The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-08
THE SEWAGE QUESTION.
Objections to the Wilmington River
Outlet Presented,


Outlet Presented.
Editor Morning News: I hunted up a
copy of the New York World of Sunday,
S0th ultimo, after reading article in the
News signed Health" and 1 was sur
prised that Health was not more pro-
nounced and emphatic in warning the
mayor and aldermen Of Savannah against
the danger of pouring the sewage of the
city into Wilmington river, by which the
health of Thunderbolt and Whitmarsh,
Wilmington ana Skidaway islands would
be endangered, and Industries upon which
10000 to 10000 people depend for a living in
supplying articles of wholesome food, that
cheaper the living expenses of many more
thousands, would be utterly destroyed and
the health of the people of Savannah, for
which Wilmington river is to be polluted,
will be in greater jeopardy than it is now
from the open cesspool, called Bilbo canal,
in the heart Of thiclSly settled quarter of
the city. But unfortunately for this Sec
ton, Bull street does not run in that direc-
ton, nor are any of tle city fathers resi-
dent on the banks of the canal.
In the Worlds article referred to by
Health" DR.. Durjardin- Beaumetz, the
scientists, is said to assert THAT oysers
collect and transmit dangerous microbes
more readily than any article of food in
common USE"
From the same high authority:
He has discovered that the ordinary
oyster forms an ideal microbe trap and is
especially adapted for communicating ty-
phoid fever and other disease germs. An
ordinary healthy oyster is in the habit
Of lying for hours with Its shell open to
catch any food which may drift to it"
AS the result of experiments with dis
| ease germs La Medicine Moderne, the
well-known French Medical Journal, says:
ut was also found that oysters de-
compose more rapidly in the human stom-
ach than any form of ordinary food. This
| means that no other food is so likely to
| communicate infection by setting up the
| fermentation and decomposition of other
foods. The oyster is therefore doubly
| dangerous because of this quality and its
habit of carrying large numbers of mi
| crobe FORMS
Again from same authority:
| Typhoid germs are very likely to appear
| In decaying animal or vegetable matter,
| as in city sewage drained into rivers or
| bays. They are carried along by the
! million by the current or tide and so may
readily find their way into the open
mouths of oysters.
when they have once succeeded in find
| ing a resting place of this kind they null
! tiply with astonishing rapidity. 1t is
| we'll known that typhoid germs can only
be introduced into body through the ali
| mentary canal They are often taken
into the system in drink. 1t may readily
be understood that it is far more dam
i gerouS to introduce them into the system
| by eating diseased oysters"
In the face of these statements, based
on experiments conducted with intelli-
gence and diligence, we can't understand
how our city fathers can entertain for
| moment any proposition for the disposal
of the citys sewage that would, at the
same time, utterly destroy the oyster In
dustry of this vicinity and bankrupt a
large number of good citizens of the coun-
ty, who, relying upon the laws OF the
| state enacted in recent years to protect
| their investments have been charging
their plants and increasing their outputs.
In New York, Connecticut, New Jer~
sey. Maryland and Virginia the most
stringent laws protect this industry, and
watch the health OF the oyster as assidu-
ously as they guard the health OF the
citizens From the Worlds article IL IS
also learned that
about two years ago a curious case
of poisoning from eating oysters occurred
| in Connecticut. Several people died, be-
lieve, from germs of typhoid fever intro
duced into the system in this way. The
| publication OF pnlS TACT ndu d must sSii-
Gus effect upon the oyster supply. Orders
were countermanded even from Europe
1T was found that these germs were
| absorbed by the oysters from the stream
in which they had been thrown to fat
ten. AS a result OF this discovery num-
her of precautions were taken in the oys-
ter beds about New York to guard against
such danger.
''The state oyster protector of New York
| has since examined all the oyster beds
and reports them all in good condition.
It is. besides, to the interest Of every oys-
terman to provide only the best oysters. !"
Unless the city council promptly rejects
the proposition to pollute Wilmington
river with sewage matter, competing
cities. quick to avail of every advantage
for trade, will say what is to be already
Is and impress upon buyers the danger of
| sewer-fed oysters, and enough capital and
labor will have been destroyed by the
| faisehcod to carry Savannah's sewage d.
rect to the ocean in pipes OF silver.
| Immediate adverse action by the mayor
| and aldermen, therefore, is demanded to
| save the oyster industry of Savannah and
| vicinity from irreparable loss this sea-
son. Gentlemen Of the council, act
| promptly. justice.
OWNS THE BEST DIAMONDS.