USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1879 > Part 11
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20 1
April
III.
Low
Drain pipe in cellar broken.
Good
Connection of w. p. with d. p. defective ; w. p. not trapped.
Dry
Iris!
Hostler. (Widow)
I. V. II. V
Clayey Gravel ..
Good.
Dry
Water closet in cellar
defective.
=
Engineer.
Printer.
37
Male
II
June.
V II
=
I.
Clay Sand
Good
Waste pipe not trapped.
"
=
20
5 3
July .
III V
Clay.
Low
Connection of w. p. with d. p. defective ; w. p. not trapped Into cesspool 4 feet from house. On surface
Dry
Trish'
Laborer
40
VI
Low and Damp
No cellar
35
American.
Trader.
Fatal ..
Clayey Gravel.
Good
Dry
97
American
Clerk
Female. Male
September .. .
V.
Sand,
Good.
Into cesspool 12 ft. from house ; c. of w. p. with d. p. def'e Waste pipe not trapped .. Drain pipe and waste pipe not trapped.
Dry
38 39 40
American.
Dentist. . Merchant.
7
September .. .
Clayey Gravel .. .
Good ..
41
Irish
Salesman. 55
77
October
v V
= Sand
43
44
American ..
Merchant
57
Male 10
VII.
=
Waste pipe not trapped Defect in drain pipe in cellar ; waste pipe not trapped. Offensive odor in bath room and closet adjoining
=
28
=
3
12
Fatal ..
=
4
Male
13
=
6
Female 32
7
4
Laborer.
8
3
II V.
=
V.
Clayey Gravel ...
Good
9
College Professor
11
Female.
12
Male
24
Clerk
23
Dry
W. c. in h .; supplied by w.p. from sink Water closet in house.
13 14 15
American.
(Widow) Salesman
20
3} 2
=
21
Female.
11
36
16
Irish
Laborer.
Male
VIII.
Clay.
Low and damp.
No drainage; slops thrown into yard.
6
Female. 3
Male
30
I
Clay
Low and damp Connection of w. p. with d. p. defective ; w. p. not trapped
American.
Brass Finisher .. . .30
Restaur't Keeper Female 5
II
Claycy Gravel .. Clay
Low Good
No drainage ; three houses in block.
Basement rooms
American.
Clerk
May
Damp
Dry.
Occupants complain of offensive odor in kitchen.
Drainage flowing into cellar.
80 31
American ..
Painter. Undertaker.
40
9
Male
Clerk
Water closet in house ..
44 Female
10
=
15 Male
August
=
3 2 10
VIII. I.
Clay.
Low
Basement roomns
In yard 5 feet from house. Adjoining house In yard 15 feet from house. 10 feet from house.
Soil pipe not ventilated.
§ Blind drain in cellar, connected with drain ¿ pipe and not trapped.
49
8
Female ..
Fatal ..
V v
Rain water conductors connected with drain, and not tr'd.
Water closet in cellar ; not trapped.
Soil pipe not ventilated.
=
Clerk
v
D. p. not tr'd ; opening in d. p. in c. ; c. of w. p. with d. p. d. Good.
Water closet in house 6 feet from house ; offensive. Water closet in house.
Connection of water conductors with d. p. def. Soil pipe not ventilated.
2
2 3
American.
Agent. .
=
VII.
Defect in drain pipe in cellar ; waste pipe not trapped. Waste pipe not trapped.
Damp Filthy
In yard 10 feet from house. Water closet in house. In yard 10 feet from house
Dry .. No cellar.
Water closet in house.
10 11 12
13 14 15 16
Female ... . 34
February
17 18 19
17 18 19 20 21
23 21 25 26 27 98
Female. 31 32 33 34 35 Male Male 4 3 41 36 Female. 10 5 3
(Widow)
38 39
Female. 35 5
Into cesspool 14 ft. from house ; waste pipe not trapped Opening in drain pipe in cellar ; waste pipe not trapped .. Defect
Damp
In yard 12 feet from house. 6 feet from house.
Irish
6
41 42 43
§ Conductors from roof near chamber window connected with drain. Vault in cellar defective.
Irislı
Laborer.
40 17 48
50 51 52 53
Produce Dealer . 54
Male Female. . 7 7 Male Female. .. 41
Gr. & Soap Dea'r 56
Patient
Age of
Patient
District
IX. IX. IX
At times drainage flows into cellar; waste pipe not trap'ed Entire system of dra. defective ; dra. flowing into cellar. Into cesspool 5 ft. from house ; waste pipe not trapped .. Into cesspool 30 feet from house ; waste pipe not trapped. Drain pipe defective Good. .
Damp
Offensive odor in sink room from cesspool.
Soil pipe not ventilated.
=
Ice Tool Maker ..
22 23
No cellar
25 26 27 28 29
Clerk
Water closet in house. In yard 8 feet from house. 10 Water closet in house. In yard.
Soil pipe not ventilated.
Cow stable about twelve feet from honse. Soil pipe not ventilated.
=
Opening in drain pipe in cellar ; waste pipe not trapped. Connection of w. p. with d. p. defective ; w. p. not trapped Opening in drain pipe in cellar ..
Low and damp
Fatal ..
V
Clayey Gravel . Clay .
Good
9
10
Fatal ..
=
Salesman.
Fatal ..
Soil pipe not ventilated.
IX
Good
I.
Fatal.
Minister.
defective.
Clayey Gravel .. . V.
Dry
No. of
201B
Family. | No. of
Nationality.
Occupation of Head of Family.
Sex of Patient.
ge of
Date of Sickness.
Resu It.
Soil.
House Drainage.
Condition of Cellar.
Privy.
Remarks.
45
Irish
Laborer.
58
Male
2
October.
Fatal ..
V.
Clay.
Fair
Into cesspool 3 ft. from house ; dr. and w. pipe not trapped
Damp
12 feet from house ..
Well 2 ft. from house; water from same offensive
46
61
41
V.
Clayey Gravel .. .
Good
On surface, 40 feet from house ; w.p. not trapped.
IO fcet from house ..
Vault full.
17
American.
Clerk
Maie .....
6
IX.
Sand
Into cesspool 4 feet from house ; not ventilated.
Dry.
Adjoining kitchen.
Offensive odor in house front vault.
Irish
( Widow) . . .
67
Female
G
VIII. I.
Clayey Gravel .. .
Waste pipes not trapped. Defect in drain pipe in ceilar ..
Basement rooms. Dry
Water closet in house.
American.
Merchant ..
Laborer.
68
Male
35
=
17
VII.
Irislı
Laborer ..
72
15
=
VII.
Good
Merchant
74
Glass-worker. Teamster ..
76 77
Male
VI.
Into cesspool 4 feet from house.
Water closet in house ..
§ Overflow pipe from well empties into cesspool ¿ and is not trapped.
Swede Irish
81 82
Female 22
Good
83 84
=
27
VII.
=
VIII.
Fair
Waste pipe not trapped
Dany Dry
10 feet from house. Water closet in house.
Soil pipe not ventilated.
=
=
=
¥
=
Low
Defect in drain pipe under L of house Good.
Dam
11
=
=
74
=
School Teacher .
8
VII.
Clayey Gravel ..
75
=
Manufacturer ...
Male
AC 4
December
1I.
11
=
=
37
10
13
3
Fatal ..
VII.
Good
Dry
Laborer.
0
IV.
Fair
7
Female ... . 18
7
=
IV
11
VII.
Waste pipe not trapped ..
Dry Basement rooms. Dry
Damp. No cellar
8 feet from house. 6 feet from house.
=
72 78
=
Clerk ... Provision Dealer
Female .. Malo
8
Fatal.
11. V.
Clayey Gravel .. Sand
Drain pipe in cellar leaking ..
Into cesspool 8 feet from house ; waste pipe not trapped. .
Dry
=
4
4
VII.
Connection of w. p. with d. p. defective ; w. p. not trapped Opening in drain pipe in cellar ; waste pipe not trapped .. Good.
Into cesspool 10 feet from house
Into two cesspools, one 3 and one 5 ft. from l .; w.p not tr'd Defect in drain pipe in cellar ; waste pipe not trapped. .. Opening in d.p. in cellar; connection of s.p. with d. defective Into cesspool 6 ft. from house ; waste pipe not trapped ... Water closet without trap ; waste pipe not trapped ..
84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91
German
Laborer
112 I13
=
7
Fatal ..
1.
Low and damp.
Angust
VIII.
Clay ..
Connection of waste pipe with drain pipe defective Waste pipe not trapped On surface
Damp
6 feet from house ; offensive. 8 Water closet in house .. =
Soil pipe not ventilated.
Salesman
110
Female ... 5
IV. VII.
Sand .. Clayey Gravel
Drain pipe in cellar broken. Opening in drain pipe in cellar ; waste pipe not trapped . No drainage ; on surface
Damp Dry.
=
=
§ Occupants complain of offensive odor in kitelı- Į en from sink. Soil pipe not ventilated.
78 79 80 81
=
Carpenter.
IX. V
=
=
11
Iron Dealer. 100 101
Minister Produce Dealer . 102 Carpenter 103 104 105 106 107 108 109
Irish America
Laborer. Police Officer .. Clerk
Mais
=
Fatal.
Blacksmith
111
G
=
=
75
13
November
=
VI
Clay ..
Wet
Connection of s. p. with d. p. defective ; w. p. not trapped. Opening in drain pipe in cellar ; waste pipe not trapped. . On surface ; no drainage.
Dam Dry.
8 feet from house.
78 79
=
17
VII. VIII. VII.
Clayey Gravel ..
Low and damp
80
5
VII. II.
Fair
Into cesspool 20 ft. from house ; waste pipe not trapped. Waste pipe not trapped. Good
85 86 87 88
=
3
VII. II.
Good
Good.
Male
55 30
=
»
Opening in drain pipe in cellar ; waste pipe not trapped. . Good.
21
Messenger.
2
=
4
»
Clerk.
76
11
77
Agent ... (Widow) .
89 90 91 02 93 94 95 96 97 98 99
=
Irish America
Merchant. Laborer .... (Widow) Butcher . Jeweller.
14 8
VII. V. IV.
Sand ...
Good
Water closet in house.
=
VII.
Fatal ..
X.
V.
$2
American.
Male
II. II.
Clayey Gravel ..
Good
59
Female ... . Male
1ª
60
62
Female ... .
1}
=
3
63 64 65 66
1
7
V
Into cesspool 4 ft. from house ; w. and dr. pipe not trapped Waste pipe not trapped.
Hens in cellar. Dry.
20 feet from house .. Water closet in house.
11
Furniture-mover. 'Teamster.
69 70 71
Female ... G
:
=
Fatal ..
Low and damp
Offensive odor in b. r. from w. c. and insufficiency of water Waste pipe not trapped ..
Damp No cellar. Dry
15 feet from house. Water closet in house. In L of house. . Water closet in house.
Rain water conductor not tr'd; 2 ft. from window Wooden box waste pipe ; broken and leaking. ( Eight days before sickness, head of family moved, a family in Charlestown that had a ( fatal case of diphtheria.
Offensive odor in house from vault.
American Irish American
Produce Dealer . Laborer .. .
73
3
Fatal ..
17
VII. V
Good
Defect in drain pipe in cellar; on surface. Waste pipe not trapped ..
Dry Daing Dry
04 65 66 67 68 69 70 71
American. -
(Widow) Milkman. Coppersmith. Contractor. Furniture mover. Produce Dealer .
12 feet from house. Water closet in house. =
Stable 10 feet from house, and offensive.
Drain ventilated in cellar into the chimney.
48 40 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 GO 61 62 63
DIPHTHERIA IN 1879 .- INSPECTOR'S REPORT. (Continued.)
No. of
Patient
Patient
District
Locality.
December November ..
"
Water closet in cellar ; defective. Water closet in house. Water closet without water. Water closet in house. In yard 6 feet from house. Water closet not trapped
§ Drainage from two houses into cesspool. 3 ft. from house,overflow from cesspool on surface. Soil pipe not ventilated.
Female .... G
Clayey Gravel .. . Gravel.
..
VII.
I. Clay. VII. Clayey Gravel ..
١
மற்றும்
203
DEATHS FROM SCARLET FEVER, DIPHTHERIA, AND TYPHOID FEVER IN 1877, 1878, AND 1879.
SCARLET FEVER.
DIPHTHERIA.
TYPHOID FEVER.
MONTHS.
1877.
1878.
1879.
1877.
1878.
1879.
1877.
1878.
1879.
January
4
4
. .
4
6
2
February
.
1
4
4
4
March
1
.
1
9
5
April
1
2
7
1
1
May
June
1
2
1
2
.
1
August
2
3
1
4
2
September
.
4
1
2
.
1
1
October
·
3
.
4
2
5
1
1
November
1
4
3
5
1
2
1
December .
1
7
2
8
5
4
2
1
Total
10
15
16
59
27
29
6
5
3
.
.
.
.
1.
1
6
1
1
. July
.
SMALL-Pox. - We are fortunately free from this loathsome dis- ease. There have been no deaths from it in our city since 1875, when there was one fatal case. It has again made its appearance in the United States, and deaths from it have occurred in Wash- ington, New York, Philadelphia, San Antonio, and Worcester. During the past year, it was prevalent in many of the large cities of Europe, notably in Paris (where it was the cause of 214 deaths after Aug. 21), London, Liverpool, and Dublin. For some time it has existed along the borders of our own country, -in Montreal and St. John in the north, and in Cuba in the south. It has also visited Brazil, where there were 57 deaths in the months of Novem- ber and December last.
At irregular intervals there seems to be a marked susceptibility on the part of communities to the contagion of this disease, and judging from the facts above stated, we believe we are now entering upon such a period.
People (and more especially very young people) unprotected by vaccination are more liable to contract the disease than others.
.
8
.
204
The appearance of the disease in Worcester, to which place it was brought from Canada, should serve as a warning to us. We have reason to believe that there are a great many people in this city who have not been vaccinated. There are a number of French Canadians in our midst, and it is a well-known fact that these people are very much opposed to vaccination.
We feel it our duty to earnestly urge upon you the importance of making provision at once for the vaccination of all persons in the city who are not already protected by this means. Delay in this matter may result in much needless sickness and death.
CERTIFICATES OF DEATH.
In compliance with the requirements of Chap. 174 of the Acts of 1878, we have approved 398 certificates of death and 25 certifi- cates of still-births.
MYSTIC WATER.
Farly in the year, complaints were made to this board of the impure water furnished by the Mystic Water Works. These com- plaints continued from time to time, and on June 19 the follow- ing letter was sent to the Boston Water Board : -
OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH, CITY HALL, SOMERVILLE, MASS., June 19, 1879.
Boston Water Board :
GENTLEMEN, - We have recently had several complaints of im- purities in the Mystic water, and we have personally found the water at different times to be discolored.
Will you please inform us whether or not the drainage from all the tanneries and other manufactories situated within the limits of the Mystic "water-shed" has been turned into the new Mystic Valley sewer? Will you also please inform us what is the proper method of caring for our distribution pipes so as to prevent the accumulation of impurities in them ? and oblige
Yours respectfully,
THE BOARD OF HEALTH OF SOMERVILLE,
By GEORGE I. VINCENT, Clerk.
205
The following reply was received : -
CITY OF BOSTON.
. BOSTON WATER BOARD OFFICE, CITY HALL, June 30, 1879.
To the Board of Health of Somerville :
GENTLEMEN, - Your communication of the 19th inst. was re- ceived, and we have to reply to your inquiries as follows : -
1st. The following proprietors of tanneries have entered their drainage into the sewer: Alex'r Moseley, Eustis Cummings, James Houston, Francis L. White, Bryant & King, and Lewis Shaw.
2d. If the water contains impurities, we know of no way to prevent them from going into the pipes.
The usual method of cleaning pipes when the water becomes dis- colored, as it sometimes does more or less, is by flushing out the pipes with the " blow-off" into the sewers, or else, as is the case with the pipes in your city, where there is no regular system of " blow-offs," it is necessary to use the hydrants for that purpose.
In regard to the present condition of the water of Mystic Lake, we have to say that our superintendent reports that he never saw it looking better or clearer than it does to-day.
Very respectfully,
BOSTON WATER BOARD,
By W. E. SWAN, Clerk.
In the month of July the water was found to contain large quan- tities of greenish vegetable matter, and samples were sent to this office by different citizens. Is was also represented to us by phy- sicians that in their opinion the impure water caused an unusual number of diarrhæal diseases.
In order to inform ourselves of the exact facts in the matter, the following circular was sent to all physicians known to practise in this city : -
OFFICE OF BOARD OF HEALTH, CITY HALL, SOMERVILLE, MASS., July 21, 1879.
DEAR SIR, - From statements made by different physicians, we have reason to believe that the present impure condition of the Mystic water is the cause of several cases of diarrhœal diseases in our city. Your are hereby invited to meet us at this office, on
206
Wednesday next, the 23d inst., at 4 P. M., for the purpose of advising with the board in the matter, and by so doing oblige
Yours respectfully,
THE BOARD OF HEALTH OF SOMERVILLE,
By GEORGE I. VINCENT, Clerk.
At the meeting held July 23, twelve physicians were present, also the mayor and city physician of Chelsea.
One physician stated that he had been called to several cases of diarrhea that he attributed to the use of Mystic water.
A letter dated July 22 was received from a physician at the McLean Asylum, in which he said, " The impure, contaminated state of the water we are of necessity obliged to drink has devel- oped a number of cases of diarrhea, quite unusual and uncommon for us here, who are remarkably free from such diseases. I can and have attributed their origin entirely to drinking Mystic water.',
The other physicians were of the opinion that there was not, at the present time, an unusual prevalence of diarrhœal di-eases ; but they had advised their patients to drink spring or well water, or to strain and boil the Mystic water before using it.
It was voted to issue a circular to the people embodying the sentiments of the meeting. The following circular was published in the Somerville papers, and distributed to the people by the police : --
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
OFFICE OF BOARD OF HEALTH, CITY HALL, SOMERVILLE, MASS,. July 23, 1879.
To the Consumers of Mystic Water in Somerville :
At a meeting of this board with a large number of the leading physicians of Somerville and vicinity, held this day, it was voted unanimously that, while the present impurities in the Mystic water are not considered poisonous, and there is not an unusual preva- lence of diarrhæal diseases in our city, yet, in order to avoid the possibility of sickness which might be caused thereby, and in view of the fact that we are just approaching the season (August and September) when diarihœal affections are much more likely to prevail, the following precautions are suggested in the use of Mystic water, which may become more harmful as the season advances : -
207
First. Strain or filter the water. The simplest way to do this is by the use of a flannel or cotton-flannel bag All strainers and filters should be changed or cleansed frequently.
Second. Boiling the water would be an additional precaution.
The board would take this opportunity to make the further suggestion, that people should be cautious in resorting to the use of old and perhaps long-disused wells, and also wells in locations where the water may be contaminated by drainage or otherwise. Ice water should ALWAYS be used sparingly.
Per order of the Board of Health,
GEORGE I. VINCENT, Clerk.
After visiting the " water-shed " of the Mystic Lake, and con- sulting with the city solicitor, the following communication was presented to the City Council : -
OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH, CITY HALL, SOMERVILLE, MASS., July 29, 1879.
To the Honorable the Mayor and City Council of the City of Somerville :
Respectfully represents the Board of Health of said city of Som- erville, that certain firms and individuals, - to wit, Messrs. J. P. Crane & Co., - Taylor, E. M. Blake, and James Skinner & Co., and other persons whose names your petitioners have not as yet been able to obtain, - all of whom, in the town of Woburn, county of Middlesex, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, are carrying on the business of tanning and other business at divers factories situated upon or near the line of Russell Brook in said Woburn, and that in so doing said firms and individuals, in viola- tion of Chap. 183 of the Acts of this Commonwealth for the year 1878, are discharging and causing to be discharged into Mystic Lake, which is used as a source of water supply by said city of Somerville, and into said Russell Brook, so used as aforesaid as a source of water supply by said city of Somerville, and within twenty miles above the point where such supply is taken, certain sewage, drainage, refuse and polluting matter, of such quality and amount as, both by itself and in connection with other matter, is corrupting and impairing the quality of said water for domestic use, and is rendering it deleterious to health ; and that said viola- tion of law should be immediately prevented, and said firms and
208
individuals ordered by the State Board of Health, Lunacy, and Charity to cease and desist from such violation, and to remedy the said pollution.
Wherefore the said Board of Health respectfully requests that an application may be made by said city of Somerville to said Board of Health, Lunacy, and Charity, as provided by said Chap. 183 of the Acts of 1878, to take such action in the premises as may be found necessary.
By order of the Board,
GEO. I. VINCENT, Clerk.
July 29, the City Council passed an order requesting his Honor the Mayor to make application to the State Board of Health, Lunacy, and Charity, in accordance with our communication, to take immediate action in the premises.
The application was forthwith presented to the State Board of Health, and at about the same time that board received a similar application from the Boston Water Board.
A hearing was given on both applications Aug. 8, when, in order to facilitate the business, the application from the city of Somerville was withdrawn, and our city solicitor joined with the counsel for the city of Boston in conducting the case. At their suggestion the State Board voted to visit the premises complained of, and proceeded immediately to Woburn and Winchester for that purpose.
On the 9th instant an agreement was made by owners of tanneries with the Boston Water Board that they would cease draining into the lake ; and further action before the State Board was deferred. After the laying of the necessary drains and the building of catch- pits, ete., the drainage from the tanneries referred to in our com- munication to the City Council was diverted from the water supply into the Mystic Valley sewer.
We have visited the water-shed of Mystic Lake several times during the year, in company with physicians and others, and found large quantities of sewage from dwellings, tanneries, and other manufactories discharging into the lake.
A large portion of the area flowed is what is term " shallow flowage," which is the cause of the water being contaminated by the growth and decay of vegetable matter.
209
The towns of Winchester and Woburn, and a part of Stoneham, are situated on the drainage area or water-shed of the lake. These towns are compact and undrained. There are 134 water-closets in Woburn and 175 in Winchester.
The drainage from the tanneries of John Cummings & Co. and Bishop & Co., in Cummingsville, is at present conducted into filter basins near one of the tributaries of the lake. This is an experi- ment which we have carefully watched, and at present we are in doubt as to whether the drainage is polluting the water supply or not ; we are of the opinion, however, that the only safe permanent arrangement that can be adopted is to remove this drainage by proper sewerage. The drainage from Dow & Co.'s tannery still flows unobstructed into another tributary of the lake.
The Mystic Valley sewer, built by the city of Boston, is a long distance from these last-named tanneries, and cannot be used by them.
We were informed by the Boston Water Board some months ago that they had notified a large number of parties to discontinue pollu ting the water supply ; but at this date the filth from the large tannery of Dow & Co., in Woburn, the refuse from manufactories and the sewage from numerous dwellings is discharging into the tributaries of the lake.
The diverting of the tannery drainage from the lake into the sewer is but the commencement of the work necessary to purify the water. A proper system of sewerage should be provided for Winchester, Woburn, and Stoneham ; filth and decayed vegetable matter in the ponds should be removed ; the shores of ponds and streams improved, and means taken to prevent the growth of vegetation in them. In addition to this, the water, in our opinion, could be improved by filtering, as is done in many other cities and towns.
SEWERS.
In our last annual report the attention of the City Council was called to the necessity for a trunk sewer to drain the " Patch," and · the thickly settled section in the vicinity of Lowell and Hinckley Streets and Jenny Lind Avenue.
No action has been taken by the City Council, and the sanitary condition of these districts remains the same as in 1878.
The sewage from houses on Tufts Street and Fountain Avenue continues to flow into the open gutters, and is a cause of complaint
14
210
from the residents and persons passing through the streets. A petition is now before the Board of Aldermen for a sewer in Tufts Street, which we hope will be considered favorably.
The sewage from all the dwellings on Fairlee Street (off Cherry Street) is now conducted into an adjoining field, where it creates a dangerous nuisance. Several fatal cases of diphtheria have occurred in the immediate vicinity during the past year. In our opinion the only way of permanently abating this nuisance is by the construction of a sewer in Cherry Street, with a lateral sewer in Fairlee Street. A petition for a sewer in Cherry Street has been presented to the Board of Aldermen, and we recommend that it be granted at an early day.
A sewer in Pearl Street near Marshall Street would not only contribute to the health of the neighborhood, but would render marketable large tracts of land that are now practically worthless on account of their wet condition.
A sewer is also needed in Winthrop Avenue, the houses there being unfit for habitation, on account of the stagnant water which constantly stands upon the premises and upon land adjoining.
We would renew our recommendation of last year, that sewers be provided for the thickly settled streets on the northeasterly side of Winter Hill.
We deem it our duty to urge the necessity of proper sewerage. The residents in localities where sewers are needed have no au- thority to build sewers for themselves, but are entirely dependent upon the city for relief.
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