Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1897-02-06
Avery Important Matter.

yot Io ueieSdtc dppOluteu lIotu l. Iost-
burg. An invitation was sent to the
Town Council several weeks ago, but it
has not yet been acted upon.
There are many reasons why Frost
burg should be represented at that
meeting and no reason against it eX-
cept the cost of sending II delegate for
two days to Baltimore. To be unrep-
resented there will argue one of two
things
l, Either that Frostburg is, and ex-
poets to remain exempt from all pre-
ventable diseases, Or
2, That the town is so infected that
it is ashamed to show up in Il Health
Conference.
There is reason to believe that Frost
burg is in neither of these conditions.
There is not so much, nor so little of
death and disease here as there might
be. Indeed, the JOURNAL is assured
on good authority that there ought to
be no such disease as typhoid fever in
this town, and one of the purposes of
the Conference is to show how it may
be restricted, and, in a town like
Frostburg, practically stamped out.
The town ought to send a repre-
sentative, even if it were not likely to
need any sanitary reform very soon.
Certain sorts of knowledge are of only
occasional use, but like revolvers,
when wanted, are wanted badly.
Let the Town Council at the meet
ing Monday evening next appropriate
a trifling sum of money and give
Frostburg chance to speak at the
Conference of Health.
Good roads have had their innings
for a season--now give good health,
the prime temporal consideration, a
chance.
In this connection the JOURNAL is
permitted to copy the following i'm
portant letter:
OFFICE OF THE
STATE BOARD OF HEALTH,
BALTIMORE MD, Feb 2, 1857.
Mr.. CLAYTON PUnNELL City Attorney, Frost
burg, Md,
Dear Sri am informed that your city
council contemplates the abandonment of
their Health Organization. This. if done, will
be step backward for a municipality, and
will expose the persons and property of your
citizens to such injury as your Council does
not contemplate. If with no Health Organ
iZaton you should refuse to institute one,
pride of your Council, but having an organ
ization to abandon it will be reflection
upon their intelligence
refer you to Chapter 622 of the Acts of
1890, which gives to the State Board of Health
the authority to legislate for any community
which refuses, or negects to egislate for
itself, or whose local code is Ineffective
If, after having assumed the duties of a
local Board of Health. your Council should
repudiate its obligations so confessed they
would invite the exercise of the extraordinary
powers of the State Board of Health. Does
your Council mean to forfeit by such a de-
fault the right of local selfgovernment in
sanitary matters? If so, by what grace will
your citizens appeal from unwelcome, but
necessary intrusion on the part of the State
Board of Health?
If, after your sanitary code is abrogated. an
epidemic shall occur, will your Council call
in the aid Of the County Board or of the
State Board of Health? In such situation
their attitude must be characterized either by
humiliation or effrontery l hope you will
exert your utmost power to save your i'm
portant city from such lapse.
There is before your Councilmen an invita-.
ton to send representative to the Health
Conference here in February. They ought to
accept that invitation. Thirty-eight delegates
are already appointed outside of Baltimore
city, and do not see how Frostburg can al
low so many less important towns to Guido
her in a matter of so great interest to her cit.
liens. | hope you will move them to send a
representative. am sure they would do SO
if they once appreciated the purposes of the
convention. Yours very truly,
JOHN S. FULTON,
Secretary.
To the above Mr.. Purnell has sent
the appended reply:
FRosTBURG, MD, Feb 4, 1897.
JOHN S. FULTON, NJ. D., Secretary State Board
of Health, Baltimore, Md,
Ny Dear SW-Your favor Of the I'd instant
relating to the appointment of delegate
from Frostburg to the Health Conference
which has been called to meet in Baltimore
city during the month of February has been
received.
Fully concurring in all you say as to the
importance of the subject, and desiring to dc
everything in my power to further the object
in view | will take great pleasure in laying
your communication before the Mayor and
Councilmen of Frostburg at the regular
monthly meeting to be held on Monday even
ing next, and asking the appointment of a
representative to attend the conference,
While imdi0idudls here and there may have
favored the abandonment of our local Health
Board. | have too much confidence in the
general intelligence of the people of Frost
burg to believe for a moment that such a step
has ever been contemplated.
Assuring you that | shall, now and in the
future, do all in my power to promote the
worthy object you have undertaken to 40
complish, lam Very truly yours,
CLAYTON PURNELL.
4 ThanlODicaI NnSt