The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-08-04


for mass meeting to discuss sanitary
conditions and perfect an organization
having for its object the betterment OF
present conditions.
In addition to all the available seating
room being occupied, crowd stood about
the doors making 1t impossible to get a
full and complete list of all present, but
among those chiefly participating In the
meeting were Mayor S. II. Brashear, l..
NJ. Rich. r. NJ. Johnston Jas. F. Dumble'
DR.. Morris, Geo. b. Griggs. Jules Hirsch,
Pete Chalmers, n. l.. Mills. Il. NJ. Burke,
Phil II. Fall. Jack Kennedy, VIM. Chris
tian, Cliff Grunewald, ]. r. Waties, JET
d. Bryant, DR.. ]. B. Mason. Geo, w. Kidd,
Or. Weir, Frank Smith. Fred Erickson
Spencer Hutchins, Jas a. Breeding, Z. p.
Turner. DR.. ]. j. Burroughs. j. j. Settle
CAST, H. w. Cortes, N G. Kittrell, A. X.
Taylor, Max Deinstag and a number OF
others.
1t was representative citizens meeting
and from the number of city officials
present it was evident that the city admin
istration is thoroughly aroused to the I'M
portance of operating with the citizens
IN this important movement of cleaning
ur the city.
In addition to the gentlemen present
Mrs Rosine Ryan and Mrs. Bette Bryan
were also in attendance.
Or the motion OF Mr.. Christian, MI
Geo. B. Griggs was elected chairman OF
the meeting and d. d. Bryan was made
secretary.
Upon a request from the chair that some
one outline the object of the meeting, MIR.
r. NJ Johnston. by whom the call had
been made through The Post al the in
stance of numebr of citizens, said that he
hardly regarded it as necessary to say
much upon the subject. The meeting had
been called at the suggestion OF num-
Der OF citizens, who thought 1t necessary
to put Houston in lire with other cries
of the State in the way of inaugurating a
cleaning UP campaign. This movement
was not intended to In any way antagonize
or conflict with the work of the health de-
partmeut of the city, but rather TO be an
auxiliary to it. He did not believe 1t
possible for the health department to keer
the city thoroughly clean with the limited
means at it's disposal, and he anticipated
that that department would appreciate,
kather than resent, cooperation OF
citizens. 1t is not possible, continued
Mr.. Johnston, that any city in semi trop
ical climate can be kept too clean. ii
referred to the fever now prevalent II
Virginia, with a death rate OF from % L
30 per cent, and II the people were ii
doubt as to the genulneness of the sick
ness that prevailed in the South in lS9'
and 1898 on account of its lighl mortality
there can be no doubt as TO the genuine
i 4 tn
can not afford to be In position 10 EN-
courage its coming. He had no plans Il
suggest. The idea was simply TO clean VI
the city and ii was for this meetln 10 de
termine the details OF the work.
Calls were made for City Health Office
DIR. j. Is. Massie. He said the health de
partment was doing all in its power u
put the city in a good sanitary condition
He would be glad, however. to have tn
help and cooperation of citizens in tn
furtherance OF the work and he was gla
to know that to accomplish this was tn
purpose of this meeting. His plan wa
that a sanitary committee be appointed
consisting OF a general chairman and on
member from each ward, each ward chair
man to have full supervision OF the wor
in his respective ward, with authority t
employ men to inspect and report derelic
tions and that the central committee ais
be vested with authority to employ sue
men as might be necessary.
DR.. Massie submitted the suggestion 1
the form OF a motion.
Mr.. Frank Smith asked II this committe
would act in conjunction with the board {
health.
DR.. Massie said that such was HE ide
and that he would be only too glad to hav
their assistance. but that he did not In
tend to surrender to this committee an
Of his responsibility, as he felt that b
was charged with the duty of keeping tn
city in good sanitary condition and h
proposed to shirk no responsibility Dc
volving upon him in this connection.
Mr.. Grunewald suggested that for a
expense incurred by the committee bill
be sent to the council for payment aft,
first being approved by tho central
mittee and the city health department
Mr.. Johnston thought that one of Il
frst duties of this committee should
10 organize at once a corps of inspector
to enforce and report any infractions
tho health ordinances. He said that II
health ordinances were not being Ell
forced: In this, however. he did not men
to say that Houston was different from ar
other city in Texas. The non-e nforcemel
of these ordinances spoke for themsely'
and sometimes very loudly. He though
that any one violating the health ord
nances OF the city should be fined to II
fullest extent. His idea was that a suff
f cient number of men should be put TO woI
at once to put the city in good shape.
Captain Christian thought that 1t shou
be the duty OF this proposed sanitary CON
mittee to report all delinquences to II
city health department.
Mr.. Bryant suggested that the meetir
would be pleased to hear from Mayor Br,
shear. The mayor said that he was pre-
emit 20 receive advice and suggestion
rather than offer them. He indorsed Il
present movement. No matter how we
regulated or efficient might be the heall
department It could be materially benefltt
and aided by such plan as was propose
ThNefiorts OF all the city departments.
fact. would be futile II not backed up |
the citizens. Az an illustration OF VIII
might be accomplished in this directis
he referred to the excellent work done
the late Colonel Warlng In New York Cit
Nor ala be believe that the citizens
individuals should be asked to pay Il
expense Or this movement II should
horne by the city out Of the general take
No better investment could be made
no city and he favored spending all Il
money that might be needed to accon
piish benenciai results. He thought Il