The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1921-04-01
THE BOARD OF HEALTp

Inc Baileys had poured the Iast of
Mondays wash water INTO the drain
"hlch leads to the ditch in the alley
ana IL was gurgling Its soapy way TO
the street gutter, most of If to Sattl,
IN dark puddles along the wav tha
overflow reaching the intake of fine
storm sewer on the corner. Mrs c,r.
son across the way was uDdergnino
hef weekly agony at the sight and
wishing she were a man, lust for what
purpose the mild hammered Mr.. Carson
could not make out and hesitated TO
inquire. There should be q law 70
prevent people from dumping their
wash water in the street." exclaimed
the thoroughly irate Mrs. Carson. 81
think there is" answered Mr.. Carson
III see about it," That evening he
came home with the information that
the Board of Health had promised TO
look into the matter.
Several days later the Health Officer
notified the Baileys to discontinue
within 10 days. emptying wash water
into the street.
Inc Baileys paid no attention to the
notice. The Carson's again reported
to the Board of Health. Then the
Health Officer entered complaint
against Mr. Bailey, who was hailed be-
fore Justice of the Peace.
The Justice cited section 9 of Article
?, The Regulations of the Advisory
Board of the State Department of
Health:
NO Kitchen or laundry water shall
be allowed to discharge or flow into
any gutter, street, roadway or public
place"
Imposed fine and ordered the dis
continuance of the nuisance.
But the Baileys did not stop. The
Carson's complained again. The Health
Board appeared to feel that il had
done Its part because, as Mr.. Bailey
was man to be reckoned with and
as they individually expressed them
selves (they didn't want to get into
trouble), further action vas DELAYED.
Mrs. Carson wrote the State Depart
ment of Health, setting forth the facts
of the case
The Commissioner # Health ordered
the County Medical Director to make
an official Investigation.
That officer reported the conditions
to be as stated by Mrs. Carson and
further that tile Local Board of Health
was not only guilty Of neglect in en-
forcing the Health Laws in this par
ticular instance, but that they were
otherwise dirilect of their duty in per
hitting similar irregularities to go
uncorrected through fear of acquiring
personal unpopularity.
The Commissioner of Health notified
the town council as to the inefficiency
of IFS Health Board and offered them
n reasonable time to appoint Board
which would enforce all Health Regu-
latiCns with the alternative of having
the State take over The administration
of the Health affairs of the Borough
and charge all expenses to the Bor-
ough No word having Deen received
from the Borough officials, the Com
missioner of Health discharged the
local hoard and the State Health Off
Ger proceeded upon his duties.
Mr. Bailey was again notified to re-
move the drain, upon his refusal the
Health Officer accompanied by work
men tore out the drain pipes leading
from Mr.. Bailey's house to the alley
and relaiG them in the Bailey back
yard so that they extended from the
kitchen to cesspool 1t the middle
of the lot. Mr.. Bailey stormed and
threatened, but it ended by his paying
all of the expenses of the change.
Other Health conditions of the Bor-
ough were corrected N Il buSiness-like
manner; before month had elapsed
the Borough officials learned two
things: First. that it is easily possible
to maintain all of The Health Laws.
and second, that it could lie done very
much less extensively by home talent
than by a State Officer, all of whose
expenses they were required by law to
pay.
Now the cutters are dry in R--ville,
and the Health Board, determined TO
UNFOLD the laws, finds their execution
easy.