The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-07-10
FOUND FILTH
AND SMELLED GAS.
Members of the Board of
Health Searching in I'm
pleasant Places.
HORRIBLE DISCOVERIES.
A Cellar in Which the Main
Sewer Found Ready
Outlet.
BUILDINGS TO BE CONDEMNED.
The Board Will Recommend the De.
molition of Several Unsanitary
Structures.
TO BE CONDEMNED.

A delegation of the Board of Health
went looking for foul stenches and iniqui-
tous plumbing in Chinatown yesterday
afternoon.
Chinatown is prolific in stenches that
cry unto heaven, and the plumbing,
though not extensive, is decidedly defect
i've. Yet the Board of Health yesterday
did not see tenth of the reeking filth that
ordinarily attends the nostrils of the ad-
venturous sightseer who wanders into the
crowded little alleys that serve as high
ways and sewers for the rickety tenement
houses that line them. Perhaps it was
coincident, but everywhere was seen the
marks of the broom.
Fish alley, whose remarkably pungent
odors have been matter of history in the
City for years, was in state of compare
tive cleanliness. 1t would have put to
shame the wholesale districts in the vi
cinity of Battery and Clay streets. The
disgusting offal that ordinarily obstructs
the cutters was nowhere in evidence, and
instead limpid streams of purifying water
found their way by the natural inlets to
the sewer. Chinatown had reformed.
The investigating party started out at
o'clock yesterday afternoon. Officer j.
III. Butterworth, who was several months
ago on special duty as Plumbing Inspector
of Chinatown, acted as guide, and Drs
Morse, Williamson and Hart of the board,
Edwin Gottschaux, secretary; DR.. Love-
lace, Health Officer: DR.. Lazaer of John
Hopkins University, department of sani-
tation, and some newspaper men were of
the party. AT Chinatown the party was
joined by Inspector Fay, who is at present
looking out for Chinatown's sanitary con-
dition.
The inrao+; oa fore y,rooe dad m ro711b tbo
narrow alleys, remarking as they went on
the great improvement since last year.
AT Oneida place, a pocket off Sacramento
street, between Dupont and Stockton, a
visit was made to some OF the habitations
of the lowly Chinese. In one of these, oc-
cupied by ragpicker, the atmosphere was
so vile that few seconds stay in it made
the eyes burn and the head swim.
A small! oil lamp burning before an
ancestral tablet, which is a necessity to
even the poorest OF this race. gave forth a
fetid and sickening odor. Yet even here
there was nothing that could readily be
criticized by the board SO they passed
it by.
AS the party proceeded the Chinese
gathered in wondering groups and chat
tered excitedly. Through open doorways
could occasionally be caught glimpses OF
the ratlike faces OF white dope" fends.
These did not exhibit the same interest. as
the CnlneSe lie noluS DuC one thing OF In
terest for opium's slave.
Between Ross and Church alleys is a
rocking underground passage which the
board last year ordered closed. When it
was reached on yesterdays tour it was
open, but a white man was industriously
playing hose upon it while half dozen
Cinnamon piyed brooms vigorously.
WHO ordered this alley opened? 2" was
asked the white man.
He replied it was under the orders OF
l.. @. Babbin. Inspector Fay was in
tructed 10 investigate and if he found that
Babbin was countermanding the board s
orders, to proceed against him. Church
alley was in a generally Objectionable con-
dltion and the inspector was instructed to
have it closed.
The next Objectionable feature en-
eountered was on Duncomb alley Here
a rough shed, barely tall enoughIwithin for
man to stand erect, is occupied by a
startling number of emaciated human
beings. The board decided there was
but one thing to be done with the shed
and at the next meeting they will recon-
mend its complete destruction.
The most horrible case disclosed was in
a cellar at 705 Pacific street kept by Hong
Kee as secondhand store. Hong KEGS