The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1898-11-10
SANITATION
AND SEWERAGE
Discussed by Mr.. George B.
Nigh.
ADVOCATES SEWERAGE.
Thinks There is No Good Reason Why
Marietta Shouldn't Issue
Bonds.

EDS. JoURNAL-In looking over the
proceedings of the citizens meeting
held at the court house on last Mon
day evening, relative to the ACCESSIBILITY
of establishing system of sewerage in
our city, note with surprise thatsome
of our leading citizens were strongly
opposed to the movement. Now, the
object of this article is to take square
issue with not only the opposition at
that meeting, but also against any 9TH
er citizen who, either by word or act,
would do anything that would tend in
the remotest degree to defeat the sue
cessful elimination of this movement.
As will be noticed, those who were
the strongest in opposition were that
class who would be more or less "finan-
cially affected" without deriving any
specific benefit therefrom citizens who
are able and have their own homes in
as perfect sanitary condition as it would
be possible for them to have if we had
the best system of sewerage that good
engineering and money would build.
But that is not the question: While
will admit that Marietta is, fortu-
nately, blessed with as perfect natu-
raj drainage, as far as her streets are
concerned, as any other city in the
land, but how about her back yards,
alleys, &C.? That is the place where
the enemies of good health are con-
cealed in ambush, where they have
been accommodating for years ard years
and no matter how well or perfecx your
natural street drainage may be, 1t does
not effect the cess-pools and sink-pits
of the back yards that have percolated
the soil with their death-dealing poi
sons for years. And 1 say that there
was not physician present at that
meeting, or any ether physician, who
can deny that cess-pools and sinks near
houses and wells are the most dangerous
method of temporarily disposing of
sewerage, and is attended with excep-
tional risk when the water supply is
drawn from well in the neighborhood
of the sewerage tank.
The idea that the removal of the con-
tents of vaults and filth pits once every
six months or year is complete and
satisfactory cure for all their dangers,
is absurd. and long to see the day
when public sentiment will rise up and
dom nd that hn1enhn1dnr cho1
dispose of all the sewerage of the house
by water carriage through sewers, and
| totally abolish every means of storage
in the soil, and prohibit its further ac-
cumlation.
1t is related that it was formerly the
! custom of the British Government to
| contract for the transportation of con-
victs at so much passage. Under
these contracts the mortality was fear
| full, sometimes more than fifty per
| cent being thrown overheard. Appeals
| to humanity were in vain; the response
always being that large mortality
was unavoidable. Contractors insti.
tuted new law to the effect that they
were to only to pay for all convicts
landed alive. The Transformation that
followed was truly wonderful. Nc
skill or expense was spared in adopt.
ing the best sanitary means for the
! health and safety OF these convicts
| The result was instead of loss of over
fifty per cent. the mortality was re-
\ duced to ~ per cent. When in the
cause of reform the sentimentalist and
moralist have failed, the economist
can step in and by his potent art draw
down metallic tears upon the cheek o.
avarice. And If theres could be some
like method adopted whereby the rent
al of tenement houses could be made
to depend upon the health of the ten
ants, the landlords would soon be thu
most advanced sanitarians in the com
| munity.
In conclusion, desire to say tina
indisputable facts demonstrate beyond
question that typhoid fever is only
communicable through the agency O
living organisms, and that this germ il
reproduced in the sick subject. Thes,
germs have strong vitality and ar,
perpetuated in the favorable condition
found in cess pools and like places, S,
that ground-air and ground-water pass
ing through stored up filth, may b.
charged with these minute organisms
and percolating through the groun,
in the usual air and water currents
may and do reach our wells and poison
the water, and through the cellars in
wade and poison the air which ",
breathe in our dwellings.
The dangers of these filth pits ar
not limited to the origin and spread O
typhoid fever alone. A. great man
other diseases are propagated by tn
same influences, and the lesson laugh
by these facts is: To avoid all possibl
sources of soil pollution about tn
home, and do every thing in your power
''legitimately," toward establishing
good system Of sewerage in our beauti
full city. Yours for health, abov
wealth. GEO. B. NIGH.