The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-21
Urgent Demand for Observation
of Sanitary Rules.
SMALLPOX is SPREADING.
Necessity for Enlarged Hospital Ac-
commodations and an Entire New
system of Drainage for the City
No Government Funds Avail
able and Citizens Must Pro-
vide for Their Own Protection.


"Sanitate. sanitate, sanitatee
Such is the exact sum and substance of
the leading editorial of the Nome Daily
News, of July .. Several columns of the
paper are devoted to discussion OF the
health conditions of the Northern city,
and to urging upon the residents careful
compliance with the regulations promul-
gated by Gen. Randall, and general CO.
operation for the preservation OF the
city's health.
these are grave matters, in view OF
existing conditions" says the News. edi-
torialiy, land demand the most careful
consideration. Whether the necessary
means can be raised to carry out the
suggestions of Gen. Randall. We cannot
say The old-time business men and
commercial companies have already sub
scribed literally to many public enter
prises, and 1t may be that they VIII feel
that the limit has been reached. No one,
however. can successfully deny the ur-
gent need of hospital accommodations
and II seems to the News that what has
been done In the past should not be held
UP for consideration and minute inspec-
ton Just now. The business men and
corporations have been most liberal. and
their work is and will be remembered.
But II is a condition and not theory
by which We are confronted, and that
condition must be met. Gen. Randall
because the government has not pro-
vided funds for tho purpose. We who
have lived in Alaska for any length OF
time do not need to be told that the gov
eminent throws away no money on this
American possession but that is another
story. IL the government has been negli-
gent. common humanity demands of us
who are here to see to It that scores and
perhaps hundreds OF men and women DO
not perish because the government fails
to make provision for an emergency of
these proportions.
Large Expenditure Necessary.
The recommendations of Gen. Randall
contemplate the expenditure Of about
tai would cost nj least $4,000. and to
drain the town as recommended by Gen.
Randall, would cost $40 geo more. That
sum was expended in drains this spring,
and there are those that claim that these
drains, although choked now. would do
the work ,s necessary II they were !. cleared
sanitary engineer to News reporter.
that to thoroughly drain this camp.
deep main drains are needed. those dug
this spring being mere surface affairs.
and suitable only for carrying off sur
face water In the early spring. They
are not deep enough TO accomplish any
permanent good. Then there should be
complete system OF lateral drains to con-
meet the main drains with the sea, and
they should be kept in constant repair.
The main drains should be at least 3
feet deep and the lateral drains feet.
In this way comparatively good drainage
of the tundra can be effected
spread of Smallpox.
The News admits that notwithstanding
the utmost efforts on the part of the au-
thorities 10 check the spread of smallpox.
that dread disease continues to get the
better of them, and the number of cases
daily reported at headquarters grows
with every succeeding twenty-four hours.
Seven cases were taken charge OF July
!, and II was then thought there were
a number of others about town not vet
located.
These new cases send the total up
above the twenty mark, says the News,
"and II now looks as though IL will be
next TO impossible to prevent an epidemic
Of the plague. Its severity may. how
ever, be greatly lessened by some attempt
al city sanitation and II the citizens take
hold of the matter with the proper spirit,
the danger may be so greatly minimized
that II need not affect the general health
OF the community in any marked degree"
Many Tales to he Told.
''The smallpox scare. together with the
failure to Immediately realize golden
dreams. is having It's effect" SAYS the
News The steamers are booking many
passengers for the. return, and any num-
Der Of people may be heard declaring that
the impossibility of getting their affairs
in shape Is the only thing that keeps
them here. Many disappointed fortune
hunters have gone to take the chance OF
making n living at their old occupations
In the states, rather than face the hard
NE ana hard WORK which lie In the path
way To success amid the Alaskan gold
fields
What horrible tales of woe these re-
turning passengers to the South will tell
when they reach their destination And
how the yellow journalists viii
smack their lips as they write
and print saffron -hued stories Of
tho awful conditions that pre-
vail in Nome They will kill on men by
the hundreds, perhaps thousands. with
their facile PANELS and the whole country
-.
anltctior and desolstioh brought about
by disease In the famed Northern gold
land Others viii tell their tales Of dis
appointment and denouncc tho country
because they themselves grew faint and
weary and their feet became very cold
the moment they landed on the beach
between their toes bcggiuE 10 be nick "A
0p but there IS no pantc here among
those who know the conditions and no
fear for the future 81 the country