The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-04-28
HEALTH OF THE CITY
Sanitary Conditions Warmly Dis
cussed in the Council.
ALDERMAN SHOVLIN TALKS
DR.. Speiman Rises to Correct the
Statements of the Alderman
From the First-It Was an
Interesting Question.
Anacouaa Meas.

INTEREST n2 0ueSliOn.
The sanitary conditions of this city
were the subject OF an interesting talk
by Health officer Spelman at the council
meeting last night The matter was
brought up by Alderman 'Shovlin. who de-
manded OF the city attorney an opinion
or a statement as TO whether or no the
city had an ordinance against dumping
garbage in the streets. He was Informed
that such ordinances exist with strin-
gent regulations. The alderman from the
First ward then went on to say that he
personally knew OF two violations of the
ordinance that had occurred within
block of the new city hall and he roasted
the city officers for not enforcing the
law. The city attorney asked the alder
man to give the offenders name and the
complaint would be lodged. but this AL
derman Shovlin declined to do. He went
on. however. to roast the health officer,
whom he said had paid no attention to
complaints made to him, and who had
not given sufficient attention to the gar
bage and manure heaps. lie also went so
far as to say that the doctors of the city
did not want the SANITARY conditions
improved-that the doctors wanted sick
ness, which would be money In their
pockets.
DIR. Spelman was granted permission to
address the council. He expressed him
self as pleased to speak of the sanitary
conditions in Anaconda, which are In
general excellent No health officer was
omniprescent or could be to keep people
from emptying slop-pails on the streets,
but he could answer that no such nui-
sance had been allowed to exist in this
city long enough to do any damage to the
public health.
During the past few years" said Dr.
Spelman, "the streets of Anaconda have
been kept perfectly clean comparatively
speaking. and there is nowhere on the
thoroughfares any heaps that may men
ace health. The alleys of the city COM
pare favorably with those of other cities
OF the state. They have been cleaned as
fast as possible since the snow disap-
peared and many men are still at work
upon them. so that In a short time the
alleys will be thoroughly cleaned.
THE death rate in Anaconda, so far
as can be learned. is as low as that of
any city in the state. We have had no
contagious diseases TO any dangerous ex-
tent. There are now n few cases OF
measles. case of scarlet fever was
reported during the year. There was not
a single case Of diphtheria. which has
ragged In Great Falls, Belt and Helena,
and now exists in Walkerville. That An
aconda has escaped is no doubt largely
due to the attention given TO our streets
and alleys
with all due respect TO Mr.. Shovlin
who charges the medical profession with
not desiring particularly the good health
Of the people with desiring disease
among the people. I must say, TO say the
least. he is far behind the times. For 10
years and more preventive medicine has
been one OF the most important branches
OF study. Scientific men are devoting
their time and best energies towards dis
covering measures to prevent diseases.
and the results are the most valued of re-
cent achievements. And to go further,
any man who says that the doctors of
Anaconda, or any doctor of this city. de-
sires sickness In the families of friends
and neighbors for his own gain or ag-
grandizement, any man who says that
does not tell the truth.
1T Is not unknown to you, gentlemen
of the council. that / have repeatedly
In all my reports asked you to establish
a bureau of vital statistics. II is possible
In this city of 10000 people that a child
may be born. murdered and buried i'm
the cemetery without there being a
scratch of pen other than the under
takers memorandum TO show that IL ever
existed. No record is kept of the births,
no certificate is required as to the cause
of death and you have ignored all rec
concentrations from the health officer in
that regard. The extension of the sewer
system has been repeatedly recommended
and the condition of the city dump often
called to your attention. With these
things in view what can be expected of a
health officer? Unless he is sustained in
his suggestions and attention paid there
10 his work is valueless. and you may as
well do as you have proposed to do-abol-
fish the office"
Alderman Walkup said that he had
made tour of the alleys of the town I'm
company with the chief of police and the
health officer and had found the alleys in
fair condition. About a dozen complaints
had been made TO the city attorney and
warrants would be issued to-day for the
arrest of the offenders. which he believed
would cause other delinquents to push
even more rapidly the work OF cleaning
up.
The contract for digging the sewer
from the city hall TO the Park avenue
sewer was awarded to p. welch for -
cents per foot.
The notice OF the intention 10 establish
special Improvement district No l was
ordered printed. The district to consist
of that part of the Fourth ward between
Seventh street Hickory street and the
city limits to the westward.
Sidewalks were ordered built on Chest
nut street on both sides of the street.
A number OF ordinances. among them
the annual appropriation ordinance, were
referred TO the judiciary committee.
The council adjourned to meet next
Wednesday night at o'clock.