Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-16
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

AAv L AA ~ AAAA
The arrival at Halifax OF a steamer
from Liverpool with a case of suspected
Asiatic cholera
Taking Precautions on board set this
Against Cholera. newed state O.,
apprehension fifty years ago. The Wash
ington board of health met and adopted
drastic resolutions for cleaning up the city
as precaution against the disease. The
Star OF April II. 1866. said:
I'VE publish today some proceedings OF
the board Of health in relation to contem-
plated sanitary measures for this city.
which are of more than ordinary interest
at this time in view of the reported arrival
Of the cholera at Ha>lax. There Is no
occasion for immediate and unnecessary
alarm. because it is not certain that the
disease on board the steamer England Is
Asiatic cholera, as she sailed from Liver
pool. where we have no reports of the
prevalence Of the epidemic since last sum-
mer. But while we see no occasion for
panic, the necessity of adopting all the
has demonstrated to be useful is now rem
dered clearly apparent. and we hope no
pains will be spared to keep the streets
and dwellings of our city clean, to abate
nuisances and to enforce the most rigid
quarantine regula tionS that are authorized
by law. Cleanliness, temperance and pure
air are almost certain barriers against
cholera and if all would live in accord
ance with these simple sanitary Iegula-
tions there would be no cause for appre-
hension. Every house that Is not already
UP to the proper standard of cleanliness.
particularly tenement houses. should now
be thoroughly purified. ample ventilation
should be secured yards, areas and alley
ways should be cleaned and no kind of
animal or vegetable refuse should be de-
posted about house, where 1t will be al
lowed to decompose. In this connection
we have to suggest that Easements may
be thoroughly ventilated by hole in the
bottom of chimney ffues Chose where fires
are kept up are bestl and that drains
cesspools and closets may also be venti-
lated by connecting them with any CHM
ney by an earthen or iron pipe three or
four inches in diameter
1t will be noted that the importance Of
a pure water supply was not pressed for
at that time the true nature of cholera
was not known.
= ::
The arrest Of Gen. Grant for excessively
y
caused quite a stir in
Gen, Grant Washington. Its sequel,
as related in The Star Of
INV April II. 1856, as follows.
was interesting:
This morning the sergeant of the sec
ond precinct reports the case of Cen
L. S. Grant. arrested for fast driving,
as settled by the general paying the
fine We are informed that when the
policeman went to army headquarters
and laid his warrant on the table before
the general, that officer looked at it, and
turning to the officer of the law re-
marked, L suppose you take a pride in
this" The officer said: No general I
only do it because it is my duty The
general pleasantly ntimated thar un-
der martial law the tables might be
turned and the server of the warrant
sent 10 the guardhouse. The officer
replied that the general might do as he
pleased, but he had performed his duty
adding. I also did my duty under you
general. at Njcksburg. and YOU did not
ind fault with me then The general
immediately acknowledged the service
OF the warrant. appeared before JUS
tee Walter and paid the fine. The gen
eral would. no doubt. be pleased to have
some place other than the public race
horses. and so would many other gen
tlemen here. who. like him. suppose
they violate no law by fast driving in
the thinl% settled suburbs of the city"
All history goes to show SAYS The
Star of April IL. 1866. referring to a
wave of crime from which
Wave of this country was then suf-
c.. ferine. that the immediate
evils of war. the wholesale
slaughter and rain which attend in its
train ana mark with desolation the
sites where battles have been fought.
are not so much dreaded as its debas-
ing effects on the moral sentiments and
fostering of evil pa sions which might
otherwise remain undeveloped Famil-
iarity with scenes Of hloodshed hegets
in some minds total recklessness and
disregard of the value of human life
which often develops into a tigerlike
ferocitN. astounding the philosophic
mind with the contemplation of the
Depths to which human nature may de-
s"end. These lessons are nov being
impressed upon us by a series of the
most terrible crimes. which commenced
more than year since with the assas-
-til.iti'ii ~ 'Ht fltSiieHi ana nave
continued until this time. The black
record extending through the daily
journals has eliminated in the latest
horror. the Philadelphia tragedy-a
murder so tiendiSh in design and brutal
in execution that We cannot but be
lieve that the farthest limit has been
reached and that the tide of blood will
now reccde"
All projects for the improvement of
Washington fifty Years ago included
measures to ahare the
City Canal nuisance Of the city canal.
which was prolific
1loJeeI. source of disease and was
also a veritable eyesore in the heart of
tn. capital. In The Star of April H.
1866. is the following.
I'VE congratulate our citizens on the
action of the city councils last evening
in appropriating $4,000 for the i'm
provement Of the Washington canal in
the manner suggested by the board of
engineers tGens. Towers. Gilmore and
WARREN. whose plan provides not only
endangers the health of the commu-
nifty. but is calculated to make the
work Invaluable as an aid to trade
when considered in connection with
other contemplated improvements.