The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-06-05

DEh CITY LAW.
One of the most pronounced endorse
ments yet given to the new sanitary
OF oinance OF Pensacola. was contained in
a report submitted to the federal gov
eminent by one Of its chief inspectors,
Dr. +. E. Harrington. the substance OF
which was recited by DIR. Harrington
yesterday to a Journal representative.
DR.. Harrington is an epidemiologist
Tor the u. S. public health service and
Is assigned by the government to per-
sonal supervision of public health and
sanitation In all ship yard communities
along the gulf COAST. In his official
capacity. under orders from Washington,
he has just completed detailed exam
nation of sanitary conditions in Pensa-
cola. and reported his findings to the
government to the erect that the new
ordinance Is practically ideal and is be-
ing put into successful operation as fast
as physical conditions will permit.
1t has been source OF intense salts
faction to the city commissioners and all
who have uspported their action that
their work appears so good in the eyes
Of Uncle Sam. They reel that the en-
DR.. Harrington gives the city a standing
which VIII be worth thousands of dol
lars Tor its effect on prospective BUSH
ness enterprises and horne seekers con-
SauerlnS advantageous location.
Officer Harrington stated that his in
terest here had been exclusively with
| the problem of sewage disposal. and
that he had bent all his efforts to assist
DR.. Cox in that one thing. While he
had found that the problem here had
progressed to a reasonably satisfactory
degree through the privy method he had
| also found that difficulties had been
encountered through misunderstanding
of details.
He stated. however. that those who
had been undertaking to block progress
were not retarding the reform, but were
only placing themselves as the tall
enders in the procession, since fully
three fifths of all homes In the city
needing sanitation have already installed
!, the new privies. and the scheme fathered
/ here by DR.. Cox has shown itself so
reasonable and feasible that 1t is quite
Patent that citizens who are opposing 1t
are wrong.
The doctor said that all citizens who
| had come to the city hall to discuss the
matter, however hostile they may have
been in coming, had gone away admit
ting that all their objections had van
ished as they became acquainted with
the actual facts. He summarized the
helpful Items of fact under three heads.
as follows:
Three Helpful Items of Fact.
/ First: The owner of property, or the
once a standard privy box, flue and can,
LAT cost of not to exceed seven dollars.
4 When this first installation Is made tf
a complete. standard unit. the obliga-
:, ton of the non-occupying owner or agent
lis absoluted ended. No possible corcum-
/ stance can entail on him any further OBJ
legation than the original installation.
This fact has not been Understood by
many owners, and the fear that they
| might be stuck for renewal of the in
stallation has caused them needlessly to
oppose the project.
/ The occupant of We pren1iaes on The
i other hand. is required to pay a fee
of one dollar month for scavenger SER
vice. which is subject to a rebate of 25
cents If paid at the cIty hall on or be-
fore the fifth of the month for which
service Is to be rendered. This pays
for replacement of ufed cans with clean
ones by a city scavenger at least once
a week, the occupant dealing with the
lefty exclusively and not with any con-
tractors. the latter being entirely elimi-
mated.
Occupants are required to maintain
and use the installed service in accord
ance with the terms of the ordinance;
and any failure to do SO, or any misuse
or destruction of the installed property
is nisdemeanor before the law ane
punishable as such.
Cans that become worn out or defec-
tive will be replaced by the city, which
assumes to maintain the service. once /,
is Installed by the owner and paid for
Thy the occupant. It is felt that the fee
lcharged will maintain the scavenger SER
vice and will appeal to all users as ex-
ceedingly reasonable for the service rem
dered and the standard of community
health that will thereby be promoted
II fee payment Is not mare at the city
hall in time to get the rebate, cit
tcoIlector will call at the premises for the
dollar.
The doctor stated that neither the cits
nor the federal officers desire to arrest
or fight any one; but must be under
stood that the city cannot now back
down and will no do so; right thinking
people are supporting the city and 9th.
ers must get In line or be shown up.
Asked what would happen to the re
form IL the commissioners became care
less In the enforcement of the ordi,
nance. he replied THAI It will be jus
as easy for the Rotarians to appea
before the city board in a BODY and de
mand enforcement of saw It was 20
them to appear in support OF the pass
age of. the law. He asserted that cit
| officials are no worse saan the peopl
who elect them and that they will en-
| force such WIS as the people desire an
| forced; so that the people can hav
| continuous enforcement of the health OF
dfnances If they are sufficiently inter
ested themselves.
Mr. HARRINGTON made the interestins
| statment that sanitary privy can b
moved to within ten feet of the hons
| without a particle of offense. and cal
| thus become a convenient toilet instea
Of a back yard nuisance. He relate
| the incident inst happening IN Pensacol
of very desirable r<spective purchas
er Of real estate h5<Eing down on find
ing It impossible to get sewer connection
and later purchasing upon finding hov
| nearly equal to sewer connection tn
new system will be. yTe said that tn
| pensacola system is also worked wit
| success at montgomery and a score
more of other important towns In III
J section.