The Washington herald., 1908-08-24
Sewerage and TYphoid.

Anlherzt. Mass
Sewerage and Typhoid.
editor The Wellington Herald
The sanitary authorities recognize that
cleanliness IS the Ere7test Zoe 20 disease.
so that the health authorities Of our
cities are busiIy engaged IN enforcing
their regulations requiring that premises
under their control be kept clear of refuse
and filth the building authorities are
seeing that their regulations as regards
light and ar are rig.dIy enforced; the
plumbing authorities are requiring that
plumbing shall be done in accordance
with the best regulations Modern muuiCi-
pallties are IN "a far better sanitary con
GiGJu now than ever before While light
and afr are recognized as essential
weapons with which % fight disease. r
IS also recognized that cleanliness IS very
essential Strenuous efforts are being
made 20 see that all places where food
is stored or veuded are kept as clean as
possible. thar the hospitals and houses
where sickness IS prevalent are kept IN a
sanitary condition. and that the streets
and lots are kept free from dIsease-pro-
ducirE matter Most large cities are be
Ing equipped with filtration plants for
their water apartments. thus planting
the banner farther on the ramparts u
King Dissa<s- Also regulations ara being
strictly enforced 20 see that no food is
sold from places where disease has shown
itself, especial care has been taken 10
See -hst milk IS free from disease germs.
Il IS also recognized that mosquitoes and
files are responsible for much Of the
disease that is prevalent to-day and
efforts are being made 70 eztermina-e
these pests In the neiEhborhood Of
swamps and maIariaI regions bordering
on towns and cities. and almost ali the
houses in cities are provided with screens
90 keep out these pests.
But while all these Efforts are being
made 70 insure sanitary completeness. our
sanitary authorities are very derelict n
one point where they should be most
stTirt-that OF disposi1E OF the sccumula-
tloGs Of the sewerage systems OF the dif-
fereut municipalities In fully explaining
this statement. the writer has only 20
mention the sewage disposal system prac-
uced in Washington the Capital OF the
United States. Great precautions are
taken by the plumbing department OF our
city 70 see that all plumbing systems are
made tight and sound. thus preventing
all leakage from such systems but when
this sewage goes into the public sewers
then We md that such waste is carried
20 the Potomac River. where IL IS dump
ed The question presents Itself why
should all these precautions be taken O.
insure freedom OF leakage while the
sewage Is intended 70 he dumped into the
-Fr 4
oysters. which are largely used for food
in our CitiesT This seems contrary tC
common sense and IS a wilIful waste Of q
substance which would greatly 5ncreass
the fertility Of the soil. Il also seems
foolish 20 take such precsu uti0ns TO see
that all food prepared on the land IS free
from disease germs when we flood oul
rivers with matter which would tend q
produce disease germs. It IS a known
fact that fish and oysters feed on thi,
matter An experience Of the writer vii
fully carry this ont WEile walking OF
the Speedway. that borders the rive
front Of Potomac Park. he was attracted
by the sound Of talking near the mOutf
Of large sewer emptvinC into the Po
tomaC in this region. Il was seer
that men. women. and children wer,
busily engaged in fishing. and the result
Of their labors was to be seen II
abundance Il was easy fishing whe1
fish were so plentiful It Is not neces
sary 10 explain why the fish were in tn,
vicinity Last summer. during the "
phoid epidemic in New York City. precau
tious were taken TO keep people from Oh
tanning oysters from beds in its immedi
ate neighbOThoOd- The sewage Of New
York and Jersey City was too abundan
in that place 70 insure complete santa
ton Thus II is that The cities are busiil
flooding the rivers and harbors with dis
ease-producing matter. which is sure I,
I produce sickness It IS certainly fooI5sl
10 build UP bulwarzs against disease d,
one place when We tear them down fl
another. Yet this is what IS being don.
all over our land. and in Europe as well
Victor Hugo has written in no uuccr
! tain terms on this same subject only h
views it in the light OF waste OF publi
resources ANY one wishing 10 see VIVA
he says viii only have 70 read his lie
! MiserableS-' He says that with thi
waste Of sewage the land might b,
given new life. and that this life couIc
go into the wheat, and rye. and corn
I in fact. everything dependent upon tn,
/ soil for production: that from the salt
/ Of this soil-rerewer many municipal i'm
/ provements might be Incorporated an,
the taxes of the people materially re
duced
/ The government IS spending millions I,
I keep the channels of the rivers and har
I bors IN the neighborhood OF cities clear
while at the same time it fills up thes'
channels with waste from the municipa
/ sewers. This seems a queer way TO d.
[ business, yet Il is the method pursue,
/ almost everywhere We wonder wher,
( TYPHOID fever comes from. when We ar,
/ ourselves helping to scatter its germ
! broadcast Hugo spoke OF the system o
/ Paris. the model city Of the world. after
which Washington has been patterned
| II would seem as though the sanitar7
/ authorities should get together On thi
most important subject and abate thi
l.evfl: otherwise much harm will be done
People gathering more -sna-nora-il