ANNUAL ADDRESS 
or 
VICE-PRESIDENT, 
WITH REMARKS 
/ — BY — 
CHARLES A. WHITNEY, 
PRESIDENT, 
c-stetjs iB-crssiErsr, 
Chairman Executive Committee, 
— AND — 
ALBERT BALl_iIDWI2Sr, 
Chairman Finance Committee, 
AT REGULAR MEETING OF THE 
NEW ORLEANS AUXILIARY SANITARY ASSOCIATION, 
IN’O'VEMBEIfc 23, 1£ia*0$(Jn 
NEW ORLEANS: ; 
PRINTED AT THE NEW ORLEANS DEMOCRAT OFFICE, GJ CAJ^ 
1880. ADDRESS. 
After the transaction of routine business Edward Fenner, Vice- 
President, delivered the following 
ANNUAL ADDRESS : 
Mr. Chairman—The thirty-first of March, 1879, will always be 
memorable in the annals of New Orleans as the day on which the 
Auxilliary Sanitary Association was organized at the great public 
meeting held at Odd Fellows’ Hall. 
The time was well chosen. The saddening impress of the direful 
epidemic of 1878 was manifest in the hearts of the people. The alarm 
engendered throughout the country has no parallel in the history of 
previous epidemics. New Orleans was branded far and wide as the 
prime cause of the wide-spread calamity. 
The ready disposition of neighboring communities to blockade this 
city by barbarous shotgun quarantines, which effectually paralyzed 
business and rendered interstate communication almost impossible, 
showed but too plainly that, while the geographical position of New 
Orleans is most favorable to its increase in population, manufactures, 
commerce and wealth, if its good health and good name can be es- 
tablished, it is the reverse of favorable, should public neglect subject 
it to the ravages of yellow fever. 
The gentlemen chiefly instrumental in giving form and motion to 
this association were actuated by the most patriotic motives—the 
rehabilitation of this city. 
They realized the fact that the time had come when the people 
could be appealed to with success to give countenance and material 
aid in support of any well devised plans of sanitary improvement, to 
be undertaken by a committee of citizens and paid for by voluntary 
subscriptions. 
The experience of the past had taught them that political corpor- 
ations cannot be depended upon for that prompt and sustained 4 
action winch enables men trained in the severe school of business 
affairs to execute large undertakings with economy and dispatch. 
The numerous examples which this city affords of great and costly 
works, undertaken without regard to the possibility of their ultimate 
completion, shows but too plainly that municipal governments, owing 
their existence to political machinations and intrigue, and compelled 
by force of circumstances to lavish the people’s money on most un- 
worthy partisans, are unable to cope with the requirements of our 
present rapidly increasing prosperity, and render it securely perma- 
nent. 
The task assumed by this association was surrounded with innumer- 
able and, apparently, almost insurmountable difficulties. The move- 
ment was novel, and the projectors untried; money was needed and 
the contributors must necessarily be numerous. The success attend- 
ing your efforts to create a sustaining public opinion in favor of the 
radical reform proposed in your address to the people, issued the 
sixth of April, 1879, is evinced by the large number of your subscrib- 
ers and the amount placed at your disposal. 
Without the unswerving advocacy of the press, the exponent and 
guide of public opinion, and its generous publication of numerous 
and lengthy documents, supplemented by the eloquent appeals of the 
clergy, and the intelligent, indefatigable and most efficient exertions 
of our medical men, we do not hesitate to say that all your exertions 
to arouse the public mind to the necessity of immediate and radical 
sanitary reform wrould have been in vain. 
The views of this association may be fitly illustrated by a quotation 
from the reply made by Lord Palmerston to the presbytery of Edin- 
burgh, when they wrote to him to ask whether a national fast ought 
not to be appointed in consequence of the appearance of cholera. 
His lordship gravely admonished the presbytery that the Maker 
of the universe had appointed certain laws of nature for the planet 
on which we live; and, that the weal or woe of mankind depends on 
the observance of those law3—one of them connecting health with 
the absence of those noxious exhalatious which proceed from over 
crowded human beings, or from decomposing substances, whether 
animal or vegetable. He, therefore, recommended that the purifica- 
tion of towns and cities should be more strenuously carried on, and 
remarked that the causes and sources of contagion, if allowed to re- 5 
main, will infallibly breed pestilence and be fruitful in death, in 
spite of all the prayers and fasting of a united but inactive people. 
The enormous loss of life and values inflicted upon the country by 
the*epidemic of 1878, not to speak of the boundless charity bestowed 
to alleviate local distress, has created an unwonted interest through- 
out the United States in measures of prevention. 
The discusssion of the American Public Health Association, com- 
posed of representative men from every State in the Union, on city 
sanitation and practical questions connected with the management of 
an actual or threatened outbreak of yellow fever, should be accepted 
by the people of New Orleans as conclusive evidence that our neigh- 
bors, near and far, will not permit us to remain indifferent to their 
wise suggestions. 
Self-protection and the very natural desire to avoid a repetition 
of the loss to the country caused by the epidemic of 1878, which has 
been estimated by good authority at not less than $175,000,000, gives 
them the right to demand a corresponding interest, and an unflinch- 
ing determination on the part of our citizens to foster and promote 
the work plotted out by this association. 
John H. Rauch, M. D., secretary of the Sanitary Council of the 
Mississippi Yallev, states in his preface to the transactions of that 
organization, published in May, 1879: “Until the national govern- 
ment, through a national agency, wielding the power and supported 
by the authority of the nation, shall assume plenary control of ques- 
tions affecting the public health, it can only be by the harmonious 
and conjoint action of the various local agencies, State and municipal, 
that we can hope to secure exemption from epidemic diseases.” He 
adds: “The example of New Orleans and Memphis in pushing sani- 
tary work by local voluntary subscriptions and effort is commended 
to other towns whose municipal authorities have neglected or are un- 
able to make adequate appropriations for such work. The emergency 
is too imminent to allow of mincing matters; it must be met promptly 
and energetically.” 
These were the views entertained by the Sanitary Council of the 
Mississippi Valley in May, 1879. 
The passage of the act constituting the National Board of Health 
superseded, a3 suggested by Dr Rrucli, the “Sanitary Council.” The 
“National Beard” was designed to co-operate with State and local 
boards of health for the general welfare, to meet extraordinary de- 6 
tnands for material aid, to inspire confidence and hope in communi- 
ties imperfectly provided with the means and appliances of protection 
and, through the prestige of national power, to allay excitement by 
relegating to responsible and intelligent agents the execution of 
rules and regulations designed to prevent undue interruption to 
commerce, while conferring the greatest protection, to communities 
contiguous to infected places. 
The voice of the people of this city or State, owing to circumstances 
and influences beyond their power to control, will be found impotent 
when directed against an institution created to substitute national 
powers for the comparatively weak and irresponsible action of volun- 
tary State organizations. 
Should public clamor, however, succeed in procuring the repeal 
of the act creating the National Board of Health, with all its power 
in time of need to contribute material aid, its predecessor, the Sani- 
tary Council of the Mississippi Valley, without such power, will im- 
mediately take its place. 
Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the executive committee, there can 
be no doubt as to the policy we must pursue. 
Whatever the wisdom of this enlightened age has discovered as 
best calculated to preserve health and prevent the spread of disease, 
must be undertaken by this association. 
In no other way can we lay the foundation deep and permanent 
on which to build the future greatness of this city. 
The wealth and enterprise of Western cities, aided by our exagger- 
ated reputation of ill health, had well nigh diverted from New Orleans 
the enormous trade which, in the days of steamboat supremacy, was 
tributary to her and made her one of the richest cities on the conti- 
nent. 
The advantages which the West has enjoyed for many years will 
henceforth be shared by New Orleans. 
Already are we wedded, with bands of iron, to a vast domain, rapidly 
increasing in population and agricultural wealth. 
Erelong the connection will be made still closer; but to derive the 
full benefit from these great undertakings without interruption, 
our citizens will readily perceive that they must lend a helping 
hand. 7 
New Orleans must be placed at once in the front rank with those 
who pause not to consider the cost of any sanitary work intended to 
secure public health that public wealth may follow. 
The task before you is not so difficult as many suppose. Go on as 
you have begun, “with a faith that knows no doubt,” banish all 
thoughts of failure, invest whatever you can afford for a few years 
more, to bq promptly and judiciously employed in permanent works, 
and the result will redound to the happiness and prosperity of your- 
selves and your children. 
I do not propose in this address, except incidentally, to allude to 
the work that has already been accomplished by this association. 
My chief desire will be attained if I succeed in interesting you, and 
through you the public at large, in many important undertakings 
which remain to be accomplished. 
The privy system of this city is defective and injurious to the last 
degree. 
Our committee on construction and management of privies, after 
many experiments and careful and intelligent consideration of the 
whole subject, furnished your association with an able and exhaustive 
report. 
This report states clearly and emphatically that sound principle and 
practice require the immediate removal of all human excreta ; that 
this can be successfully accomplished only by a complete and perfect 
system of sewers. 
In the absence of such a system at present, and the possibility of 
the continuance of a privy system for an indefinite period, the com- 
mittee lay down for the guidance of all concerned such principles as 
to location, size, impermeability, ventilation, inspection, cleaning and 
disinfection as would, if carried into execution, reduce all the hygienic 
evils of such a privy system to a minimum. 
The practical difficulties in the way of investigating the construction 
of 40,000 or 50.000 privies, and compelling each proprietor to con- 
form to corporate or State Board ordinances, at best but carelessly 
and feebly enforced, devolves upon your association the duty of con- 
sidering a plan more in consonance with the spirit of the age. 
The great and prosperous cities of the world have long since deter- 
mined that underground sewerage ib a sure remedy for the danger- 
ous form of cumulative vaults. 
THE PRIVY SYSTEM. 8 
The plan adopted at Memphis, of small pipes, frequently flushed, 
will avoid the danger of sewer gas, so often advanced by the oppo- 
nents of sub-sewerage, and greatly reduce the cost of the system. 
I anticipate the suggestion that this association is on record as 
having opposed sub-sewerage by stating that when the system was 
so ably advocated by the public press last spring, just at the time 
when it was contemplated to flush the perpendicular gutters, a work 
which, with or without sub-sewerage, is in this climate a prime neces- 
sity—we deemed it expedient to refrain from joining in the discus- 
sion, as premature and calculated to divert the public mind from a 
then possible improvement. 
Now that the flushing system is a fact accomplished, and its 
beneficial effect has been realized, wo do not apprehend 
the slightest difficulty in completing the system the coming winter, 
down to the lower limits of the city. 
Therefore, there is no objection henceforth to a free discussion of 
the important question of sub-sewerage and its accompaniment, sub- 
drainage. On the contrary, we should invite and promote discus- 
sion. 
FILLING IN AND DRAINAGE OF LOTS. 
The providing of sewers and a bouutiful supply of water, as sug" 
gested, will remedy some of the most depressing and noxious in- 
fluences which affect health and life in New Orleans. 
There remains another sanitary feat to be accomplished, equal in 
importance and advantage to immediate removal of excreta and 
unlimited supply of water, viz: The complete filling and drainage 
of all lots occupied by dwellings, or in the vicinily of habitations, 
and the securing of absolute dryness, both of the soil and air under 
dwelling houses, by suitable methods of filling lots, proper height of 
lower floor above the soil, and intelligent construction and arrange- 
ment of supporting pillars and walls to secure good ventilation and 
consequent free movement of air beneath such lower floor. 
It is not enough that New Orleans be rendered impregnable to 
yellow fever epidemics. The dead from preventable local causes vastly 
outnumber the slain by yellow fever. That the annual death rate of 
New Orleans is high, compared .with that of the large cities of the 
country, is universally known. 9 
The aim and steady effort of this association should be to make 
the health and life of every man and his familv as certain here as in 
any large city. To so elevate the sanitary condition that he can live 
here all the year through for years in succession—not in the vigor 
that some receive from cold climates, bub with the knowledge that 
•his prospects for health and life are as good in New Orleans as any- 
where else. 
The extraordinary fact already laid before the association by 
Dr. White, our Sanitary Director, in his report of October 19,1879, of a 
population of one thousand persons, in the most malarious district 
in the city, giving in one year, 1874, an annual death rate of but six, 
as against the death rate of 32.73 for the city as a whole, must always 
be kept in view for instruction and encouragement— a prophecy of 
good times to come. 
Gentlemen, we must bring the annual death rate of New Orleans 
to fifteen, or even less than fifteen per thousand per annum. 
WATER SUPPLY. 
The influence of this association can be beneficially exerted to in- 
duce the introduction of the fresh water of the Mississippi river into 
every dwelling in the city through underground pipes, thus avoiding 
the contamination of water used for domestic purposes by impure 
air and the excrement of fowls. 
The New Orleans Waterworks Company can now supply water in 
abundance to the second or third story of any building. 
An inexpensive filter will render it almost absolutely pure and 
perfectly clear. . 
Before the abatement of these twin nuisances, the fifteen acres of 
filthy fever holes along the levee and the abominable cordon of de- 
composing garbage behind the city, who will undertake to assert 
that we have not imbibed a liberal share of their damaging exhala- 
tions, condensed by the water of our cisterns? 
Prof. Hoffman states that “such is the capacity of water that 1000 
gallons will dissolve 25 gallons of nitrogen. 1000 gallons of carbonic 
acid, 50,000 gallons of ammonia—the very gas which escapes so large- 
ly from privies and the filth of every dirty town, carrying with it 
matters in a high state of putrescency.” 
In this city the cisterns which usually furnish most of our drinking 
and cooking water are commonly placed in close proximity, in our 10 
narrow yards, with the privy, bituminous coal, and all kitchen and 
house refuse. 
Dr. Gautier, a French physician, states: 
“The presence of organic matter in water has been considered one 
of the principal causes of any injurious qualities it may possess: to 
its presence’ may] be attributed the development of such diseases 
as diarrhea, dysentery, typhoid fever, etc. 
Let us therefore cease not to plead for water pure and simple. 
Rest assured the condition of the public health is closely identified 
with the quality of water in public use. 
The energy and enterprise of the Waterworks Company should, and 
we believe it will, so greatly increase the demands for their convenient 
and never failing supply of water as to enable the company to erect 
filtering works. 
When that is done not even New York will excel New Orleans in 
the enjoyment of an inexhaustible supply- of clear, pure water—in 
our semi-tropical climate an inestimable hygienic blessing. 
The Waterwords Company have increased their pumping capacity 
six million gallons, making a total of twenty-seven million gallons in 
twenty-four hours. 
They have laid nearly eight miles of new pipe, three miles of which 
are thirty-six, thirty and twenty-inch mains. 
The average head of water above Canal street before these im- 
provements were made, was about fifteen feet, and below Canal street 
none to be relied upon, except at night, and then it never reached 
fifteen feet. 
The head of water will average sixty feet above Canal street, and 
forty feet below, but after the thirty-inch main is completed to Es- 
planade street, the head will be an average of sixty feet all over the 
city, which will be increased if occasion requires it. 
Now that the Waterworks Company are about to recommence the 
laying of mains, we hope they will follow the suggestion of Dr. 
White, our sanitary director, and place hydrants in the middle of 
blocks and not at the corners, thus greatly facilitating the flushing of 
the lateral gutters. 
Before the advent of another summer we have no doubt every 
uninterrupted perpendicular gutter in the city will be kept constant- 11 
ly purified by the water issuing from our pumping engines. The 
lateral, gutters, however, demand our most thoughful attention. 
Before we can consider our work in this direction accomplished, 
provision must be made to flush the ; lateral gutters at least once in 
every twenty-four hours; oftener would be very desirable. 
Therefore we must earnestly solicit the aid of the Waterworks 
Company, by complying, if they can do so, with the suggestion of 
Dr. White. 
The flushing committee have been untiring in their efforts 
throughout the past summer to abate, in part at least, the noxious 
condition of the drainage canals. 
The progress they have made and the impediments encountered 
have been presented to your honorable committee in the report of 
Mr. W. H. Newton, civil engineer. ' 
With the aid of Mr. Newton’s mud scourer, a most ingenious and 
efficient contrivance, he has successfully reduced the foul deposit 
an accumulation of many years, quite two feet in the Toulouse and 
Broad street canals, at a trifling cost to this association. 
An achievement pronounced in high municipal circles “ impracti- 
cable.” 
Had the small cost at which a great portion of this work was 
done been known when this erroneous prophesy was made their in- 
credulity would certainly have had a better foundation. 
To those familiar with the customary mode of conducting public 
work it cannot have been matter for surprise that it was found “im- 
practicable” to complete the undertaking commenced in 1859 to flush 
the gutters of this city, although our good citizens did actually pay 
the sum of $116,025 22, while nothing exists at this day to indicate 
that the work was ever commenced, except a length of 3000 feet of 
iron pipe, now in the possession of the Waterworks Company, which 
cost to lay $21,000. 
The question presented to you in behalf of the property owners, 
business men, taxpayers, whose vital interests are all concerned, is 
one of no little importance—how and by whom shall the dirty 
ditches, called draining canals, be cleaned and the entire system im- 
proved? 
REFORMATION OF THE DRAINAGE CANALS. 12 
The five months’ experience of your flushing committee has made 
them perfectly familiar with the condition of these imperfectly con- 
structed, totally neglected, but most important sanitary works. 
Your committee do not hesitate to assume the responsibility of 
amending the condition of the entire system, at a cost not to exceed 
$15,000, a sum so insignificant when contrasted with the vast benefit 
which will accrue to the health and comfort of our people and the 
value of adjacent property, that they believe an appropriation for 
that purpose by your finance committee is of the utmost importance. 
The correction of this long-existing evil is an important part of 
our flushing system—it may prove in its ultimate results the 
most beneficial. 
That years must elapse before our municipal authorities will be 
able to undertake the work is rendered quite evident from the reply 
made by his Honor Mayor Patton to the Taxpayers’ Association, of date 
the twenty-third of October. 
Basing his estimate on a ten-mill tax his honor shows ‘'that the an- 
nual expenditures for premium bonds, schools, police, lighting the city 
extinguishing fires, criminal justice, insane asylums and chari- 
table institutions are alone in excess of the revenues—$206,000. 
“Not a salary paid, not a dollar spent on drainage, paving or clean- 
ing the streets, nothing spent for hygienic purposes, nothing for 
wharves and landings, nothing for removing garbage, repairing 
courts, markets and other public buildings. 
I take occasion here to state that the criticisms on a system, which 
this address contains, are not intended to apply to the individual 
chiefs of our present municipal government, who have at all times 
acted in accord with your association, and aided your work to the 
extent of their ability. 
They should not be blamed for evils which they are powerless to 
correct. 
In my opinion an auxiliary association such as yours will be found 
necessary for several years. 
A perfect sanitary condition of this city must be maintained or 
the railway by which you hope to increase your trade will prove, in 
the event of failure, but an additional pretext to erect barriers 
against it. 13 
PUBLIC BATHING-HOUSES AND WASH-HOUSES. 
This is a subject which should ere long engage the attention of 
this association. In a sanitary point of view the advantage which 
such establishments would confer is incalculable. 
I quote from the admirable report of the Sanitary Commission of 
Massachusetts of 1850: 
“Liverpool has the honor of originating the idea and of erecting 
the first institution, which was opened the twenty-eighth day of May, 
1842. 
“A second was erected in 1847. 
“The statistics of these two establishments show that the public 
patronage has been annually increasing from their commencement 
and that during the year ending August 31, 1849, the number of 
baths taken was 104,691; the number of dozen clothes washed, 120,- 
875; the receipts were £1230 4s lid, and the expenses were £1392 
17s, nearly but not quite equaling the expenditure; but so well satis- 
fied are the town council of the benefits conferred on the working 
classes by these establishments, that they have recently decided to 
erect six additional baths and wash-houses in different districts of 
the borough, at a cost of £25,000. They will contain two plunge 
baths, one forty-two by twenty-seven feet, and the other thirty-nine 
by twenty-seven feet; forty-nine dressing boxes, eighty-seven wash- 
ing-halls, eight infected washing halls, ten first-class private baths 
and thirty-three second and third-class. 
“At Manchester, England, in similar institutions there had been 
given in three years, 79,408 baths, 16,907 washers and 594,292 dozen 
articles washed. The receipts were £1227, expenses £1194, leaving 
a balance on hand for the three years £33.” 
When we reflect upon the indisputable fact that thousands of the 
tenements occupied by the laboring man and the poor are inadequately 
supplied with water, and that of the worst quality, taken from decay- 
ing cisterns seldom if ever cleaned, how can we expect, so long as 
this condition lasts, to attain to a maximum of public health ? 
The poor can neither properly cleanse their bodies, cook their 
food nor wash their clothes. 
If the introduction of water from the waterworks could be made 
compulsory on all property-owners the present limited supply of 
water would be remedied; but even then there is a consideration 14 
growing out of a system peculiar to New Orleans, which would not be 
affected. 
I allude to the almost universal custom of sending soiled clothes 
out of your houses to be washed, where and under what circumstances 
we seldom take the trouble to inquire. 
I regret that space will not permit me to quote in full a very able 
communication on the subject of “clothes-washing,” read before the 
Ladies’ Sanitary Association of New Orleans the sixth of January, 
1880. It should be printed in pamphlet form and sent to every 
house. A single publication in a daily journal is too evanescent for 
such a valuable paper. 
Draining the swamps between the city and lake, the proper treat- 
ment of the lateral gutters, the abatement of a very serious nuisance 
un(Jer the docks, I merely alluded to as subjects which I hope will 
be considered and some action taken by this committee before that 
unfortunate day arrives, if it ever does, when the sanitary association 
shall cease to exist. 
You will discover when the American Public Health Association 
hold their meeting in this city, on the seventh of December next, that 
this association, the work it has done, and the improvements it pro- 
poses to advocate and advance, are perfectly well known to and 
appreciated by every member of that enlightened body. 
It will be greatly to the advantage of this city, therefore, that wo 
can point to some works of vast sanitary importance executed under 
your auspices during your brief existence. 
We cannot claim for these works originality of invention; they have 
been persistently and eloquently recommended long years ago, as 
may be discovered by reference to the annual reports of the Board of 
Health and Sanitary Commissions, publications of great interest and 
value, to be found in the libraries of literary men and the dusty gar- 
ret of the City Hall. 
You have, however, the imperishable honor, after years of apathy 
and municipal neglect, of putting in practice these wise suggestions. 
Judging, therefore, of the future by the past, I record my opinion 
that the only hope of regenerating this city is centered in the Citi- 
zens’ Sanitary Association. 15 
The good health which New Orleans has enjoyed for the past two 
years, supplemented by the great system of railroads completed* and 
in progress, has entirely changed the commercial outlook. 
We no longer speak of “hard times,” nor bemoan the loss of trade, 
resulting from a want of confidence in our sanitary condition, and 
the exclusive enjoyment by the great West of railway connection with 
our next-door neighbor, Texas. 
With proper energy on our part, that imperial State—of enormous 
area, fertile soil, but lack of seaports—must contribute to this highly 
favored city a wealth of commerce, which, ere many years have 
passed, will elevate her to rank with the largest and wealthiest cities 
of the world. 
The first results of the prosperity I predict have been realized, and 
are still in progress everywhere within the city limits. 
For the past two summers our trade has been large and uninter- 
rupted—“spot trade,” in commercial parlance, constituting no incon- 
siderable portion. 
The enormous increase in the movement of grain, which could not 
have been handled in a city blasted by disease; due, as many suppose 
to a filthy condition; 
The demolition of stores at no time vacant, and always fetching a 
remunerative rental, to give place for more modern and convenient 
structures; 
The steady employment of our industrious mechanics and laboring 
men throughout the summer, for years previously compelled to pass 
months of their time in enforced idleness; 
The solvency of our merchants, their hopeful tone, the determina- 
tion of the many thousand subscribing members of this association— 
from the widows’ mite of ten cents (as our books will show) to the 
thousands of the millionaire—evincing the firm resolve of our popu- 
lation to make good the prediction uttered in this hall in November 
last, that this “city can be made, by the honest efforts of her own 
people, a place for business every month in the year.” 
If you concur in the statements I have made, and attribute, as I 
do, with a faith unmingled with doubt, that our exemption from 
yellow fever in the summer of 1879, when Memphis was again 
scourged, to the active and efficient sanitary measures taken by your 
committee and our State Board of Health, then I say stick to your 16 
guns until the last remnant of our deadly foe is swept from the face 
of this fair city. 
Such a victory, giving as its result prosperity and happiness, should 
animate you to renewed activity and an unalterable purpose to cease 
not from your labors until you have,' with God’s blessing, secured a 
continuance of our present healthful and prosperous condition. 
In conclusion, permit me to quote from a speech made by Lord 
Morpeth in a debate in the House of Lords on a bill for promoting 
the public health: 
“Let my countrymen condemn me as they may, only do not let 
them hold me—do not let them hold themselves absolved if they do 
not insist upon early and efficient legislation on this subject. No one’s 
conscience, be they ministers of state, be they members of Parliament, 
be they members of corporations, or be they citizens of any class, 
ought to hold themselves harmless if in time coming they offer any 
obstructions or suffer obstructions to be offered to the immediate 
adoption of sanitary reform.” 
In like manner, gentlemen, I appeal to you, and through you to the 
public, not to offer any obstructions, nor suffer any obstructions to 
be offered, to the continuance of the sanitary reforms that may from 
time to time be suggested in this hall. 
In the past we have lost much valuable time and added consider- 
ably to the costs of our work by reason of the tardiness with which 
subscriptions were made. 
There is much to be done this winter; we must begin early. 
Good health and a kind Providence have prospered you greatly 
the past summer; invest once more a portion of your gains thus 
derived and you will deserve a continuance of that high degree of 
welfare which is alone attributable to those sources. 
At the conclusion of the reading of the report 
C. A. WHITNEY, FBESIDENT, 
took the floor, and said: 
Gentlemen—I have listened earnestly to every word of the address 
of our vice-president. Any comment on it would serve, I am sure, 
only to weaken its effect. I add my voice to -what has been said 
simply because my silence might be misconstrued. My motive in 
speaking now is solely for the purpose of heartily indorsing all that 
the address recommends. The facts stated show most conclusively 17 
that the work done by this association, aided by the liberality of the 
people, has been an effective agent in the preservation of the health 
of the city; and they further show that, without health our commerce 
must languish and the city again be relegated to its former condition 
of inertness and stagnation. 
We are ready, to continue the work if our people will supply the 
means—with but moderate assistance we believe it to be possible to 
avert the recurrence of epidemics; without aid, in the present 
depleted condition of the city treasury, rendering relief from that 
quarter impossible, we candidly say we see little to encourage us. 
This matter is now in the hands of this community. It is for them 
to decide whether or not the good work shall go on. We have, we 
believe, done our part, we ask the public to do theirs. We will not 
believe they will be blind to their own interest and deaf to the will 
of humanity. 
If adequate relief be not afforded by voluntary contributions I may, 
on some future occasion, propose for the consideration of this 
association, some plan by which, through a vote of the people, a tax 
may be imposed sufficient to defray expenses necessary for the 
preservation of public health. At present I content myself with 
expressing a hope that resort to such a measure may be found 
unnecessary. 
I trust our people will attentively read the address of our vice-presi- 
dent, and take earnestly to heart the lessons he shows experience has 
taught, and practically aid in executing the measures he so forcibly 
recommends. It would be idle for me to say more. I move the 
adoption of the report. 
CYRUS BUSSEY, CHAIRMAN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, 
then spoke as follows: 
The address of Mr. Fenner so fully states the work that has been 
accomplished by our association that the people of this city can see 
the importance of sustaining it. 
A very large portion of the money contributed by the people has 
been expended with unusual good judgment in permanent improve- 
ments. The large supply of water furnished by the pipe in front 
of the First and Fourth Districts, the engine and pumping machin- 
ery, the garbage boats, etc., are valuable assets in actual use, 
and through their use this city has enjoyed a degree of health 18 
unparalleled in its history. Valuable lives have been spared, health 
and happiness enjoyed by hundreds, who but for our labor might 
be in their graves. The work pointed out to be done in the future 
is so important that every citizen in this city should become a sani- 
tarian, and never cease their labors until the works recommended 
are completed and the city made so secure that it will cease to be 
referred to in connection with Havana as the home of yellow fever, 
as was done by Dr. Saunders, of Memphis, in a public meeting on 
the subject of sanitation. The attention of the whole country is 
directed to New Orleans in view of the largely increased business 
which we are to enjoy when the railroads now under construction 
are completed. In addition to the productions of the empire of 
Texas and the grain of the West, we are promised the wheat and 
other productions of California for shipment to Europe. The hand- 
ling of these immense products, in addition to our large cotton crops, 
tributary to this city, will require a large increase in our population. 
New Orleans should become one of the largest manufacturing 
cities in the country. Everything requisite for the production of 
many kinds of goods and farming implements can be peocured here 
more cheaply than anywhere else. Capital and enterprise will de- 
velop these manufachires as soon as confidence in the good health of 
our city is established. Let us continue the work so successfully 
prosecuted for the past two years, and add each year larger perma- 
nent improvements until the sanitary condition of the city is made 
reasonably perfect. Money will be required to do this, but when 
have the people of New Orleans withheld their money when pleas- 
ure was promised. We support a large number of places of amuse- 
ment and indulge extravagantly in useless luxuries. If necessary, 
let us economize in less important matters that we may contribute 
more liberally to the more important work of sanitation. If we do 
this we will confer health and happiness upon ourselves and cause 
New Orleans to be classed as a healthy city. This will invite new 
citizens and make all property of the city valuable. For these rea- 
sons I desire to unite in urging upon the public the very wise re- 
commendations of Mr. Fenner. The general superintendent of the 
Mississippi and Tennessee Railway states their road has this year 
carried from Memphis to New Orleans, up to November 1, 95,344 
bales of cotton in 1880, against only 38,879 bales for the same time 19 
in 1879. These figures show the great value of a healthy season, 
and no doubt every department of the business of this city will 
show a like increase. 
The attention of the merchants of Texas and other States has 
been called to the superior advantages which New Orleans offers as 
a market in which they can purchase all kinds of goods and sell 
their cotton and other products. The reports made each month by 
the Collector of the Port show a large increase in the imports of 
merchandise and a great increase in the exports. Should this trade 
be interrupted in consequence of an epidemic for a single season, 
the loss which would have to be borne by the people of this city 
would exceed a sum sufficient to sewer the city upon the most sub- 
stantial plan and complete all the works recommended in the address 
to which we have listened, to say nothing of the lives which would 
be sacrificed and the distress which would follow. 
The frequency of the visitations to this city of epidemic disease 
proves that so long as we continue in our present sanitary condition 
there can be no security. Contaminating influences will continue to 
increase as the population enlarges, unless provision is made to 
carry away dangerous impurities and purify the soil of the city, a 
terrible enemy will each summer threaten to devastate and destroy 
the people. No household, where there are young children, will feel 
secure. Therefore it behooves us to continue our organization and 
enlist, if possible, every inhabitant in the grand work of repelling 
the invasion of any deadly foe which may seek our shores. The 
plague has frequently depopulated the fairest cities of Europe and 
Asia, carrying off millions of people. Within two years that dread 
pestilence made its appearance in Russia. Yellow fever is said to be 
“first cousin to the plague,” and may sometime seek to introduce 
that dread pestilence to our shores. A duty devolves upon the 
people of New Orleans, which I hope each citizen will appreciate 
and perform. 
ALBERT BALDWIN, CHAIRMAN FINANCE COMMITTEE, 
then spoke as follows: 
I desire to express the great pleasure and benefit I have derived 
from listening to the address of our worthy confrere. I second the 
motion for the adoption of the plan so ably placed before us, as the 
ground work of the efforts for reconstructing our sanitary condition 
which must be made by this association. 20 
I can but add an expression of my earnest hope and belief that 
the people of this community will come forward promptly and liber- 
ally to aid us in carrying out designs, which have for their object 
the greatest good of every citizen. 
With prompt action, it will be but a short time before New Or- 
leans occupies a position second only to one of our American cities.