In time
viii treat the sewage OF the entire city This
method I saw In operation. and observed that the
efnueni after passing from the filter beds into the
river clyde was as clear as our Rldgewood water
| The solid material IL mixed with ashes and other
| substances and used a fertilizer, and readily
| brings a good price.
| BROOKLYN'S FAME ABROAD
THE reputation Of the Brooklyn Health Depart
ment was known abroad and naturally many in
aulries were made regarding our work here. In
| comparing the work done IN the two cities. whIls
| they had accomplished much In the way OF obating
unhealthy conditions and had proceeded In an in
| tegent manner for n series OF years. yet 1t was
| with considerable pride that ] was able TO de-
scribe the work recently accomplished by the Brook
| Ign Health Department. especially In the care or
i fhnl-a