Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-04-02
WASHING TON NEWS AND GOSSIP,

WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP
The Estioral Ho:el-Ths iooa' ion of Wash
iEgton Las always been celeb ated for its pure
air and health Want of judgment, ignorance
or neglect, either in individual o. the corpo-
rate authorities, has caused the trouble whic b
has bean Sd FERROUS natter to the Na.iona
Hotel. To construct al hotel with every co.,
Ven.eEce and comfort, innumerable windows
for ventilation and an abundance of lure
water passing through it, with sewers conye.
inert for the reception Of filth, are neces.
ssTy. Thus constructed, to become in a cord:.
ton to be avoided as the Upas tree, and th at
suddenly, could only be produced by the brick
sewers having become thoroughly saturated
with the contents CT the water closets. We
do not know that there are brick sewers in
the cellars, or beneath the hotel If any exist
We feel confident that the present proprietor
IL not aware Of IT, or they would long since
have been removed; still, il would be well to
examine ard ascertain, and if bricks are found
saturated and offensive, either in a wall,
pavement, CT sewer, they should te removed
Immediately, Gas 10 whitewashing or cleans
ing will svail) and the arth in their vicinity,
If offensive, be replaced by clean clay Surely
there are those in the vicinity Of the hotel
who could give some idea of the interior sew.
erage, and, Information may be obtained from
tie various plumbers and sewer constructors
who have st different times been employed on
the premises. All sewers passing through the
interior Of house, intended for water closets
should he Of motal.
When the above suggestions are attended
to, and the house cleansed and yer tiated
through the windows, the hotel will be restor
ed to its former position. Tie idea Of arsenic
having found its way into the water or feed is
erroneous. The poison was mixed With the
food ard in sueh water as was EXPOSED for
time in buckets or pitchers, there can be no
doubt. ltwas mcst deletsrious poison, gene.
rated and exhaled from the water sewers,
having been absorbed by al! solids and fluids
exposed to lie influence 10 the cellars of the
hotel. See the evidence of The hotel cooks
who were most affected and most CO u:ious in
preparing their food, as we'll as most exposed
to the deieterious gases; hence, those who
only slept in the hotcl we're affected by inhal
ing the deleterioGs gases, and those rho only
ate in the hotel were affected by the food and
water having been saturated by the gases :;
one individual who only slept in the hotel.
with window open, esespsd unirjured.
The Fsir.-Whils the recen. protracted ex.
hibition Of the Washington City Mechanics
Institute has added something to its treasury.
ana has been source Of great erj yyment to
perhaps twenty thousand citizens and stran
gers, young and old, male and femals, is has
been Of Infinite service to this community in q
way which the general observer will hardly
appreciate for some time to come. Thus. il
mas fanilisriIed Thousands with improved
methods and m0des-#ith the adyautaees Of
and the means for, saving Labor and improving
IN the current methods of accomplishing a
multitude Of things, ordinary and particular
From Clipping bar iron instaptaneously by the
application Ct the strength of single indi-
Viouai to an irgenous inacbine-a very useful
oPeTstlon IN hundred workshops and hard
ware stores around uT-down to a convenient
ana economical way of generating sufficient
Onifiant gas to supply chamber lamp, an
Infinite amount Of really useful inform alton
has been scattered broadcast throughout this
community through this exhibition, all Of
Whic1, sooner or later, will work economical
and comfortable and agree able changes for our
fel!Ow-eit.zeDs
We are withCu. space in which to enlarge
upon this tGeme yet We certainly realize in
OCr minds eve the vast improvemerts -
Wa:hingtCn's methods and modes, businesc
AID domestic, to result from the eagerness
with which the visitors at the exhibition hung
over and carefully scanned every useful as
well IS ornamental or curious thing there
shown.
Tie effect Of the affair On exhibitors from
distance was most happy, and cannot fail to
increase the disposition Of the ingenious and
enterfrising in all sections Ct the Union to
brirg hither annually specimens Of their me.
chanical and artistic skill, to be inspected by
the thousands Of people of taste, experience,
wealth and influence over the popular mind
a. oome, who, in the winter, are in the habit
VI e0hgregating at the Federal Metropolis, Ss
IN me sumner, atthe leading watering places
Inc minnesota Seat Of Government Qres
lion we hear that this question has bean
brought before theAttorney Oeneralt bronob. an
appheation from the Marshsl of the Tsr,i.o,v
Tor INSTRUCTIONS as whether he is legally bopnd
to obey the (alIeged) Law of the Ts,,;,o,v
directing that from aud after the Alb Of Nav
ps1t, the United States territorial cHicers