City Scavenger Censured – Aug 13, 1903. The business section of Bemidji is in a very unsanitary condition, and the man supposed to look after the cleanliness of the village has been decidedly lax in carrying out his duties. This is the substance of the report submitted to the village council last night by the board of health, which held a meeting at 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon. The report stated that several buildings near the business center of town needed a thorough cleaning, both inside and out, and that they should be disinfected. It also severely censured the city scavenger for his lax methods in looking after the city’s health, and recommended that the council take some action to make him do his work. There are many foul smelling holes, reeking with the rankest kind of filth, back of some of the business blocks, said the report. It was voted to accept the report and refer it to the city scavenger.
Exploring the Rich History of the Bemidji Area