Year: 1879

The report of tho Health Officer
was read, accepted and approved,
and vote of thanks was rendered
to DR.. Minor, for his valuable SER
vices for the benefit of the city.


HEALTH OFFICERS REPORT.


To The HONORABLE BOARD OF
TRUSTEES OF Port TOWNSEND:


GENTLEMEN:-Believing it to be
nv duty as Health officer, | have
the honor TO report that | have this
day made careful inspection Of
those localities of this city, in which
| had reason to believe disease germs
were liable to arise from noxious
odors and prevalent filth. The re
suit of said inspection, | have the
honor to herewith present for your
consideration.


The FIRST place inspected was the
Wash House of Jse Wah. The
house itself was reasonably clean,
but around the back door filth had
been allowed to accumulate to
rightful extent; and, as if the ground
itself would not retain all the nos.
ONE substances, barrels Of dirt and
nastiness were left standing at the
back entrance, polluting and poison
ing the air. These barrels we're or.
dered thrown in the bay, and all the
filth of rotting clans and bones were
directed to be cleaned away at once.
The proprietor promised an imme-
date compliance with these direo-
tions.


Examining next the house of Lun
Sen, the house and yard were found
in fair condition, save one wash room
where the sickening odors indicated
the near presence of some worse pu.
trescence. This was ordered cleaned;
and, with the liberal application OF
lime, will he made passably sweet
and healthy.


Sam Sings Wash House was the
last examiner 1t was in every res
pect the worst of all in sanitary
point of view. All the slops after
washing, we're smptied under the
floor of the wash room and by drains
conveyed into the street where every
passer by could not escape them;
and, as If that were not bad enough,
all the other filth Of the place was
thrown out of the door to mingle
with that from under the house. To
walk on that side of the street by
the house was impossible without be.
coming impregnsted with some OF
the nastiness, and / consider it dau.
gerous to the health as well as dis.
gusting to sight and polluting to the
person. I ordered all slops con,
veyed to and confined in a hole in
the yard which after certain time
can be covered with dirt and new
one dug; also directed the street to
be cleaned and some clean dirt to be
placed thereon.


If China washhouses are to be al
lowed within the city limits, the
question of proper sewers and drains
is one that must command the early
attention of your body. It cannot
be neglected or sighted. The pub.
lie health is as important a care as
the public peace, and demands your
earnest consideration. The reputa-
tion this place now justly enjoys for
health, can, in one season, be de.
stroyed for years, If proper means are
not provided to carry off pollutions
that we permit in our midst.


The last place examined on which
| have to report, was q pig pen


back of the Washington hotel J
which is directly on one of our main
streets and principal thoroughfares.
1t should at once be moved to some
less prominent place. Where it now
stands no one can pass without in.
haling its noxious odoys.


a number oil priyles and other
places were examined, but they did
not seem to merit attention as public
nuisancss. Some of them demand pri.
vate remedy however and the sug-
gestion will be privately offered to
their proprietors.


have 20 thank the city marshal
for his kind attendance and assist
ance. AT the expiration of ten days
propose to make second examin-
alton of the places mentioned, and if
the sanitary improvements su0eestad