Berlin — Population, 3,729
Health Officer. — H. C. Rowell
At the upper end of the village a number of families are supplied with water from an aqueduct, the water being conducted from a spring through wooden logs; this is excellent water, and is owned by the Berlin Mills Company. Thirty or forty families, known as Fibreville, are supplied from a well dug in the hillside above, the water being conducted through iron pipes; the quantity is limited, and at times water is pumped from the river to help out. I know nothing of its quality. It is owned by the Forest Fibre Company. About one third of the lower end of the town is supplied from a so-called spring, or brook, through iron pipes. This supply is furnished by private parties. The quantity is limited, and is much discolored during and after rains. Professor Angell made an analysis of this water, but found nothing detrimental, except too large a quantity of organic matter, apparently of a vegetable nature. The remaining families of the town, about three fourths of the whole, are supplied from local springs and wells which must be more or less polluted. Survey and plans are being made for an abundant supply of good water.
About one half mile of main sewer has been laid by the town within the past two years; it is the best salt-glazed pipe, and is thoroughly flushed. Fibreville was sewered by the owners, but they have no flushing arrangement. We have no complete system of sewers, although almost every dwelling has some arrangement for carrying off sink-water; cesspools are almost unknown. While the town is not thoroughly drained, it is favorably situated to secure good drainage and dry cellars. There is not a great amount of low or swampy land. We have no slaughterhouses or offensive trades in the town. There are three schoolhouses in the village; one is heated by steam and the other two by stoves. I think they are well lighted. Two of them are ventilated by means of flues in the chimneys; whether or not it is thorough could only be ascertained by tests. There are no fire-escapes connected with any building in town, to my knowledge. There are three public halls, in all of which the doors swing outward, according to law.
No health regulations were issued this year. Complaints are attended to as promptly as possible. Occasional inspections also are made, and nuisances abated as found. Monthly reports to the State Board of Health have not always been made. Physicians are prompt to notify in cases of diphtheria and scarlet fever, and the law has been fully complied with in these diseases. Physicians do not report other diseases. There have been no contagious diseases in town this year so far. The main sanitary improvement has been the extension of the sewer commenced the year before, in all about one half mile. Some private drains have been put in, and a number of bad places have been filled. The town has already made a move toward complete sewerage and a public water-supply. Our greatest sanitary need is an abundance of good water for domestic purposes, and a complete and thorough system of sewers. I think there should be some law or village regulation to prevent the erection of buildings or dwellings over wet or
swampy land unless there is thorough drainage. More light and more fresh air in some of our tenement houses would also be desirable, and there are undoubtedly cases of over-crowding.
The present sanitary condition of the town is anything but good, owing largely to the lack of water and sewerage. The pitch of the land is very favorable for the location of such works. With a population approaching four thousand, and rapidly increasing, this need is apparent to all. The people have become aroused on this subject, and, from indications, it is evident that the town will soon have an ample supply of good water, and a thorough system of sewerage. Of course a sufficient time must be allowed to carry forward the work legally and systematically. When these works are completed, the place will compare favorably, from a sanitary point, with any town of its size in the State. Until such works are established here, it will be impossible to maintain the town in a good condition, and any board of healthy no matter how untiring in its efforts, will be powerless to prevent the occurrence and spread of contagious diseases. This town is "founded on a rock," and a complete system of water-works and sewerage must be very expensive. Would it not be possible for the State, either by general or special legislation, to assist this and other towns undertaking a work of such magnitude? It seems to me that this is a question worthy of consideration.
About one half mile of main sewer has been laid by the town within the past two years; it is the best salt-glazed pipe, and is thoroughly flushed. Fibreville was sewered by the owners, but they have no flushing arrangement. We have no complete system of sewers, although almost every dwelling has some arrangement for carrying off sink-water; cesspools are almost unknown. While the town is not thoroughly drained, it is favorably situated to secure good drainage and dry cellars. There is not a great amount of low or swampy land. We have no slaughterhouses or offensive trades in the town. There are three schoolhouses in the village; one is heated by steam and the other two by stoves. I think they are well lighted. Two of them are ventilated by means of flues in the chimneys; whether or not it is thorough could only be ascertained by tests. There are no fire-escapes connected with any building in town, to my knowledge. There are three public halls, in all of which the doors swing outward, according to law.
No health regulations were issued this year. Complaints are attended to as promptly as possible. Occasional inspections also are made, and nuisances abated as found. Monthly reports to the State Board of Health have not always been made. Physicians are prompt to notify in cases of diphtheria and scarlet fever, and the law has been fully complied with in these diseases. Physicians do not report other diseases. There have been no contagious diseases in town this year so far. The main sanitary improvement has been the extension of the sewer commenced the year before, in all about one half mile. Some private drains have been put in, and a number of bad places have been filled. The town has already made a move toward complete sewerage and a public water-supply. Our greatest sanitary need is an abundance of good water for domestic purposes, and a complete and thorough system of sewers. I think there should be some law or village regulation to prevent the erection of buildings or dwellings over wet or
swampy land unless there is thorough drainage. More light and more fresh air in some of our tenement houses would also be desirable, and there are undoubtedly cases of over-crowding.
The present sanitary condition of the town is anything but good, owing largely to the lack of water and sewerage. The pitch of the land is very favorable for the location of such works. With a population approaching four thousand, and rapidly increasing, this need is apparent to all. The people have become aroused on this subject, and, from indications, it is evident that the town will soon have an ample supply of good water, and a thorough system of sewerage. Of course a sufficient time must be allowed to carry forward the work legally and systematically. When these works are completed, the place will compare favorably, from a sanitary point, with any town of its size in the State. Until such works are established here, it will be impossible to maintain the town in a good condition, and any board of healthy no matter how untiring in its efforts, will be powerless to prevent the occurrence and spread of contagious diseases. This town is "founded on a rock," and a complete system of water-works and sewerage must be very expensive. Would it not be possible for the State, either by general or special legislation, to assist this and other towns undertaking a work of such magnitude? It seems to me that this is a question worthy of consideration.
