Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-10-25
ROard of Health.
REPORT ON THE POWDER MAGAZINE ABOV


REPORT ON THE POWDER MAGAZINE ABOVE
GEORGETOWN.
regular meeting of the Board of Health was
held last night DIR. q. e. Cox in the chair, and
ID. ID. W. Bliss, secretary. DIR. Bliss, from the
sanitary police committee, to whom was referred
the subject OF procuring quarters for the Board
of Health, recommended the selection of house
NO. 1928 I street, at an annual rental OF 81 800
per annum; adopted.
THE POWDER MAGAZINE.
The health officer, DIR. 2. T. Keene, reported
that he had examined the powder magazine on
the Rockville road, complained of by the resi-
dents in the vicinity, and had found it located
about one and one-half miles from Georgetown
reservoir, on what is called the Tenallytown
road, and about quarter of a mile from the
main road, approached by narrow carriage
way leading also TO the house of Mr. Edward
Brooke, one OF the complainants, standing in a
valley surrounded BY hills, and in one or the
most charming Of the justly celebrated suburbs
OF Georgetown-a locality that will, before
many ysarsI be very popular for suburban
villas. The building is brick, fifteen feet square
and eight feet in height, entirely above the sur
face OF the ground, walls eighteen inches thick.
with very light roof OF wood, formerly COW
cred with shingles, but now with slate. Ii
was built about fifty years ago, under the
direction of a regular army engineer; has
always been the property of the corporation of
Georgetown, and is now leased to the Dupont
Powder Company, Of Philadelphia, of which
DIR. j. A. Richie, of Georgetown, is agent.
1t contains about $500 pounds of powder the
usual quantity on hand. The stock is replen-
oftener than three times a week. On the inner
door is posted q notice warning people not 10
smoke or light matches in the immediate vicin-
ity. The nne quality OF powder Is In small
Of the building; the blasting powder in larger
casks, in the center, on the ground. He learned
that on one occasion, some time since, one
OF the men engaged in storing powder, being
Intoxicated. was seen to light a match In the
doorway. He il also Informed by one of the
compliments that irresponsible men are fire.
IL G az IN azin Wit tha boz 20
get powder, which charge the agent denies.
The lightning-rOd which descends outside the
back wall is not insulated. The inner door is of
iron, securely fastened. The nearest habita-
ton is a small frame house fifty yards distant;
the next is seventy five yards, the third and last
IN the immediate vicinity Is one hundred and
fifty yards from the magazine. On the hills a
quarter of a mile and more away, overlooking
the valley, are the residences of the sgners OF
this petition for the removal of the magazine.
From the records of the board he found this
powder-house was condemned on the 18th of
August, Isl |, as nuisance, endangering life
and limb, and that a ommittee of the whole
board was authorized to visit the place and re
port. On December IA, 1871, Col. VIM. A. Cook
attorney for the District, rendered an opinion
to the Governor, "That the board Of health
cannot require its removal" The board, on a
subsequent occasion, ordered its removal, and
granted the Dupont company sixty days for
that purpose, upon DIR. Ritchie's application.
The question was afterwards submitted with all
the papers, to the attorneys of the board OF
health, at that time Messrs. Fisher and Har-
rington, since which no action has been taken
He IL of the opinion that precautions to prevent
accident are taken by the agent while moving
the powder; but also believes that, in case OF
explosion, damage TO property, possibly serious
or fatal injury TO the immediate neighbOrs
might result. Such being the facts, he recon
meHds that the proper authority require the
company to remove their powder house TO some
locality not now nor likely to be near human
habitatiOns.
The report was referred to the attorney for
his opinion.
Communications relating to clothing DESTROYED
during the smallpox epidemic were referred to
the finance committee. Adjourned.