The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1904-10-06
SEWERAGE.

system iii Marietta, / wondered
how many citizens were aware of
the sanitary condition Of the city
of Marietta at the present time. L
also wondered how many citizens
would oppose the construction of
complete and thorough system
Of sewerage in the city, if they
knew the condition as it exists
and knew that their health de-
pended upon it.
Now, the greatest blessing Oh
earth is good health, and when
the intelligent people come to
learn by personal experience that
they are constantly surrounded by
potent and active influences, some
of which are favorable and some
preiudicial to their welfare and
that they can and must by judi
cious conduct, promote the action
Of one kind, and protect them
selves from the dangers of the
others-that they can by prudent
living increase their happiness
and prolong their lives, and lives
of those around them, or by the
reckless disregard of such things
expose and lose them. Communi-
ties are coming to learn, through
the investigation Of scientists, that
as, communities, they have SINH
lar relations to their Environments
and that there are both good and
evil influences, which affect their
health as body but which are
beyond the capacity of individuals
to cope and which can only be
controlled by united action. From
this fact has been developed the
science CT Public Hygiene, which
because of it's important relations
to the welfare of the human race
is worthy of every encouragement.
| consider it second to no other
public interest to such particular
results has it already been advance
ed, that even now it may be safely
asserted, that in whatever COM
munities it's laws are most Judi
ciously and practically applied,
there poverty and crime and death
and taxes will be diminished and
pride and prosperity and produc-
tive industry will be increased.
Now, | desire to call the atten-
tion of the intelligent citizens of
Marietta, to a few facts. Upon
the composition and structure of
soils depends not only their eco
nomical value, but their relations
to health and disease. All clayey
soils retain moisture and render
drainage imperfect. The stag
nant water becomes laden with
particles of organic matter in de-
cay, and a source of those condi-
tions which render the air impure
and unhealthy. Many fatal dis
eases as malignant fevers, cholera,
dyptheria and probably consump-
ton, origi nate as is now believed
rom breathing air made,unhe0lthy
by decomposition of dead matters,
and by the organisms of germs,
which moist foul air seems to de-
velop. The process of organic de-
cay or oxidation is natures means
of getting rid of effete and often
sive matters. But from decom-
posing matters there passes into
the atmosphere, innumerable par
ticles of matter, which enter the
lungs and the blood, and these
originate changes in the system,
which are known to destroy health
and while we cannot hope to do
away with all sickness, yet, there
is no fact better proven than that
sickness in cities can be greatly
lessened by wise municipal action.
There will be sickness and suffer-
ing enough, left after the munich
pal authorities have done all in
their power they can do.
1t surely is true economy to re-
pair ali unsafe bridge upon the
public highway at any cost rather
than incur the cost of damages
which might ensue from its de-
fects.
The same principle is true and
applies with even greater force, to
the economy of correcting insani-
tary conditions which threatened
the public health and the destruc-
tion of human life.
firmly believe from personal
observation at this present time
in our beautiful little city, the
most crying and potent cause of
sickness is filth, not conspicuous
ly in the streets, although enough
of its there, but spread about
in back yards and alleys in heaps
and half hidden with dirt. Few CT
/ L