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Story
August 26, 1850
Republican Vindicator
Staunton, Virginia
What is this article about?
Commentary on severe mortality at Harper's Ferry due to extreme filthiness in streets and alleys, attributed to limited space and U.S. Government ownership hindering improvements. Urges government commission for sanitation and Virginia Legislature to incorporate the town.
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OCR Quality
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Full Text
MORTALITY AT HARPER'S FERRY.
No surprise need be entertained about the severity of this attack on Harper's Ferry. Its streets, lanes and alleys are always a miracle of filthiness; nose and eyes are equally and most disgustingly assailed, and pools of black slimy abominations abound. These are facts which will not be contested by any one, least of all by those who best know the town.
We cast no reflections on the people of Harper's Ferry on these accounts. Its peculiarity of situation, disallowing sufficiency of space for necessary conveniences to every population, renders it extremely hard to make it what it should be : but more than all, the inhabitants are hampered in their efforts at improvement by the fact that the United States Government is the principal owner of the property of the place, and does little or nothing toward rendering it tolerably habitable.
The Government ought immediately to institute a Commission, with powers to proceed to Harper's Ferry and report upon the most efficient means to render this great thoroughfare and government post something else than a charnelhouse for a portion of every season. Water is abundant to a proverb, and the place might be made as eminently salubrious as it is now decidedly the reverse. What is done should be done quickly.
The Legislature of Virginia ought to incorporate Harper's Ferry at its next session.
[Washington News.
No surprise need be entertained about the severity of this attack on Harper's Ferry. Its streets, lanes and alleys are always a miracle of filthiness; nose and eyes are equally and most disgustingly assailed, and pools of black slimy abominations abound. These are facts which will not be contested by any one, least of all by those who best know the town.
We cast no reflections on the people of Harper's Ferry on these accounts. Its peculiarity of situation, disallowing sufficiency of space for necessary conveniences to every population, renders it extremely hard to make it what it should be : but more than all, the inhabitants are hampered in their efforts at improvement by the fact that the United States Government is the principal owner of the property of the place, and does little or nothing toward rendering it tolerably habitable.
The Government ought immediately to institute a Commission, with powers to proceed to Harper's Ferry and report upon the most efficient means to render this great thoroughfare and government post something else than a charnelhouse for a portion of every season. Water is abundant to a proverb, and the place might be made as eminently salubrious as it is now decidedly the reverse. What is done should be done quickly.
The Legislature of Virginia ought to incorporate Harper's Ferry at its next session.
[Washington News.
What sub-type of article is it?
Historical Event
Curiosity
What themes does it cover?
Misfortune
Justice
What keywords are associated?
Harper's Ferry
Mortality
Filthiness
Government Ownership
Sanitation Improvement
Where did it happen?
Harper's Ferry
Story Details
Location
Harper's Ferry
Story Details
Description of severe health issues and mortality at Harper's Ferry caused by pervasive filth, limited by geography and U.S. Government ownership; calls for a government commission to improve sanitation and for Virginia to incorporate the town.