Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-05-05
The Augusta Clean Up Camp aim

In some cities cleanup weeks have
come to be looked upon as most men
look at spring house cleaning. one OF
the necessary evils Of existence but OF
questionable value. Realizing that there
is some weight to such a charge against
a superficial city house cleaning. the
Maine Branch of the National Civic
Federation determined to put on some
thing different. Accordingly about six
weeks ago theJ' engaged Mrs. L. L.
Summers, field secretary OF the fedora
ton and woman Of wide experience in
civic improvement. to come to Augusta
and make 4 personal study Of LEGAL con-
ditions ard to conduct a cleanup cam
paign along the lines Of actual city
needs.
A health survey of Augusta made by
the State department of health last fail
showed that two Of the pressing sani-
tary needs of the city were extension of
the sewerage system, with the connec-
tion of houses within reach of the sew
ers. and public system of garbage
collection and disposal. The depart
ment recommended a house and sewer
survey to determine exact conditions
and this has been the plan Of action
adopted by the Civic Federation. Mrs.
Summers has divided the city into 2
districts, made an individual investiga-
ton Of water supply, sewage and gar
bage disposal. and general living con-
ditions in each house, and is now in 4
position to recommend improvements
when needed and to suggest how they
can best be secured. This detailed in.
ventory Of sanitary conditions is tho
basis of the scientific cleanup cam.
paign which is to start next Monday,
May 10. Cluttered yards. untidy build
ings or unsightly dumps will not be
overlooked, but the great object Of the
campaign is to improve such conditions
as directly affect the health. and there
fore the welfare Of the people and the
prosperity Of the city. Such cleanup
the State department Of health considers
public health work in the broadcast sense
and a movement worthy of it's approval
and active support.
When 1t was supposed that typhoid fe-
yer arose directly from sewer gas and
rotting wastes a complete sewerage sys-
tenn was considered the best possible
safeguard against disease. Now that we
know that the germs of the disease
must be carried from the intestines Of
a typhoid patient to the mouth Of a new
victim, the part played by the sewer is
scarcely less important. The principal
means of carrying typhoid fever from
person to person are water, milk and
flies. The first can be eliminated by the
protection of the water supply from all
human fecal pollution, or, if such pro-
lection is impossible, by publication Of
the supply.
The possibility of milk infection
can be greatly reduced by medical
examination Of mixers and milk
handlers who may be typhoid pa
TENTS or carriers, or 1t may be eli,ni-
mated by efficient pastuerization Of
the milk supply. The menace Of fy-
borne infection, which has been the
least considered Of all means. is I'M
questionably responsible for a large
percentage Of the scattering cases
Of most communities. So long as
household sewage is discharged upon
the surface Of the ground or exposed
in open surface privies there is the
possibility that the germs of typhoid
will be carried from the DISCHARGES
Of some unrecognized case to the
food or drink of other persons.
For the ten years previous of the