The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1909-01-28
FILTH AND RUB
BISH EVERYWHERE
AN UNS|GHTLY CONDITION
Endangering the Health Of People.
Epidemic Of Typhoid Likely
Unless Something is Done

Looking from our window and from
anybody else's window, for that mat
ter, wherever one may go, the sight of
filth and rubbish is simply appalling,
and to assert that such a condition as
now exists is dangerous and threaten
ing to the health of our people, is to
put the statement mildly, and whether
the city is unable TO cope with it or
not, the citizens and merchants them
selves are adding to this condition
rather than trying to improve it.
We see nuisances committed daily in
the most fragrant violation of the city's
ordinances, and nothing dare to stop.
Who is responsible? Is it the city
council, or the councils sanitary COM
mittee, or the city health officer? Is
there no way to single out and place
the responsibility where it rightly be-
longs, and to them determine the stat
US of the matter. If it is a matter OF
finance with the board, then simply
60 right down in debt, make provi-
sion for cart service and clean up and
keep cleaning up. 1t is far better that
the city should be in debt than for the
health and life of our people to be
threatened. The finances of our city
had better be spent in protecting the
health of our people than paid out in
other ways. The first and paramount
consideration in municipal government
is sanitation, but in this instance it has
been subverted and about as remote al
the possibility of a forty-story sky
scraper. If there ever was an argu
ment in favor of q new charter, thil
matter of sanitation and clean up Il
sufficient in itself to demand its pas
sage. Our city officials are SO hampert
in the expenditure of the city's finances
SO hampered in the enactment Of ordi
nances and SO niggardly paid to do wha
they have to do that every incentive i
throttled in its conception.
No one can expect Mayor Smith, TO
q paltry $50 per year, to take his val
liable time away from his business an,
run around over town every day an,
lsee that this thing and that thing
done. No one can expect the chair
man of the street committee 10 sacri
fee living, to spend his time in gra
tuitous supervision of streets and alleys
neither can we expect the chairman c
boards sanitary committee to take hi
time from his work in the bank to ru
around and investigate every foul locs
ton and stinkhole reported in the city
neither can We expect the health Oft
Ger to take his time from his practic
and notify the owners OF Il thousan
and one premesis that they mu~i clea
up. Are wenot in a pretty mess?
Egreat big thriving, htislIing town, wa
lowing arolld i'll the worst quagmirt
of filth TO be iou.ld any were.
One thing We dv cond >mn, and upo
which we place our unqualified STAN
of disapproval, is that the authorize
permit the restaurants and eating hou
es TO pile their rubbish, tin cans an
/ slops on vacant lots--let's be specific
on the lot on Buffalo street just opp
! site the express office, are great piles
] tim cans and rubbish-in plain view
! every passenger train which pass,
through the city, then along We
Main street and West Market and otl
! er streets.
! Why is the piling of all this debr
] permitted? 1t is the most inexeusab
\ act ever permitted by civilized cor
munity. From our own self-respectir
point of view, if we were conducoiT
such business, before we would
guilty of such indifference to our oW
surroundings, we would hire a wage
once or twice week TO haul it off.
There is small pox now in the cit
several typical cases, and several n
groes who have been in contact with
have been roaming at large before
ing apprehended. The county heal
officer, DR.. Arnold, of Limestone, foul
a negro walking around with scabs
him, and had the place in questi'
in quarantine on Monday. Other l
groes are at large who were With Il
negro while he was down i'll.
Now we are criticised, not throuI
malice or desire to injure any one, b