The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-25
Clean Up the City.

prominent citizen OF Seattle writes
to the editor Of the -Intelligencer
as follows:
Your editorial in yesterdays edition mo
Time to Be Ienient," has undoubt-
thousands of residents in Seattle
for its frank and earnest ap-
peal to the old aphorism Proven
tion is better than cure" To act at once
seems the suggestion in every word Of
your excellent article. for each OF US to
use our utmost endeavors to assist the
city health officials In their duties. To
this end we hope a word to the wise may
be sufficient and when property owners
are notified to cleanse and remedy places
needing immediate attention. that It will
need but a single notice to comply with
all such requirements as may be demand
ed. Business residents in the neighborhood
of Second avenue south and
Jackson street are confronted with the
appalling conditions in the vacant lots sur
rounded by Jackson street, Second aven-
ue south. Main street and Third avenue
south Here there is more than half o
block in which appears to be water Of q
stagnant nature, several feet deep. the
odors arising from which are at times
simply intolerable. 1t appears also to be
a common dumping ground for the Japan
csc restaurants In the locality for their
refuse. Decaying vegetable matter In
great quantities Is in course Of decompo-
sition and as soon as the water has seep-
ed through into the ground, this corruption
must evaporate. breeding disease where
ever the germs may be carried. It sure
ly cannot be necessary to point to the dan
gers Of this black hole further than to
bring the notice of the owners Of the
property to its present condition to In
sure immediate attention. II further re-
course be needed, the laws Of our city
should be at once enforced.
The attention OF the owners Of prop
erty In question and OF the health de-
partment Is directed to this complaint.
1t is one Of many that might be made.
For while the general sanitary condi-
ton OF Seattle Is excellent. and its to-
Biography assists in preventing the for
nation OF these slnkholes, there are
several spots that much need the eye
and the nose and the strong arm of
corrective authority. We have been a
bit too easy-going in the past. 1t 10
time for us to remember that with the
name and honors Of great city 70
SNitdih WhlSH 6Eo"tu HdAcE lIu-
perative.
Seattle has no need to fear the spread
of a contagion IL 1t will but take rea-
sonable precautions and exercise rea-
sonable diligence. But It would be GRIM
inal not to say that we may be exposed
to a frightful danger, one costly in life
and in business. If we do not do now
the work that lies plainly before US.
Rake out and clean the forgotten cor
ners. Fill up the stagnant pools. Stop
the filthy practice of permitting refuse
matter to decay in the open air. Place
under strictest surveillance and hold 10
the letter Of the law the places where
Chinese and japanese are won't to con-
gregate. All this requires but a little
energy and the use of a moderate and
proper authority. II is no more than Is
contemplated in our municipal regula-
tions. And it may save us suffering
and loss incalculsble.