Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-04-10
the DISTRICT GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATION
Proceedings Before the House Com
mittee To-day.

CANAL.
FrJ. JoseIh Hsnry was sworn, and in response
10 questions testified that he had been familiar
with the " Washington canal Tor twenty-three or
tWenty-four years; has not modified the opin-
ions in regard to the canal EXPIRE sed in his let
ter 10 the Board of Health. dated May Is, lSI |;
believes the policy of filling the canal wise
one; Las not read DIR. Halls published cOmnu-
nlcations in regard TO the canal; Ii is generally
lcalth; the canal as il has existed for years has
leen IOthing more than an open sewer, the tide
lot influencing it except to stir up the delete
rioAs matter contained in IL and render it a still
greater nuisance.
In response to Mr.. Eldridge, witness said he
believes the health OF the city will te improved
by filling up the canal; the evil effects of filling
i; aIpTeheIdcd by DIR. IL all witness thinks may
be entirely Obviated by careful drainage.
In reply to questions by General Chapman,
the professor said that ii water should pass
freely through the canal it would in q measure
tend TO purify IL; it would be OF advantage in
carrying noNiOus matter out OF the canal.
In response to Mr. COOm5s. the WitEess stated
mat III ms opinion, IL the canal were properly
cleaned ont and fresh water flowed through it
IT would lessen the injurious effects.
In reply to a question by Ar. HaTmer, the
witness said he Thought it i'm possible for an
open canal TO exist in city without injurious
results
DE-. c. II. NICHOLS or THE SANE OPINION AS
PROF. HENRY.
DR.. G. II Nichols. superintendent of the eov-
eminent asylum fOr the insane, was sworn, and
testified that he has been i'm charge OF the asy-
passed through the canal iii a row-b0at to aScer-
tain its condition, (but not Ofiicialiyl and came
10 the CONCLUSION that the sewerage OF the city
should be carried out some other way than BIZ
the canal; witness has no doubt in his own mind
that the canal ought 10 be closed up; at any
rate, if kept open, the water in it should be
pure, or the health OF the city would suffer; the
percOiating drainage along the line of the canal
should, of course, be as near perfect possible:
ordinary tile pipe, laid pretty Deep with lateral
branches, would probably be sufficient.
RESPONSE Nlr. EldrilEP, witness said if he
had he matter in charge ana desired to improve
the Lealth OF the city. he would till the canal.
by Mr.. COombs:-Even III the canal was kept
open with wafer flowing through it, the dele
ferrous effects of the deposits from the sewers
would not be wholly neutralZed.
DR.. vERDIs VIEWS.
Or. 4. 8. TeZdi was sworn, and allowed 10 read
his views on tie canal. In his investigations as
a member OF the Board OF Health, and "a a prac-
ticing physician, he has found that the canal is
greatly detrimental to health. The Board of
Health, after conferences with Professors Henry
and Baird, Governor Cooke. General Meigs the
Board of Public Wcrks, and other prominent
as the only possible way of entirely abating the
nuisance. The report goes on at length TO explain
the injurious effects OF the canal, and the rea-
sons in favor OF filling it up.
DR. cox CoNFIEMs THE PRECEDING WITNESSES.
DIS. Cor and Bliss and Ho's. Francis u. Blair,
sr., were sworn.
the canal has been the most fragrant nuisance
which ever existed in any city; witness stated
the action of the Board of Health in declaring
it a nuisance and recommending its filing up;
he filling of the canal would not only improve
the health OF the city, but add to its prosperity;
witness is confident that, had any epidemic pre-
vailed, its injurious effects would have been
greatly aggravated by the canal as il has existed
dredging the canal without increasing the motive
power would only magnify its evils; witness has
/ ,cticed medicine thirty-three years, and has
edited medical journals.
In response to Mr.. Eldridge, witness stated
that in his opinion the filling OF the canal as re-
commended by the Board OF Health is the only
way of dspoSing of the nuisance; does not share i'm
the aPprehenSiOns of DR.. Hall in regard to noxl-
Gus gases arising from the earth over the canal
as earth is the best disinfectant known and
would absorb all such gases.
DIR. BLISS DITTO.
Or. ID. W. Bliss testified that he has been prac-
Using medicine in this city since 1865; is grad
ua'e OF the Western Reserve College, Ohio; dur
Ing the war had charge OF the ArmOry square
hospital, and noticed the deleterioas influences
Of the canal; reported to the medical director of
the army that the malaria from the canal caused
low levers; believes filling the canal the only
way &c dispose of it; two feet of earth over the
filth OF the canal would prevent, in the opinion
OF witness, any evil effects; the dredging of the
canal would be injurious to health because it
would stir up the deleterious matter and increase
the malaria in tie atmosphere.
BY Mr.. Eldridge:-WitneSs believes sewer
along the line of the canal will be sufficient TO
carry of as perceating water, although he DO
not speak as an expert; impure water passing
through two feet of earth becomes pure and
leaves behind with the earth all its efctc prin-
ciPles.
IMPORTANT TESTIMONY OF HON. FEAvCIs p
BLAIR, sR.-THE OPINION OF GEN. JACKSON.
Hon. Francis u. Bi-ir. ST., was examined by
MIR. Chandier:-Has been a resident of WISH
ingtOn since 1880; the canal has always been Il
sTeat nuisance, without any cOmpensating ad-
yantages; in 1892 or 1885, General jackson said
70 witness that the construction of the canal
was great folly, and expressed surprise that
the advantages OF a tide water river front should
be thrown a.ay, and canal built to take its
place ard to infect the city. Here Mr.. Blsirre-
marked, with considerable enthusiasm, 81 have
no sympathy politically with the District gov
eminent, but must believe that the system of
imrrovements at present being carried out is a
genius of the District government. The
parking of the streets is a splendid idea;
witness ne ghbors all complained in regard to
the street improvement, but witness regards
it as a good thing; every street crossing
beyond the War Department is a sewer to drain
the city they have been improved; witness
the present plans of parking and otherwise i'm
proving the city Is carried out, Washington will
be the healthiest and most beautiful city on
earth-Paris, Rome and other European cities
will not compare with it in point of attractive
ness; one of the incidental advantages o. carry
ing out the projected inpro yements is that we
are taking care of the wards OF the nation the
blacks-by giving them work Ia do and edu-
eating them TO become good citizens; we are
spending much money in their behalf now, but
witness hopes the government will reimburse us
al sOmc DtleNSS TIE present system
of improving the city should he fully carried
out; the general government ought OF course to
aid the people of the District in their efforts 10
beautify the capital, because Washington is the
nations city.
Mr.. Chandler here asked Mr.. Blair to tell the
committee something about the 1th-street i'm
provement. Witness here specified the large
number of country roads which lead into 9Th
street, and stated that it is the main avenue to
the city from Maryland, and as such is a very
important thOrOughfare; witness has travelled
the Ith-street road for years; during and for
some time after the war the road was one of the
worst he ever saw; il was so bad that he had
frequently to lend his horses to drag teams out
of the mud where they got stuck fast: 1t was
full OF rayines, and every one OF them was a
trap and great care had to be taken in driving:
witness and his son Montgomery contributed
II COO each 10 make a new road by which thew
could avoid 1th-street road, because il was so
bad; in opinion of witness the necessities of the
city required the expenditures for improve
ments which have been made; regards such ex-
penditures as wise and judiciOus.
In response to Mr.. Eldridge Mr. Blair said he
lad observed the paving Of streets which has
been done, and believes the new system yalua-
BILE; the wood pavements may turn out to be
the best after all, as some OF the stone pave
ments are breaking; the pavement i'm front of
the Arlington hotel is perhaps the best witness
has seen; don't know much about the sewer oe of