National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-01-31
BOARD OF HEALTH.
THE SALE OF EXPLOSIVE OILS TO BE
REGULATED.


REGULATED.
The Board Of Health held regular meetin
at their rooms last evening, DR.. Q. g. Cox, pres
dent, in the chair, and all the members present.
DR.. Verdi, from the sanitary committee, I
when was referred the ordinance to inquire int
the collection of ice from the waters Of Roc
creek, into which flows the refuse of several fat
tories, reported that the health officer, after care
full inquiry, was unable to find that any pcrso
was collecting ice from the creek.
The report was accepted. q. -
DR.. Verdi, from the Committee on the subject 0
tho authority of the board to regulate the sale
explosive oils, submitted report, which con
In making thorough Investigations tho commit
tee has found that the United States Congress
has in q section in the internal revenue act o
tho following enactment relating to the subjec
of dangerous kerosene, benxine, etc.
"Sec. .: And se it further enacted, That n.
Ing oils or shall knowingly sell or keep for sale Of
offer for sale oils made from petroleum for iliumi
mating purposes, inflammabie at less tempera
person so doing shall be neld to be guilty Of mis-
demeanor, and on conviction thereof by indict
ment or presentment in any court Of the Unitet
punished by fine Of not less than 600 nor NOR,
than $500, and by imprisonment for term Of no
less than six months, nor more than three years.
Of the board resaTdng the validity q saci
Law, the committee give the case Of the Unitet
States We. De Witt, in which Chief Justice Chast
asUn rea.nE to
of the states, and that accordingly 1t can ONLY
have effect when the Legislative authority Of Con
tse o.
lace, United States Reports, 1870, p. ~ Her,
they have the law and the prophet.
tSs board
the Fire Department, or even citizens to see tina
this law ID reinforced.
In consequence Herewith the committee re
specially recommend the immediate appoint
ment Of q suitable person to inspect and test thu
various oils for sale At retail or wholesale within
the District Of Columbia and to report to th
board may prosecute tho parties violating thu
law in the proper courts as provided in the above
mentioned act Of Congress.
committee on ordinances, with instructions to re
port rules for carrying out the law.
DR.. Bliss, from the sanitary police committee
to whom was referred the communication Of thu
health officer relative to the dumping Of nigh
soil at Seventeenth and S-street wharves BY Con
tractor F. p. Sawyer, reported that they found
been dumped into the river, by MI. Sawyer, II
the immediate vicinity of said wharves, creating
a serious nuisance and obstructing the approach
to the same. They further found that the empty
ing of the undeoderiLed focal matter from the
barrels or vessels int" the barges creates an often
sive nuisance injurious to health, and has been
IL
eminent in charge Of public property at the Mon
gmsn! sro4nds and residents In the neighborhood
OF the Whafves.
In view OF these facts, and the impossbility Of
otherwise abating the nuisance, tho committee
would recommend that on and after the LIST day
of February next the emptying Of focal matter
from barrels or other vessels into the barges at
the two dumping wharves be prohibited, and thai
the contractor, Mr.. Sawyer, be required to trans
port the nightsoil to the place Of deposit In the
barrels or other vessels as the same shall be de
livered on board Of his barges, at said wharves
by the Odorless Excavating Company.
The report was received and adopted.
The correspondence between the health Officer
and the Odorless Excayating Company on thu
complaint of Mr.. ]. J. Key Of being Overcharget
for the cleaning Of his privy vault was referred
the committee on ordinance.
A communication was received from William H
Adams, asking for the contract for removing the
night-soil as he understood the present contractor
had violated his agreement.
A letter was read from Thomas f. McGraw, id
ministrator Of the Dant estate, asking that somt
action be taken towards refunding the Dant es
tate for clothing destroyed at time while 1t wa
infected with smallpox.
The secretary was instructed to correspond will
the administrator and see in what condition thu
estate of the deceased, Dant, is ut the present
time.
MI. Marbury offered resolut ion, which VA
adopted, inquiring Of the odorless e1cavatinl
committee by what authority the wagon Of thu
Board of Health has been removed from the Sew
The communication of X. F. Hunter, asking fol
extRa compensation for performing the duties Of
engineer while filling the position Of eanitar,
inspector, was taken mp and referred to the SAM
tary police committee for investigation and report
The board then adjourned.