Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-02-22
WHAT THIS COMMITTEE WAS APPOINTED TO


re TO be opened such a. the management of
the asylum, &c, sc. When are we to stop and
where?
MIR. Roosevelt.-Has any further memorial
been introduced in Congress and referred 20 u:
Mr.. Green.-Yes, sir. He then read the Letter
OF Rev. j. W. Green, presented in the House by
Mr. Farnsworh, and referred to the District of
Columbia committee.
MIR. Co,ton.-we,I, is there anything in that
abe ut the Washington asylum.
The letter was read by Mr.. Williams. II
makes all kinds of charges against the Board OF
Public Works, but has nothing in it about the
Mr.. Eldridge said he was i'll favor of receiving
the testimony.
Judge Poland said lie understood the Cover
nor APP ointed the commissioners of the asylum,
but he did not think he exercised any control
over them.
General Chapman said he did not think that
Governor Cooke desired this testimony TO be
kept from the committee, As so much of it had
all eaCy gone in, in, he thought the Governor
would desire the remainder TO be given the
committee, and he (Gen. Chipman) felt CONT
dent the Governor would be able to Sustain
himself.
GROCERIES.
IT. i. Darts. sworn.-Witness made a PROPOSE
tion To Governor Cooke to furnish the asylum
with groceries. in August last, at 20 per cent.
less than being paid at that time; witness
had been furnishing the asylum previously;
the custom was Withdrawn; witness went to see
the Governor, who replied that he did not know
that his firm was furnishing the asylum, if he
had he would not have directed the intendent to
intended TO put An advert meut in the paper
proposing 70 supply the asylum at - per cent.
less than was being paid; the Governor got an
gry at that remark; witness offered Mr. Hody-
son, tie intendent a lot OF herring at 50 per
barrel; witness furnished the asylum with pro-
visions during Mr.. Emery's administration.
BY Mir. Chandier:--Had no direct knowledge
a. TO what prices were being paid, but knew that
his firm sold goods to the parties who did furnish
the IN 10 the sylum; the Governor said he would
have a talk with the commissioners about it;
pff mos LnI thp int 6ppr C1u ha hal
dealing with them; he replied you will have to
see the Governor; witness purchased those her
ring for the purpose of supplying the asylum.
Mr.. Williams.-Well, gentlemen we have been
here
TWO HOURS IN THE FISH BUSINESS.
i think We had better get at something else.
bic merchandise.
Or. J. C. Hall, sworn:-Has practiced medi-
cine here 10 years; had given his attention to the
canal both as physician and citizen;
TIE CANAL
occupies the seat of a natural water course es-
pecially that portion of it between Sd street and
with the means of drainage which nature has
provided, and he feared that the public health
would be injured if the plan contemplated and
now in progreSs should be carried out: il the
canal be filed up and the sub-soil DRAINAGE pre
vented, there would be "A marsh there which
would be OF great injury to health. DIR. Hall
quoted from reports of various boards of health
Of other cities III support OF this theory; witness
had resided upon the avenue for Is wears; be-
fore the canal was made intermittent fever was
prevalent, on the south side of the avenue espe-
cially; since the canal had been made no part
OF the city had been fIeer from NAL ar al diseases
than that portion along the canal; the heights
north OF the city were notorious for malara dis
eases, caused by the malaria from the low
ground north of y street; Missouri avenue had
been free from malarial diseases; thought the
canal could be made means OF health, a source
of profit, and an ornament to the city; Is or 20
millions gallons of water could be introduced in
the canal from Rock creek, which was as pure
as any spring water; the arching of Tiber creek
would entirely ObstruCt the sub-Soil DRAINAGE
which should be provided Tor.
BY Mr. Roosevelt Did not think the cut in
r street was OF any benefit TO health; the plan
10 contract the roadway and terrace or widen
pavements ia front of houses was injurious to
heath; grass plats in front of houses were simply
huge sponge in front of each house TO keep il
DAMP; witness referred to the last report of the
state board OF health OF Massachusetts In sup
port OF this theory; witness would not have any
cultivated soil within ten feet of the walls of a
house; the higher rooms are above the ground
the more healthy they are, especially in times
OF the prevalence of ASiatic cholera and inter
mittent diseases; the terraces in front of houses
would not be injurious provided the ter
race was not against the wall of the
house; had examined tile Missouri avenue
sewer; did not think much of II.
witress referred to the plan pre- red sOme wears
since by Mr.. kluss for sewering bv the side of
the canal; thought that report an able and sci
entlfc one; advocated the digging of a canal
north OF the city to drain that section. Witness
had neither personal nor political aptinathies.
never held an Office, nor made a dollar out Of
the government OF corporation, and snake
merely as good citizen; but he thought fer
rible doom was pending over this city on ac-
count OF these improvements, and before these
changes be made he thought that scientific men
should be consulted. In filling up the canal a
marsh bad been covered up which would prove
secret source OF disease. All of that vegeta-
bic matter should have been removed in the
first instance. InnarrOwing the canal piles had
been driven along the north side At low tide
the heads OF those piles were at least one foot
out OF water, and would soon decay.
BY Mr.. Green:-The simple plan for the i'm
prOvemsnt of the canal was to dredgc il ont
All these plans for flushing the canal should not
he permitted, as all matter washed out of il
would form bars in the river Once cleaned ont
the canal could be kept dredged at an expense
OF SIS 600 per annum.
By Mr.. Chandler:-Wa as opposed to narrouino
tne canal; did not think large portion of the
island was made ground; did not believe there
could be any system of drainage equal to an
open canal.
Joscph c. G. Kennedy, recalled-Tbona,,
some of the finest trees in the city had been
needlesSly cut away. Witness expOstulated
against 1T; would not take Al 900 apiece for those
IN front OF his house; did not know of any thing
the Board OF Public Works did which was good
thought no wood pavement would last over ten
wears; had taken no part in the movement for
an Investigation.
John Grinder swOrn.-Thought the work dane
upon F street was injurious TO the property.
AdolPh CiusS sworn.-Did not have charge of
the improvements to
THE MORRISON BUILDING:
audited the bids; did not remember the exact
amount of the cost; measured the work ami
gave an opinion as to its value.
THAT EEEF AGAIN
j. y. TGrReU swOrn.-Submitted bids to fur
nsh beet to the asylum at six cents Der mound
and pork at seven, eight and twelve cents per
pound; offered prime cuts at fifteen cents per
pound; witness understood that he was the low
est bidder; called on one OF the commissioners
who told witness his bid was not Responsible:
witness replied that he was a responsible con-
tractor, and had been furnishing the govern
ment for five years; witness now had contract
with the government to furnish beef at ten
cents per pound; contemplated furnishing the
asylum with necks and shins.
BY Gen. Chipman:-Ought to receive Is cents
per I'D. Tor the beef he Is furnishing the govern
ment Wv s
H. r. Sear1e, sworn.-witness was the archi.
tect Tor
, THE MORRISON BUILDINGS:
the bills for everything furniture snittoons
carpets and construction OF fre-proof buiIdins
&c., including everything, vas Ss4 600: tie
amount appropriated was SiS, 900; witness made
hasty estimate for that sum; when he made
the estimate guessed at the amounts Of MANY
Mr.. Roosevelt called attention to the answer
OF Governor Cooke to the intefrogatory as to the
cost OF the Morrison building, that SIS 7a0 had
pSeh appropriated. which amount had been ex.
hended, and Mr. Roosevelt sisted he thought