The Tribune. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1951-19??, 1953-09-26
Virginia Health Bulletin Condemns
Open City Dumps

According the June edition of the Virginia Health
Bulletin, official publication of the State Board of
Health published monthly from the Office Build
ing, Richmond, an dump is nuisance and
menace to health"
In the face of that fact how the officials of the
City of Roanoke operate an open dump near the
heart of city without their conscience keeping them
awake at night is difficult to understand How thew
can point with much pride to Roanoke The Magic
CITY,, Ihe Star City of the South" and finally, "The
All American City,, at the same time operate an
open dump near the heart of the city million dollar
question.
The emphasis placed upon the need of slum
clearance program in Northeast while far greater
menace to the health of the public is in this open
dump Is like swallowing camel and straining at
gna in the of those people who are being asked to
sacrifice their homes
The above mentioned Health Bulletin saws editor
Tally, The SAFE sanitary, and economical disposal of
refuse has long posed serious problem many COM
munltles in Virginia The proper handling refuse
very important because neglect poor methods
the potential spread of disease by rodents and insects
that thrive under such unsanitary conditions"
Speaking of flies the Bulletin says, "Fies accept
the moist organic content of garbage suitable ma
terlal to receive their and it furnishes the to
support the maggots that develop Later the adult
flies can and do transmit typhoid fever diarrhea and
other Intestinal diseases, and suspected of being
carriers of at least twenty others
In continuing the discussion of the fly Bulletin
says when considers the habits and peculiar struc
ture of the fly is easy understand why disease may
flow where the fly 1t feeds upon human and ami
NAL body wastes, garbage and the most disgusting
terials but it is likewise attracted to the most choice
human foods where it vonts stomach juices soften
such for sucking through it's mouth parts where
it discharges it's body waste from former meal .
The fact that more than million often found
single ordinary fly should subsantiate it's danger
to human health"
We have been reliably informed that uncomfortable
swarms of flies from this open dump nfes both the City
new million and half dollar high school and our Junior
high school, Whether those teachers and Young peope
Negroes other racial group should not matter
moot There is a tremendous moral issue that seems
to be overlooked by city officials The health any
and all of the citizens city should be priced above
dollars cents, expediency.
1t is also reported that giant rats nest that dump
almost like flies This is what the Health Bulletin says
about Rodents Rodents will not remain in any locality
without adequate food supply. Reliable figures in
dcate that in the United States each year rats actually
consume more than $250,O0000O of food stuffs while
they cause ten times that by damaging rner-
chandse and property Rats health peril because
they or the feas and lice that found them are
the principal of transmitting variety of diseases
TO man. such as murine typhus bubonis plague rat-be
fever infectious jaundice and the illnesses resulting
from food poisoning"
In speaking specifically of open dump, the Health
Bulletin can early and unfortunately still common
method of refuse disposal is the open dump which is
nuisance and to health Bad odors smoke ex-
of fighting fires, reduction of surrounding
real estate values all good enough reasons not to
tolerate an eye sore
The afore mentioned are sufficient to Justify
the citizens of the city to rise up with indignation and
demand immediate end to this open dump in our
proud city And it is sincerely hoped that when this mat
ter is brought before the City Council Monday the 18th
it will be only matter of routine, because the Council
will without delay to discontinue this open dump
and thereby that terrible blot from our "Al
American City"