1867-8.] 
CITY DOCUMENT. 
[No. 30. 
REPORT 
UPON TH? 
SANITARY EFFECTS 
FILLING THE COVE BASIN 
IN THE' 
CITY OF PROVIDENCE. 
By EDWIN M. SNOW, M. D., 
SUPERINTENDENT OF HEALTH. 
House of Representatives, January 21, 1868,-Ordered to be Printed. 
PROVIDENCE: 
PROVIDENCE PRESS COMPANY, PRINTERS TO THE STATE. 
1868. z Office of the Superintendent of Health, I 
Providence, Dec. 30, 1867. I 
Hon. AMOS C. BARSTOW, 
Chairman of the Joint Committee on the Cove Lands : 
Dear Sir :-I herewith transmit the "opinion" 
which you ask for, in accordance with the Resolution of the General Assembly, 
passed at the May Session, 1867, in relation to the "Effects of filling up the Cove 
Basin upon the public health of the city of Providence." 
I have added a few reasons, aside from sanitary considerations, why the 
Cove Basin should not be filled up, which I trust may meet the views of your 
committee. 
Respectfully, 
EDWIN M. SNOW, Supt. of Health. REPORT. 
THE EFFECTS OF FILLING UP THE COVE BASIN, UPON THE PUBLIC HEALTH 
OF THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE. 
In the consideration of this question it is important to understand 
precisely what effect, if any, the present condition of the Cove Basin 
has upon the public health in Providence. 
During the last twelve years it has been my special business to 
watch the progress of disease in the city of Providence; to ascertain 
the causes of any sickness that may exist in the city; and to use 
measures, so far as possible, to prevent sickness, and to remove the 
causes of it. 
During this period, my attention has constantly been given to the 
Cove Basin, and I have frequently, and at all seasons, had occasion 
to examine its condition. I have also, from time to time; examined 
the records of mortality, to ascertain if any disease, which might be 
caused by the Cove, was prevailing in any locality. I have also, from 
time to time, made out extended and minute tables showing the mor- 
tality from various zymotic diseases in various sections of the city, 
and also showing the proportions of such mortality to the population. 
It is not necessary, in this connection, to give the figures; but it is 
sufficient to give the result, which is this:- 
That the proof, to my mind, is positive beyond all possible doubt, 
that the Cove Basin, in its past and present condition, has had, and 4 
PUBLIC DOCUMENT. 
has now, no injurious effect whatever upon the public health of the 
city. I have been wholly unable to find the slightest reason, for be- 
lieving that any epidemic disease, or any single case of any disease, 
has been caused by the Cove. 
This result is so different from the popular opinion in relation to 
the subject, that it may be well to consider, briefly, what is the actual 
condition of the Cove Basin. 
It is common to hear the Cove spoken of as containing the concen- 
tration of all filth, and as giving off continually, in all directions, the 
most offensive odors which, in the imagination of the people, are filled 
with deadly poison to the public health. 
It is true that for some years past, the Cove Basin has been very 
much neglected by the city authorities, and it has become common to 
see old boots and shoes, tubs, buckets, barrels, baskets, tin-ware and 
crockery-ware scattered in every direction in it. Not unfrequently 
dead cats and dogs are seen; the whole making a spectacle offensive 
to the sight, and sometimes to the smell. But these things are no 
necessary part of the Cove Basin, and so far as relates to the public 
health, there is hardly the shadow of a foundation, except in the im- 
agination, for the common public opinion in relation to it. Those who 
live near the Cove only occasionally perceive any offensive odors from 
it. I have again and again, at all seasons, examined the Cove when 
complaints have been made in relation to it. In many cases I have 
found that the offensive odor came from dead cats or dogs, or other 
animals which did not belong in the Cove, and which should have been 
removed. In a very few instances I have found that an offensive 
odor arose from the outlets of the sewers into the Cove; but as these 
sewers are flooded at every tide, this can happen only very rarely. 
These same sewers are far more frequently offensive, and to an infi- 
nitely greater degree, in the central portions of the city than in the 
Cove. 
Aside from these two causes, it is extremely rare that any offensive 
odor can be perceived arising from the Cove Basin. But when the 
imagination is allowed to over-rule reason and common sense, it is 
not difficult to believe the most absurd fictions. We have a curious 
illustration of this in connection with this subject. 
It is a common saying, and is fully believed by numbers of our 
citizens, that myriads of mosquitoes are bred in the Cove Basin, and 
are a great nuisance to the neighborhood. It must require a truly 
credulous'imagination to believe that a pond in which the water is THE COVE BASIN' - PUBLIC HEALTH. 
5 
constantly changing and constantly in motion, and through which the 
salt water flows freely twice every day, can breed mosquitoes. The 
truth is, there are no more mosquitoes in that neighborhood than in 
other portions of the city. But there are about the Cove, myriads of 
a kind of fly, very much resembling mosquitoes, but without the 
power of stinging. These are often so numerous as to cover the 
sides of buildings and blacken the walls of rooms at some distance 
from the Cove; but they are not mosquitoes, and they do not come 
from the Cove, but probably from the sand-banks in that vicinity. 
But to return to the subject of the influence which the condition of 
the Cove Basin has upon the public health. As already stated, facts 
prove that the public health is not injured by it; but there are reasons, 
obvious to those familiar with the subject, why no injury results from 
it, and why none could result if the condition of the Cove was much 
worse than it is. 
In the first place, the Cove is a tide-water basin, into which the sea 
water flows freely, covering its entire surface, twice in every twenty- 
four hours. Of course its condition must be totally different from 
that of a similar basin in which the water is always fresh. There 
can be no stagnant water in the Cove, and no malarious poison, such 
as is generated by stagnant fresh watgr, can arise from it. 
Again, the free circulation of air which the large, unobstructed 
space of the Cove permits, is sufficient to prevent any injurious effects 
from the condition of the Cove Basin, even if it were much more offen- 
sive than it is at present. The westerly and northerly winds which 
flow freely through this unobstructed space, and from it through the 
streets leading to it, not only prevent all possible injury from nui- 
sances which might exist in the Cove, but also reach, through this 
opening, the streets, houses, courts and yards of a considerable por- 
tion of the city, and are of immense value in preserving the public 
health. It is not only a " breathing place," such as other cities are 
seeking to obtain at great expense; but it is vastly better for this 
purpose than most cities can possess, because its space is unobstructed 
by trees or buildings, and because it opens a free passage for the 
w'inds, through the centre of the city, between the ocean and the 
country. 
It is difficult to demonstrate the importance of this free circulation 
of air in the preservation of health, though most people are willing to 
acknowledge it. It is well known that some of the worst epidemics 
are peculiarly fatal when there is a general stagnation of the atmos- 6 
PUBLIC DOCUMENT. 
phere, and there can be little doubt that if a constant and brisk 
movement of the air could be kept up where the worst nuisances 
exist in our cities, these nuisances would be almost powerless for evil. 
The conclusion to which I am forced in relation to this subject is, 
that not only is there no injury to the public health from the present 
condition of the Cove Basin; but that even if serious and offensive 
nuisances existed there, the free circulation of air which now exists 
would prevent any possible injury from them. 
Let us now consider what would be the effects of filling up the 
Cove, upon the public health of the City of Providence. 
Of course, in relation to future events, there are no facts to guide 
us, and no possibility of positive proof. We can only give opinions, 
and the reasons for them. But sometimes, and I think in this case, 
the opinions and the reasons for them seem to be so much in accord- 
ance with truth and common sense, that they have with us, and ought 
to have, all the weight and influence of positive demonstrations. 
The filling up of the Cove Basin involves : - 
1. The construction of comparatively narrow channels for the 
passage of the two rivers that now flow through it. 
2. It involves the removal and deposit of vast quantities of dirt 
and filth. 
3. It involves the conversion of a broad, open sheet of water, into 
a level plain of land. 
4. It involves the planting of trees and the obstruction of the free 
circulation of air that now exists. 
5. There is too much reason for believing that if the water is con- 
verted into land, it will, at no distant period, be covered with buildings. 
The effects of this upon the public health will be- 
1. Newly-made ground is of itself frequently a source of disease, 
especially when an epidemic is present. 
2. The circulation of air which is now so free, will be effectually 
obstructed not only in the space occupied by the Cove, but also in 
all the streets leading from it, which include a considerable portion of 
the city. The injurious effects of this obstruction to the motion of 
the air would be incalculable. I have no doubt that it would, (to a 
greater or less extent depending upon the amount of the obstruction,) 
cause a positive and perceptible increase in the amount of sickness 
and of mortality in the city, and a perceptible and permanent reduction 
in the public health of the city, from its present standard. THE COVE BASIN-PUBLIC HEALTH. 
7 
3. If the Cove Basin is filled up, the channels that are left for the 
passage of the rivers, will immediately become fresh, water canals. 
The tide will rise and fall in them, but the salt water will flow into 
them only until it meets and dams up the fresh water. As there will 
be no large basin of water above from which the water may rush out 
with every falling tide, these fresh water canals will usually have very 
little, if any, current, and consequently they will speedily fill up. In 
a very short time the fresh water mud and filth would be exposed at 
low water, making a nuisance really offensive, and actually dangerous 
to the public health, which it is not at present. 
It is well known that stagnant fresh water, and filth deposited in 
fresh water, are far more dangerous to health than the same filth in 
salt water. I have no doubt that, at the present moment, the fresh 
water canal, between the Cove and Mill street, is far more dangerous 
to the public health than the Cove itself, and it is probably an actual 
cause of sickness. 
4. If the Cove Basin is filled up, instead of being, as at present, a 
comparatively cool and comfortable locality, and a source of comfort 
to a large portion of the city, it will be converted into a level plain, 
upon which the sun's rays will be concentrated in warm weather, and 
the free circulation of the air being cut off, it will become a most 
uncomfortable, and unhealthy locality. 
Reviewing what I have written thus far, it has been my object to 
show:- 
First. That the Cove Basin, in its present condition, is not detri- 
mental, in any respect, to the public health of the City of Providence. 
Second. To show' that the Cove Basin of itself is not the offensive 
nuisance which many persons believe it to be. 
Third. To show that if the Cove Basin were vastly more filthy 
than it is at present, the free circulation of air through it, and the 
ever-changing salt water tide in it, would prevent any injury to the 
public health. 
Fourth. To show that if the Cove Basin is filled up, it will imme- 
diately become a serious injury to the public health; an injury which, 
from the nature of the case, can never be removed. 
Looking solely at the question of the public health, it might be 
proper for me to close here: but there are two or three additional 
objections to filling the Cove Basin, which I would beg permission to 
name:- 8 
PUBLIC DOCUMENT. 
1. When the Cove is filled up there will be no tide-water basin 
left above the harbor, as at present. Now, the accumulated water 
rushes out of the Cove with every falling tide, and produces a great 
effect in keeping the channel clear, from the bridges to Fox Point. 
It may be proper to note that this natural effect of the tide-water 
basin has already been greatly modified and lessened by the dam at 
the outlet of the Cove (which should never have been made); by the 
numerous posts driven to support the bridges; by the permanent 
mooring of old hulks below the bridges; and by changes in the har- 
bor line between the bridges and Fox Point. But we cannot consider 
these questions at this time. 
If the Cove Basin is filled, the whole harbor, from the Cove to Fox 
Point, will be converted into a sluggish canal. The tide will rise and 
fall in it; but there will be no strong current, except when there are 
heavy freshets from above, or southerly gales from below. The 
deposit of mud will be rapid, and will soon fill up the channel, from 
Weybosset Bridge to Fox Point. 
The absolute necessity of tide-water basins above harbors for their 
preservation, has been demonstrated in other places,* and we have in 
our own harbor an excellent illustration of their value. The large 
tide-water basin extending from India Bridge to Pawtucket, has 
always kept the channel open below India Bridge, and deep enough 
for the largest vessels; and it will probably always continue to do so, 
as the tide-water basin is too large for the cupidity of man to fill up. 
It is extremely desirable that, on this point, the Committee of the 
General Assembly should obtain the opinion of a United States engi- 
neer, as contemplated in the Resolution passed at the May Session, 
1867. It seems to me impossible for the General Assembly to act 
intelligently without full information upon this point. 
2. It is only a few months since, (February, 1867,) that we had a 
startling demonstration of the value of the Cove Basin, and of the 
absolute necessity of keeping it open with all its present capacity. 
A heavy rain at that time, caused a large freshet of water to flow 
into the harbor from the rivers above, and especially from the Woon- 
asquatucket river. The present passage of the rivers to the harbor 
was insufficient to carry off the water as fast as it accumulated. The 
Cove Basin, with its immense capacity, was filled, and the back-water 
* See Reports to the City Council of Boston, and to the Legislature of Massachu- 
setts, upon the filling of the Back Bay lands, and its effects upon Boston Harbor. THE COVE BASIN - PUBLIC HEALTH. 
9 
flooded the valley for a mile and a half, or more, above the Cove; 
carrying off bridges, flooding cellars, and manufacturing establish- 
ments, and causing the destruction of a great amount of property in 
the city and in Olneyville. 
Owing to a partial obstruction at the outlet of the Cove, by ice, 
the water did not flow off as freely as it Would otherwise have done; 
but the large capacity of the Cove Basin, and of the tide-water basin 
which still remains unfilled above the Cove, was sufficient to contain an 
immense amount of water, and thereby relieve, to a great extent, the 
valley above. It is certain that if the Cove Basin, at that time, had 
been filled up, as is now proposed by some persons, the channel would 
have been entirely insufficient to contain the water; it would have 
risen several feet higher at Olneyville than it did; it would have 
covered the Cove lands; and would have rushed in mighty torrents 
through Dorrance street and other streets of the city, between Mar- 
ket Square and Aborn street, causing immense damage. 
3. A similar illustration of the importance of keeping the Cove 
Basin open, often comes to us in an opposite direction. It is well 
known that, several times every year, we have southerly and south- 
easterly gales, which raise the tide-water to the level of the Wharves 
on South Water and West Water streets. But at these times, the 
water rushes under the bridges into the Cove, the capacity of which 
is sufficient to keep the water down, so that, generally, very little 
damage is caused by these gales. But if the Cove Basin is filled up, 
this partial relief will be cut off, and we may expect that, several 
times every year, the tide will fill the cellars on South Water and 
West Water streets, and will rush through the streets of the Fourth 
and Fifth Wards of the city causing great damage. This danger 
arises, perhaps chiefly, from the shape of the harbor which grows 
narrower from Fox Point to Weybosset bridge. The result of this 
is, that in Southerly gales, the water in the broad expanse below Fox 
Point is driven into a space constantly contracting in width, and thus 
accumulates much more than it would if the harbor was of the same 
width between the two points. 
4. A fourth and last reason for keeping the Cove Basin open, with 
its present capacity, I will merely mention; but I cannot dwell upon it. 
If the Cove Basin is kept open, and kept covered with water, it is 
the greatest ornament the city possesses. It surpasses in beauty the 
public squares of all other cities in this country; it attracts the notice 
and commands the admiration of strangers more than anything else in 10 
PUBLIC DOCUMENT. 
the city; and I know of persons of good taste from other places, who 
would consider the destruction or contraction of the Cove Basin in 
Providence, as a great public loss. 
The conclusions, in relation to the whole subject, to which I 
am forced, and of which I have not the least doubt, are briefly as 
follows: - 
1. The filling up of the Cove Basin, as proposed, would prove a 
great, immediate, and permanent injury to the public health of the 
City of Providence. 
2. It wogld prove the complete destruction, for purposes of navi- 
gation, of the harbor, from Weybosset Bridge to Fox Point. 
3. It would put the property, in a considerable portion of the 
city, into imminent and constant danger from freshets and from south- 
erly gales. 
4. It would destroy one of the greatest and the most attractive 
ornaments that the city contains. 
Such would be the certain effects of filling up the Cove Basin, as is 
proposed, while the contraction of its limits, to any extent whatever, 
would produce precisely similar results, and to an extent in exact 
proportion to the extent of the contraction. 
I sincerely trust, then, that the Cove will not be filled up:-that 
its present limits will not be contracted; and that thus, a great 
calamity to the health, to the prosperity, and to the beauty of our 
city may be avoided. 
EDWIN M. SNOW, M. D., 
Superintendent of Health. 
Providence, December 24, 1867.