Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-06-08
A Commune alton.

To the Editor of the Kennebec Jour
nal
The unrest caused by the fear of Il
smallpox epidemic coupled With the
announcement that the health author
tiles have ordered the Opera house and
one other place of amusement closed
moves me to suggest three practical
matters FOR the authorities To direct
their attention to.
First While it is an easy thing TO
order a place of amusement for health
reasons to close tand while the public
may applaud. as II is apt to do any
spectacular move. not reckoning that
great financial loss to the manage
ment is produced and little or no
practical gain oecasioned. | ask
Why do not the proper authorities
remove the nauseating filth and sew
age now collected in the street. on Mt.
Vernon avenue2
Does the public know that eight
houses drain their sinks and sewage
into the street and that it collects into
what is now a great oozing, stagnant
pool of red, Shiny filth?
Does the public know that so vicious
is the condition on Mt Vernon avenue
within six weeks sank to such depth
that it took an hosting apparatus TO
remove him?
Does the public know that this is the
smallpox district of Augusta. and that
many of the milk teams of Augusta
traverse there daily
Have the authorities forgotten, if So,
let the public know sthat for five years
We have been urging a sewer, To clean
mp this pest hole9
Has the mayor of Augusta forgotten
that 1t was personally called to his at
tention and officially by legal proceed
ings within a year?
Why lot do some practical work
Say build a seweri
Second: Royal Park by invitation or
custom, has become the public dump
| for. the citys refuse and the piles ef
debris therein are daily picked over
by. droves of children who play there
insteod of in green fields. but all 20
to tho public schools-Is this not an
instant source of the gravest menace?
Why not do some practical work ?
Say burn the refused,
Third-Does the public know that
for three days a week our mill popu-
lation is besieged in its home by
swarm of pack peddlers" from Lew
iston. Auburn and other towns, who
exhibiting their wares in hundred
crowded kitchens to eager eyes and
curious hands pass not only from place
TO place in town TO town. but go the
"installment houses" one move better
| by leaving wearing apparel on APP
prevail which is, today, worn by one
girl-and not suiting her in all regards
next week returned and exchanged
for some bit OF finery worn. last week.
| by some Lewiston. Biddeford or SOM
| ellsworth, N. II. girl VINO may in, all
probability. next week. boast the own
ership of the wares the Augusta girl
discards or vice versa?
Does the public know that this in
tolerable disease spreading system
| flourishes in Augusta without halt or
| hindrance?
Why not do some practical work?
Say for health reasons prohibit the
paekpeddlers from peddhng coma gioni
Opera house and skating rink clos
| ed! That sounds well but amounts to
| little.
Put sewer where now is reeking
| filth on the street which has seven
| cases of smallpox
Clean up Royal Park dump and pro-
| hibit the north end being used as the
city's garbage cam
Clean out the pack peddlers and do
not be bluffed by the talk of State
license. The police power of city
can protect it's peoples health,
| said three matters only at the out
set l would comment on. but am dar-
ing to trespass on your space in one
| other regard.
If the sand-storms which every wind
stirs on Water street, spreading disease
germs and filth cannot be averted by