That city had better clean its sh!t up!

What does a country do when it is faced with "serious foes of life and health"(58)? When its "health and welfare"(58) are dependent upon swift action?

Suellen Hoy tells us that it goes to war in the chapter "City Cleansing" from her book, Chasing Dirt. It goes to war against unsanitary conditions. "Growth, opportunity and new fortunes" brought about by the Age of Industrialization had brought about "congestion, noise, filth and stench"(60) upon the urban centers activity. This resulted in a fear of the unknown, as the causes of the plagues once experienced in Army camps, were based upon "beliefs"(61) and generalities(60). "Sewer Gas" would become the main culprit for a variety of diseases, especially cholera, which was especially effective at eliminating life.

These epidemics would lead to "massive clean up campaigns"(63) which would bring about the modern sewer system as well as bring about one of the first American women's movements. Though of as "primarily responsible for maintaining a clean, healthy and comfortable home"(72), women were the natural choice to bring sanitary conditions outside to the streets. While extremely stereotypical by today's standards this was embraced by women and would lead to great strides in feminism as well as women's involvement and effect on politics, at a time when they could not even vote.

In a period of close to 30 years sanitary practices that were once "innovations" would quickly become "commonplace"(86) as standards would now dictate that "nothing else would do"(86). Bringing about sanitary ways of disposing of a city's filth and sewage led not only to a cleaner nation but one that was more proud of itself. If cleanliness is truly next to godliness, then the American city of the early twentieth century had come a little closer to the "Pearly Gates".