Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1914-07-27

of them IS the only thing that can sat
isfy the sanitary requirements and
that should satisfy the public
Many people have connected with
the sewer at considerable financial in
convenience and after having done so,
they have been compelled to live in al
most as close proximity to privies on
adjacent lots. The owners of the lat
ter, if resident, may be perfectly will
ling to connect, but are financially I'M
able to do so. 9'hey have bought their
places by paying small amount down
and are paying out the balance from
month to month. Their credit is
strained, they have not a clear title and
to prosecute people in such circum-
stances would be to further defer the
day when they will be able to pay the
cost of connecting. This plea is the most
common one we have met, and it seems
at present insurmountable. Likewise
there is no present means of reaching
non resident owners Our notices to
them have usually been utterly disre-
garded We do not even know that they
reach the owner If they do, We can
only tWiddle our thumbs until the
owner is ready to act or make his ap-
pearance in the city, and then We
would have to be apprized of the fact.
There are two other classes of own
ers, however, whose excuses are not
valid and who can be reached There
are resident owners who are financially
able but do not want to connect their
houses with the sewer. Some of them
occupy unconnected premises and are
willing to forego the convenience and
improved sanitary condition for the
forty five or fifty dollars the eonnec-
ton would cost them. They further
more care that little about their neigh
bors' health and comfort. Usually these
are the owners of the strictly sani-
tary" privies. The other class owns
land which is valuable for business
purposes-either stores or warehouses
but which is used for dwellings pend
ing some indefinite future date when
the lot is to be sold or the store or
warehouse built. Our experience with
this class leads us to anticipate from it
full cooperation in our work.
The foregoing is a fair statement of
the situation as 1t exists. In taking up
the work of the health department, the
first question to be considered was
where to begin, provided, of course
that something more than mere routine
was to be done. To answer that ques
| ton we had to know where we were
! A cursory inspection showed water
supply that could be contaminated on
| ly with great difficulty. The quality
and cleanliness of the food supply
the wisdom of the consumer and the
incentive of competition. The milk sup
ply was generally so bad that at first
/ it seemed to be the logical place for
| beginning. When We came to examine
the general sanitary condition of the
city, however, and found this large
number of open privies, we had n con-
dition which needed changing badly,
and which when once changed could be
kept changed. This was therefore
chosen as the first point to attack.
| / am aware that opinions may differ
as to the relative Importance of the
open privy and the dirty dairy, but
clean milk can be obtained only by
constant inspection, where as if we
can once rid the town of privies, we
can almost disregard that feature in
the future. 1t is not the intention to
disregard the inspection of diaries, res
taurants, etc, altogether, but rather to
give them less attention than they
really deserve until We can finish with
the other. The idea is to keep one
down with the foot while using both
hands on the other.
AS system is necessary to secure the
abatement of so large number OF
tprivies, l desire to submit the following
for your approval.
% Choosing those sections nearest
the center of the city and those that
are least infested with privies, obtain
ing the names of the owners and send
ing each note reminding him of the
privy on his premises and requesting
its abatement
90 Reinspecting seven days later
If the privy remains undated or Cor
properties unconnected with the sewer,
the sewer tap has not been bought an(
no contract has been let for the work
to send second notice.
, go Reinspect seven days later ant
if then the privy remains undated t,
: cause the owners appearance befor
J the city magistrate on a charge o
violating the resolution of the council