March 14, 1916, marked a somber day for the citizens of Marshalltown, Iowa. It was a day of reckoning, a day when the dark underbelly of the town’s sanitation system was exposed for all to see. A day when the scourge of ‘intestinal stagnation’ reared its ugly head, leaving in its wake a trail of suffering and woe. The Evening Times-Republican had warned its readers of the dangers of neglecting one’s internal drainage system, but it seems that many had ignored the call to arms. The consequences were dire: dull skin, splitting headaches, stuffy colds, foul breath, and acid stomachs plagued the residents. It was as if the very lifeblood of the town had been sullied by the stench of neglect. The Jealousy of 1020 a No 5 Je Moines Mail, the Chicago and St Express, and the Chicago Filter had all stopped in Marshalltown, but it seemed that none of them had brought the cure for this poisonous plague. The people of Marshalltown were left to face the music, to confront the reality of their own stagnation. It was a day that would not soon be forgotten, a day that would go down in history as a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining a healthy internal drainage system.
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Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Category: Public Corruption
- Era: Historical
- Source: Library of Congress — Chronicling America ↗
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