PETERSFIELD
To the Editor of the Portsmouth Times and Naval Gazette.
Sir, —Is Petersfield healthy? has been a question put for some time past, but has never been satisfactorily answered! I unhesitatingly say it is not, from the filthy state of the drains, gutters, &c., receiving, as these carriers do, animal and other matter, so readily made infectious, particularly from the weather we have had, and are still subjected to. Then it said, why not remove the evil? It surely cannot be any mercenary feeling that keeps us in this feverish state, so prejudicial to health, and prevents the powers that be, or that ought to be, from stepping forward and endeavouring to arrest the insidious enemy whose avocations has not been asleep here.
We have hitherto been liberal in subscriptions—to wit,—the Church Organ Fund, the National School Fund, the Town Clock, the new Infant School, and lastly, the Cemetry.
The clock is now ready to strike the hour, and the waiting to receive the mortal part of humanity, struck down from this cause or the other. Then why should we not be up, and endeavouring to do that by which only life is made truly comfortable, namely, to sweeten our streets, and remove, as far as we can, the chance of infectious disease!
If Rifle Corps are necessary against the open enemy, surely, in the name of common sense, it is absolutely necessary to protect ourselves against the insidious foe, who strikes without ceremony, without warning—regardless of station, sex, or age.
We say that Petersfield ought to be as healthy as her neighbourhood is beautiful —situated, as the town is, on a spur of the Boro’ Hill, running from west to east, as it were, along the summit of the hog’s-back. On the right, at a little distance from the hill, runs a rivulet in the same direction, and also one on the left, parallel thereto, leaving the town between, and declining regularly on to the heath, thus giving the greatest facility for PERFECT DRAINAGE, and offering the opportunity of making the town as healthy as any in England.
It is clear that a responsibility must rest somewhere, and I trust that it may not be called into question—that we may not be continually crying Wolf! Wolf!! till we awaken from our slumber, and find the wolf at our door!!!
I do not apologise, Mr. Editor, for asking you to insert this letter in your respectable paper, as I believe you to be an advocate for improvement in every sense of the word.
I am, Sir,
Your very obedient Servant,
ONE OF THE SUFFERERS.
Petersfield, 28th July, 1859.
P.S.— I had omitted to state amongst the above-mentioned improvements, that we have a Gas Company, and that the town is now also the principal station on the London and Portsmouth line of Railway.