New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1914-01-24
HEALTH CONDITIONS IN NEW
IBERIA.

IBERIA
Since the visit here last week by Dr..
Bowling, President of the Louisiana
State Board of Health anent the fact that
the City Charter of New Iberia names
the City Commissioners as local health
officers, the duties Of which are being
carried out as faithfully as any laymen
can, without the assistance of a physi-
clan, New iberia has received much
newspaper notoriety that it does not
deserve at the hands of the President
of the State Board of Health in the New
Orleans papers, reports of which was
also published by us without any criti-
cism on our part, as we felt the visit
here Of the State Health official could
not do any harm. Since however, We
cannot do otherwise but state TO our
readers that never in the history of this
municipality have greater efforts been
made to keep the City free of filth thar
the present officials, through the opera
ton Of their garbage wagons which pass
each door two and even three times a
week TO carry off the garbage and other
matter that accumuates on ones prem
the garbage wagons the administration
is also operating sprinkling wagon to
abgte the dust nuisance and we feel GER
fan both are essential and have their
proper place in preserving the health of
the people in general.
Had the City Commissioners created
a Board of Health contrary to the Char
ter, it would have taken this important
work out of their hands and there is
but little doubt hundreds of dollars
would be wasted as has happened here
tolfore, creating several offices, all al
such salaries that il would have depleted
the City Treasury and still given no bet
ter satisfaction than the present system.
II seems that our Charter which was
granted by our last Legislature puts
New Iberia in class by itself in so far
as health matters are concerned and in the
election of its public officials. The Com
missoneNs constitute the Board of
Health according to the Charter under
which they were elected, permitting
them to employ physician when they
saw fit With this we agree in part, but
the necessity of employing physician
is obvious. The care of the City's pau
pers, the inmates of the City Jail, the ad-
vise which is necessary from time TO
time from a physician justifes we think
the employment of one. If we should
be so unfortunate as to have an epidemic
of any kind, and we cannot tell when
this may take place, a physician or ply
sicians would necessarily have to be
employed and at probably considerable
expense to the City. We recognize, des-
pits the Charter, the State Board OF
Health is supreme in health matters,
When IL comes to anything of serious
nature, and II is possible unless steps
are taken to satisfy their demand, New
Iberia may be confronted, with a prop
osition similar to the yellow fever scare
Of some years back. The State Board
of Health at that time was placed in
charge Of the sanitary situation of our
City at considerable expense to the
taxpayers For these reasons and prob
ably many others, we think II advisable
that our City Fathers ascertain the exact
situation Of affairs in so far as where
they stand in this matter, and take steps
looking to a prevention Of repetition of
this experience. It is possible that the
State Board Of Health will recognize
them as the local Board of Health If
poh provisions were made.
HI reply to DR.. Dowling's communica-
ton which appeared in the New Or
leans papers, Mayor Fontelieu wrote him
as follows:
Concerning the sanitary condition of
our Market, believe I can safely say
that il will compare favorably with the
cond;tss --ef any Market in the State
10 far a. clcanlines is~ concerned. True
Il Is that II is not what you may call
modern Market House. Il is not sup
piled with hot water in the market
proper, but had occasion to visit the
Market time and again, and have seen
the butchers get hot water next door and
have seen them clean and wash their
implements with II. The morning on
which you visited the Market there har-
pened to be q half-witted negro stand
ing by 4 stall. 30 am informed by the
Janitor and the butchers, who were
II appears from what they told
me that when you entered the Market
House this negro, who is not in the en- |
ploy Of the City, and who was in no way |
connected with the cleaning and main |
tenance Of the Market, Immediately |
broom and attempted sweet
Ing one Of the stalls. I cannot account
for the action of this negro. Never be-
fore has II happened, and I am sure that
Il never will again. The publication OF
such an incident in the newspapers is
to me.
II seems to Be your object to convey
he idea that the same broom which is
used for sweeping the Market floor is
usually used for sweeping the stalls and
If this is your idea, il is GER
lainly very erroneous, and ! can hard
y call II fair. Il is clearly apparent that
,uch actions on the part Of this half
witted negro 10 purely accidents! and
.annot Be taxed to the Officers Of this
Corporation.
The counters and meat blocks Of our
sity Market are oil carefully
~..a>l sv~.~ ,ncvcsc0 With hot water.