The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-04-08
THE HEALTH BOARD
Declares the Schools Are in Bad
Sanitary Condition.
THE EVILS OF BAD SEWERAGE
States should Also he Abolished - Tn
clean and Infectious ii ealth on
GERS Recommendations.

cording 10 the report OF the health
o!faeer. in q very bad sanitary consil-
ton. and his recommendation tina.
some thing should be done 10 abate the
nuisance met with the approval of the
board OF health at its regular monthly
meeting held yesterday afternoon. A COM
munieation addressed 10 the city council
asking that body to take steps In the mat
ter was signed by the three members OF
the board and will be fled today.
The board also elected J. II. Swyney san
itary officer In conformity with the provi-
sions OF the new charter, the appoint
ment TO be temporary. or until the civil
service rules are in force. A. F. Bray
mer was elected as assistant sanitary in
spector. his duties to consist of the same
work he Is now engaged IN. that of market
Inspector. The same provision as to the
civii service examination also prevailed
In his appointment
DIR. Holmes called the attention OF the
board to the action of health boards in
the East in condemning the use of states
In schools, as they are considered un-
clean and infectious. The suggestion was
considered good one and a resolution
Was unanimously passed requesting the
board OF education TO condemn the use Of
states In all schoolrooms. DIR. Palmer
read statement that recently appeared
in tho public health reports relative 20 a
have been raging in Seattle. and informed
the board that he had written to Assist
ant Surgeon General wyman. calling MS
attention to the misStatements in the ar
tiels and asking that they be corrected.
An answer was received stating that the
report came from Passed Assistant Sur
geon Cobb. stationed at Port TOWNSEND,
and that DIR. Palmer's letter had been re-
ferred to that official for Investigation
and correction.
The report of the health officer for
March showed that there were forty
deaths from all causes, as compared with
thirty-one during February. forty-seven
In March. 1884, and forty In March. 1895.
The average number OF deaths during the
month OF March for five years. from 1881
to 1885. inclusive. WAS forty mine, so ii will
be seen that the rate for the past month
was below the average. Fifty-two births
were reported. There were nineteen cases
OF typhoid fever, with two deaths. as COM
pared with eighteen cases and two deaths
during February. There were ten cases
OF scarlatina, a. compared with twelve
cases and one death reported during the
previous month. One case OF measles was
reported. Influenza caused one death and
consumption six.
In speaking of the school question, the
health officer says: "On March IS Mercer
school was inspected and found TO
be in very unsanitary condition. This
school Is situated in basin thai receives
the natural drainage from the surrounding
higher lying property. Most of the ground
on which fhe school is situated Is surroun-
6ed by stagnant water. The water from
the sinks and roofs runs into an open
drain that empties into the surrounding
stagnant water. Tho water closets situ-
ated in the basement of the school are
flushed only twice day and empty into
cesspooi. The floor OF the fire room is
wet at all times. Children are permitted
to eat their lunch In this basement. In
order TO improve the sanitary condition
OF this school as soon as possible, a COM
munication was sent to the city council
asking that immediate provision be made
for - sewer to be built in order that the
promises can be connected. The Denny
school was also inspected on March IS
and the urinais were found in rather a foul
condition. The closets In the basement
were found 10 be connected with the sewer,
however. On the same day the Cascade
school was examined This school is sit
uated I'm a hollow that is not drained
There is considerable water surrounding
the lot. Tho water from the sinks runs
into neither sewer nor cesspnol. but into
an open drain. The closets situated In the
basement are Of the Smead dry system,
which has already been condemned ny
your honorable board. The school Is only
a trifie moro than block distant from a
public sewer. with which II could be con-
nected. The annex of the Cascade school
has a foul privy. no cesspool or sewer con-
nection. Sink waste water discharges on
the ground under the school Notice was
served on the owner TO abate the nul-
sance.
'''rhe Rainier school. Inspected on March
-. has also the Smead dry closet system.
Notice was served on the board OF education
to connect this school with the recently
completed Market street sewer. The Pa
citc school has likewise the condemned
Smead system The fires are allowed TO
so out every day and the oior from the
closets can be detected in the school
rooms. Although in accordance with In
structions from the board. notice was
served 20 connect this school u month aso.
thu notice has not been complied with
str~ari OF water running towards the
school forms several pools Of stagnAnt
and foul water in the neighborhood OF the
school This water comes from an exhaust
HiD@ al the james street power house and
the nuisance has heen ordered abatei
The Minor 81 hool was also inspec;el
on March = and found 90 be connected
with the public sewer and In a sanitary
condition. The olympic school has frv
privies situated separate from the school
building. Notice NaS served ordering The
closets 20 be connected with tho publc
sewer"
Or. Palmer closes his report with the fol-
lowing accommodation; '~rhe impos<l-
hility Of making any closets situated in
the Easements OF schools attended hv sew
eral hundred children perfectly sanitary
must h> acknowle ised by anyone who has
given the sub set the requisite attention.
The only feasible remedy for this state
OF affairs IS the removal If al closets
from the school Easements ana placing
IN separate buildings connected. IL though,
desirable by covered passagewAys 70 the
school buildings. Therefore, would rec
ommene thar "a FaFidlv as possible he
Present basement system he EXCHANGED for
Flushing systems In separate buildings con-
necte.i TO paddle Sewers"