One of the major concerns for a growing city is sanitation. Poor sanitation can lead to the outbreak of deadly diseases like dysentery, but can also simply create an eyesores and horrible smells. In order to combat this issue, three city councilmen, one member of the city’s health committee, a city marshal, and a reporter set off to uncover the worse sanitation practices they could find. To the detriment of at least one of these men’s health, they were quite successful.
An article from the Joplin News Herald in 1881 about the city's sanitation.
Sources: Joplin Daily Herald
