The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-01-04
BUTTESSCAHNGER WORK
Plan to Regulate It by Contract
Being Urged.
BOARD OF HEALTH TO ACT
No Meeting of That Body Last Night.
Product of q Few Milkmen Falls
Below the Lawful Per Cent
MortuaTy Report.

The board of health was called to meet
last evening, but none of the members
of the board showed up except Health
Officer Shultz. The rules OF the board
of health require a meeting the first
Monday in each month, and yesterday
notices We're sent to the members, but
they failed to show up.
DR. Shultz was anxious that a meeting
should be held last night in order TO get
things in motion for the institution OF
the contract system of doing scavenger
work. The matter has been asitated for
some time. and both the board and
council are favorable to the plan. In
order to start the new system iegisla-
ton is necessary. and II was desired
that the council do the required legisla-
zion at once. 50 that the contract sys-
tenn can be inaugurated by at least the
end of the present month.
The contract system will be the most
decided innovation vet made in the reg
allation of the health Of the city, and is
the plan followed in the progressive
cities of the East Contractors will be
asked to bid for doing the oity's scav-
snger work for the city and the con-
tract will be let to the parties making
the minimum offer for the work. pro-
vided the parties bidding are considered
satisfactory and responsible bidders, All
garbage and refuse will then be carried
out of the city at regular and frequent
intervals instead Of being allowed TO ac-
cumulate for months. as has formerly
been the case. AT present there are a
number of licensed scavengers who
make their own bargains with house
holders. some of whom are forced to
clean up frequently, while others are
only called on once year. By the new
plan the city will be back Of the con-
tractors, will see that the charges are
not above the contract rates, and Will
charge the cost of cleaning Zip and haul
ing away 10 the property. The men,
bers of the health board are satisfied
that this is the only way in which
Butte can be kept fairly clean
A mortuary report for the year 1897
is being prepared by the health officer
and will be ready in a few days. 1t is
eminently proper that reports of this
sort should be made at the close Of the
calendar year instead of at the munich
pal year. as has formerly been done. In
order TO compare Butte's mortality with
the mortality of other cities. the calen-
dar year must be taken ~ all other
cities in making annual mnrtuarN re-
ports and computing the death rate. To
make the report cover the year from
May / TO April 30 makes the report
yalueless for purposes Of comparison.
Milk Inspector WATSON has concluded
that there are some Of the city's milk
men whom he will have 10 publish
in order To get them to bring their milk
up to the standard required by law
The law requires that the milk must
contain not less than per cent. OF but
ter fat, and the milk inspector at fre-
quent intervals takes samples of the
milk off the carts aud tests them Six
or eight mill<men are almost uniformly
below the required percentage, and al
though he has repeatedly threatened
them. their milk shows below par at
the next test just the same. Mr. Was
son Will present a report u the council
at the next meeting showing what milk
men sell milk under grade, and will con-
finue 10 give these mikmen publicity
until the milk they peddle Is brought up
to grade.