The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-03-28
LOCAL MATTERS.

"ALARMIfss Formers rSTRssr Dusr ~ Snch !.
the title which has been affixed to the snh,o;,sJ
communication by the writer Of it-..MeI;c,,. j,
The 'slaying Of the dust'' OH Pennsvlsan aysnn
and the side streets Is most certainly dea;rsbe ,nd
We look forward to the day whef; il wilt IS asns
with water from the Great Fails Of The patonoac
Our says that this dus. ..has caused
u-srn OF many Of the members'' of Congress.
This is point about which we are ignorant; but
there is no doubt that Washington is as healthy as
any other city in the Union, 80 far as judgment
can be formed from statistics. The writer, how
ever, proposes remedy for the dust nuisance,
which we trust will not be disregarded. -s''# l.
[coMMuNIcArED.1 g. ~
work was written a few years ago in England
BY DR.. Goodman. physician to the late Queen
Dowager Adelaide, on the subject Of liability and
prevalence of consumption among the people of
London, and other large cities, when compared to
the rural districts and farm houses distant from
public roads, -...r.- &s'tt
He shows that the comparison Is ten to one of
those obtaining pulmonary complaints in London,
from the nhang of the dust of its streets, to those
living out of that city. - g.
He then shows that all those whose employments
compel THEM to live in an atmosphere subj dis is
found in four-mill houses, and those who keep
their head near grindstones, never live, on an av-
erage, to half the age of those whose calling keep
them out of such places and out of the dusty streets
of large cities.
The extract below, from the work of another cele.
brated doctor, is additional evidence:
"Dr. Allison has said that there is hardly an in
stance of mason regularly employed in hewing
stoiies in Edinburgh living free from phthisical
tion, it is recommended to work the stone damp,
and ventilate the work.sheds -
No city of its number of inhabitants has been
moro fatal in causing lung affections and con-
nf
else are such clouds of dust, from the dry earth
and clay between the paving stones, hurled into
the mouths and noses of the passers through Penn
sylvania avenue and the side streets.
1t has caused the death of many of the members
and senators, who have enormously attributed
their diseases to colds, dampness, SO.
Hon. Mr.. Black and Mr.. Calhoun doubtless were
victims; and Mr.. Cay's cough, and MIR. Kings
dences of what Drs. Goodman, Allison, and our
general experience: proves. Well, 10 there no re:
medy for this permanent poison of the windy and
dry weather? There is certainly u i,1.r,,nnlcal
antidote which ought to be applied, and ought to
have been authorized by the late muniicent Con.
gress, who have done so much to their honor for
this city; but we hope it will be the first act of the
next Congress. 1t is to authorize sprinkling ma
chimes sufficient in number, and using sufficient
water to Keep the avenue dust so much n,oistened
that it will not fly off. This process of stopping
those horrd diseases ought to be applied even if It
cost ten thousand dollars year. The manner
that it has been done, of dropping few drops here
and there from one sprinkling cart, and aliowin,
it to get dry and dusty in one place before it came
10 another place OF dust, reminds one of a tea,cup
of water thrown into the sea to increase it's bulk
No; let there be proposals for daily sprinkling to
eHectually moisten the avenue at all times of dav
from day break, (not from rise till after dark,
or the stare showD and not till "sun down.
See Broad,rGy, in New York, done by private
enterprise In the dusty weather it is the only
part OF that city where the consumptive and weak
lup0ed Datient walk with inpp -,
mer.
Another defect | have seen in the sweepine of
this immense Pennsylvania avenue: The sweep
ers seem as if they were employed, not to collect
and lay the dust, but they begin with immense
sweeps OF the broom to drag the dust from the sur
face and from bet,oee the stones and send it in all
dlrections and for the time they are thus divert
ing themselves, one is ANNOYED as if one were 90
ing through the Arabian deserts. had to smile
at the devices OF the friends Of the PHILADELPHIA
doctors. A few years ago they procured an order
that no sprinkling should be done, as it might
make cholera but after it tuas seen that there were
less cases after a small shower that laid the
dust than there was when the atmosphere was
full OF dust, and poisonous Civilizations for lungs,
and coughs, then they reversed the order,
and the wetting of the dust was allowed, and the
citizens could again walk the streets without en-.
dangering their health and lives.
Let the dust be kept efectually down, no matter
what the cost. MEDICUS
FIRE.-Last night, between nine and ten
O'Clock, row OF four new frame houses on New
Jersey avenue, between K and streets, (the pro-
perty of Mr.. Carter Dorsey, of Alexandria, Vir.
ginia.) was destroyed by FIRE. As the houses
were not tenanted, the reasonable inference is that
the incendiary had been at work upon them.
PANORAMA OF THE MISSISSIPPI The vast
amount of geographical knowledge to be gained
from the Panorama of the Mississippi River, at
Iron Hall, should induce every parent in our com.
munity to visit it with his children. The various
cities. towns, and villages admirably repre-
sented, and give better idea of things as they are
than any written description, however vivid, could
convey. Then the splendid scenery-the constant
succession of night and day-the gorgeous sunsets
and beautiful moonlight scenes-all contribute to
charm the beholder with their natural magnifi-
cence. The painting will close this week.
THE ERoPoRT was again exhibited by Mr., Por
ter on Saturday night, at Carusi's Saloon. To see
this miniature, sylphlike vessel, with it's gay and
airy saloon filled with automaton passengers,
Cooking out at the windows,) actually elevated in
the atmosphere, and padding its way in any di-
rectlon by steam power, according to the dictates
of it's own helm, tends to strengthen the hope that
the untirng protector of this means of erial navi-
cation may succeed in bringing it to practical
q
machine on this principle be constructed ca.
Pable of making two trips to California and back
in the course of week, carrying two hundred
passengers; thus. at one hundred dollars berth,
realizing snug profit on the investment. Expert
ments upon large scale will, however, best prove
the practical utility of this mode of aerial naviga.
ton.
ACCIDENTAL laborer named Daniel Barry,
while at work, on Saturday, in the Baptist Church,
Navy Yard, fell with the ceiling on which he was
standing, and was seriously injured, probably be.
yond recovery.
PROPERTY SALEs.-McGuire, auctioneer, re-
Gently sold number of lots in squares five, six
teen' seventeen, thirty-two, forty, one hundred
and four, one hundred and seven one hundred
and sixteen, one hundred and seventeen, one hun
dred and fifty -four, and two hundred nd thirty
eight, at prices ranging from two and quarter to
nine and quarter cents square foot. All these
lNfa ~ h, Esrok WT Il