The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-03-02

At the meeting of the board of health
last night considerable time was de-
voted to q consideration of the best
manner of abating the offensive odors
that arise from stables in the thiCkly-
settled parts of the city. The MEM
bers of the board were at loss to know
just how to act in the matter. Dr.
Bentley's remark that the work of root
ing out all the bad odors in the city is
very large contract, was approved by
every member present.
Some of them should be, and will be,
abated, but the members are at loss
to know just where they should draw
the line. The matter came to the at
tention of the board in the report of
Health officer DR.. Allen, which was as
follows:
Ninety-two complaints were made dur
ing the month of February, twenty-one of
which We're abated. The others having
been caused by the unusual amount of
water all over the surface and the block
ing of cutters and drains are not so easily
remedied. There are many complaints of
filthy conditions, bad odors from stables
where cows are kept, in fact these COM
plants are made at all seasons but are
more frequent when the first warm days
come and 1 do not know how under ortr
present system we are going to manage
to help the people who are suffering.
The COW is q most valuable animal on
a farm but in restricted quarters her
presence is anything but desirable. No
matter how carefully she may be looked
after the smell from the manure heap
and from the COW is neither pleasing
nor appetizing. In the central part Of the
city the alleys have more houses than
stables and of course many of these
houses are in very close proximity to the
stables and must get all the odor there Is.
ONE SUGGESTION.
Perhaps it would be desirable to cstab.
lish COW limits, forbidding the keeping Of
cows in the thiclly populated sections Of
the city, This would cause no hardship to
poor people as it appears to be only the
wealthy who have them and in view of
the fact that highly bred animals seem
more frequently affected with tubercu-
losis, it might be we'll for all parties.
The board authorized the sanitary
officer to compel the owners of stables
complained Of to keep them in a sani-
tary condition.
DR.. Allen said there had been "a good
many harsh things said about the board
because the persons responsible for the
unsanitary condition of No. 2S school
some time ago have not been prose-
cuted. The matter was referred to the
city solicitor, he said, and the board is
waiting for him to act.
Sanitary Officer Burke reported that
complaint had been made of the un-
sanitary and unsightly condition of the
ruins of the Scranton Street Baptist
church and he had been requested by
property owners of the vicinity to dc
something to have the condition of the
premises improved
Food Inspector Cullen, in his report
| spoke Of the many complaints made ia
| him by meat dealers against the regu-
| lation of the board prohibiting the eX-
| posure uncovered in the open air of
meats intended for sale. The board in
structed Mr.. Cullen to enforce the regu-
lation and arrest at once the dealers
who violate it. They specifically di-
rected him to proceed at once against
such persons without waiting to lay
! the matter before the board.
At last nights meeting President w.
a. Paine. NJ. J. Kelly, George 5. Horn,
| w. G. OMalley and DR.. J. *. Bentley
were present. The monthly report of
Secretary r. j. Murray showed that
|
Twelve of these deaths We're from con-
! tagious diseases. During the month "A
| contagious diseases were reported,
! thirty-three OF these cases We're diph-
: liberia. There were tWenty-one mar
rages in the city during February and
sixty-four births.
MEET AGAIN WEDNESDAY,.
| The secretary further reported that
his annual report will be completed in
a few days and the board decided to
| hold special meeting next Wednesday
evening to hear this annual report and
also the annual report of the health
officer DR.. W. A. Alien, which he was
requested to have ready at that time.
The report of Food Inspector Cullen
showed That 5G3 inspections OF stores
and markets We're made by him. The
number Of milk tests made was 235
He condemned 11S pounds of beef 81
| pounds of veal, $50 pounds of poultry
and 9S pounds Of fish, There were
three violations Of the regulation for.
bidding the hanging of meats and poul.
try outside OF markets.
ID. O. Thomas, superintendent Of the
crematory, reported that there hat
been consumed 2362 barrels of gar
! bage and eight animals. Twenty-siH
tons Of coal were burned.
Plumbing Inspector O'Malley report.
ed that he made IA water tests, l.
smoke tests, inspected 3 old building.
and made ? re-inspections; approved
. set of plans; inspected 4 new buid.
ings.
Mr Fox was granted a permit fol
keeping a bird store at 2O5 Spruce