Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1916-07-20
CITY HEALTH DEPT.
OPENS CAMPAIGN
Passage of Ordinances Tues
day Marks Beginning of
Fight for Clean City.
MANY FAIL TO OBSERVE LAW
Health Department Says Half of
Alma are Careless in Dis
posing of Garbage

"The majority of this city's 1900 in
habitants are careless in observing
the ordinances of the health depart
ment Of the city and great number
Of people have no regard whatsoever
for them, seeming to be satisfied to
exist in unclean surroundings This
statement was made this week by City
Health Commissioner Carney in dis
cussing his plans for conducting a
health campaign throughout the city.
The first gun of the campaign in
making this city clean was fired Tues
day evening at a special meeting of
the council when two ordinances sub
mitted by DR.. Carney were read and
passed without a moments hesitation.
The ordinances are the first that have
been passed in several years for the
express purpose of improving sani-
tary conditions in the city. The ord
inances went into effect Immediately.
The ordinances passed Tuesday
night pertain to the proper care and
disposal of garbage and location of
outhouses. The passages of this leg
islation makes it an offense to throw
broken dishes, glass, ashes or any
thing that cannot be classed as garb-
age into garbage receptacles, and that
no outside toilet will be allowed if
within a reasonable distance from the
sewer mains. The ordinance further
stipulates that out buildings have got
to be given greater care and that no
building can be erected within a fifty
foot limit.
In speaking of conditions, DR.. Car
ney said:
There are a great many people in
this city right today who are breaking
the law constantly. They may be do
ing it innocently but from now on
we are going to keep a close watch
throughout the city and those who
continue to commit offenses will have
to pay their fines. 1t has been the
practice in the city to place garbage
and garbage cans any place on the
premises. have seen garbage put in
paper boxes, in coal scuttles, thrown
on the ground to be shoveled up by
the city garbage man. Some people
put their garbage cans in the front
yard to fiirt with the flies and bugs
and seemingly are not disturbed in
the least over the possible result.
'In compelling persons to keep their
garbage separate from other refuses
both can be carted to the proper
dumping ground and the spreading of
contagious diseases is thus reduced to
minimum. The city dump has been
place where garbage has been
thrown along with tin cans, ashes and
everything else and no wonder resi-
dents living on the south side of the
city were always complaining. The
garbage has got to be kept out of the
ash barrel and the ashes out of the
garbage can in the future and the
health department and the council are
going TO see that this is followed out.
Before the department is through
with this campaign the chicken nui-
sance in the city will either be elimi-
mated from the city limits or such
strict regulations placed on this bust
ness that the present disgusting con-
dtion will be removed. The city milk
supply will have TO be investigated
and also the water supply before
the campaign closes, but the depart
ment expects to conduct a cam
paign that will clean up everything
as it goes and for this reason the
worse conditions are to be looked af
ter first"
The attitude of many parties in the
city to the health campaign has been
rather startling to the city officials
When persons have been asked to
observe the laws they have even gone
so far as to show the authorities that
they aren't in the habit of following
the ordinances regarding these mat
tiers it is stated by DR.. Carney. This
has been very discouraging, but it is
thought that the educational campaign
conducted by the health department
will in time remove such conditions.
DR.. Carney made the statement that
the worst offenders of the health ord
inances are to be found in the bust
ness sections.
The next step in the campaign will
be the passage of an ordinance rela-
tive to the conditions in and about
stables. 1t is probable that this ord
nance will be submitted at Tuesdays
meeting of the council and will un-
do1htedlv he favorahlv acted ,,oo,.