The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-08-09

II hope that this Is the last time
that shall feel called upon by con-
ditions in the Shockoe Creek Valley
to appeal for cleaning up of the
horrible conditions existing in thai
section; hope there will be action
by the responsible authorities In clean
ing up and making sanitary that sec
ton. and that the menace to health
presented will be abated.' said Mrs
Norman v. Randolph last night dis
GUESSING conditions in the recently
flooded district.
Mrs. Randolph visited the bottoms,
under the viaduct. yesterday morning
to investigate conditions there. which,
1t has been stated In a morning news
paper quoting DIR. E. c. Levy. chief
health officer, In connection with the
crusade to diminish the typhoid fever
menace. had been improved. Her at
tentfon was called to the bottoms by
the statement:
Fortunately. all dry closets in the
city have Just been inspected so that
the danger from them has been re-
duced to minimum"
Looking over conditions in the Shoe
koe district Mrs. Randolph says she
found them much the same as they
were the day after the flood Only the
waters had receded Nothing had
been done to clean up or make the
section sanitary. The closets referred
to, Mrs Randolph insists. should be
torn down and replaced by sanitary
ones. weeds should be cut, and a gen.
eral cleaning up directed.
Mrs. RaRdoiph's Statement.
Since the flood OF two weeks ago
last Saturday. l have visited the
Shockoe district about every third
day. / have made my complaints to
Mayor Ainslie. to DR.. Levy and hts as
sistant. Mr.. Tuck, by telephone. each
time II having been stahed that things
had been put in a sanitary condi-
ton.
This morning | went again 10 the
district. The closets have been put up
after remaining overturned for a
week, during which time conditions
existed which It would be difficult to
describe. This refuse Is still scattered
throughout the yards of the residents
OF this district. making II almost i'm
possible TO pass that way Apparently.
there has been no effort on the part
Of the city or the owners of these
houses 70 better conditions NOT even
dust OF lime has been sprinkled by
any one.
The filthy mattresses. bed covers,
clothing. are drying there in the
yards. while the dust from them Is
taken up by the four winds and scat
tered. Vacant lots. owned by white
people, are Allied with weeds that are
full of debris and filth OF every kind.
The weeds have not been cut down for
months
IL There No Means OF Relief?
The point is: Can no one be made
10 see to II that the property owners
clean up these places. II IL IS not the
business Of the city? These negroes
have been well supplied with clothing
and food. There are plenty OF idle
ones down there who should be made,
IL there Is law that can be invoked,
70 clean out their own premises.
Might not the cleaning SUIT of this
section be Incorporated into the cru
SADIE against typhoid and even other
diseases that might arise from such
conditions that exist? As before
stated. washing is done in that dis
.rict and carried all over the city.
even into the best residential sec
tons
Il have no grudge against anyone
connected with the city government.
and what have said has been
through a spirit Of would-be cooper
alton. ! have always been treated
with courtesy when have appealed
to our Administrative Board. AS I
said before. would be glad to APP
pear before them at any time and
make my statements and prove them.