The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-12
Chief Austin Finds FrightfuI Con-
ditions in Some Localities
STAGNANT POOLS NOT ORAINE
Many Back Yards and Alleys Are
Regular Disease Breeders-or-
ders to Clean Up Are
Repeated.

Chief Austin continues his crusade
against the alley and backyard disease
germ incubator. Almost every day ne
takes a trip through some portion OF the
city not vet covered. Everywhere the
chief gives orders that there must be
spring cleaning at once or arrests will FOL
low In several localities the conditions
are nothing short of rrightful. Either the
sanitary officers do not do their duty or
have more territory than they can do
justice.
Yesterday the chief made another round
of the central portion of the city, includ-
ing the dives from the railroad to Fourtn
alley. between Sixteenth and Twenty
ond streets. AS a result of his investiga-
ton Chief Austin says an epidemic OF
fever would not be surprising unless
there IS a speedy remedy.
As an instance of the unsanitary condi-
ton in n any places, dirty pools, formed
by slops and decayed fruits and vege-
tables were found. These pools can be
seen in First, Second and Third alleys
below Eight zenith street by any one who
cares TO look for them. Frequently the
pools are SO wide that Is impossible to
rass except by small foot hold On one
side near fence or WALL
An Awful Stencil.
They were started months ago with wa
ter. Since that time garbage and trash
Of all kinds has accumulated, and
stencil arises which can be detected for
half block. One of the worst is at the
corner of Second alley and Seventeenth
street. 1t Is at least seven feet in diam
eter and from six inches to a foot deep.
A similar hole Is to be found in First
Alley between Seventeenth and
Eighteenth streets.
Yesterday afternoon the chief went
down First and Second alleys from
Eighteenth street to Sixteenth street. In
these four blocks he found but one sink
In the back yards, although In all but
one or two places the dirty water and
slops from all the families were thrown
on the ground. In one house which ac-
commodities five or six families the wa
ter, slop and garbage from all was
thrown into the back yard.
CongIomeration of Trash.
In one yard along the entire side OF
the fence was piled up ashes. vegetable
Feelings decayed vegebles and fruit,
forming a pile six inches high and about
twenty feet long. At Second alley and
Seventeenth street there is barrel full
of Feelings, the remains of several meals,
coffee grounds and the general mess from
any kitchen.
one of the causes of these conditions
is the failure of the trash wagons to
paw frequent enough visits. At one place
there were four barrels of trash and the
people complained that the wagons had
not been around for several weeks.
One of the worst places found was In
Second alley between Seventeenth and
Eighteenth streets. Here there are sever
al closets which have not been cleaned
for months and although there are ar
rnnrcments for water, 1t las never been
used.
Policemen will be detailed Monday by
Chief Austin to make arrests In all
eases where the yards are not cleaned
I'm and to report all places where the
alleys and streets are not clean.