National Republican., 1875-07-17
POLICE STATIONS.
A Prospect for Three New Houses.


The subject of suitable station houses for the
csmfort of the police force we'll as the safecu
tody OF prisoners, has been frequently referred
to and agitated that 1t seemed as If nothing
was to be done in the matter, and that the old
shells, hotbeds of disease, were to stand as eye
sores to the community. The police commission
ers have sought repeatedly 70 effect change and
secure decent sccopmodations fer the men doing
duty under their surveillance, but until recently
they have not been encouraged by any prospects
of success. Now, however, light appears to be
dawping and It is anticipated that the day Is not
far distant when the department will possess re.
spectacle stations, convenient for the force and
secure and healthy for prisoners. The District
Commissioners having had the matter under con-
sideration, ordered inspections to he made BY Mr.:
Thomas Plowman, inspector Of buildings, and
having received his report thereon, have decided
to take speedy action to remedy the troubles COM
PIainsa agan a. Ine issI msenns n Ine oosre
ceived from the District Commissioners, setting
forth their ideas on the subject and the changes
they proposed to make. To this the following
answer Of acceptance was returned:
To the 0Onmfssfoners rthe District Of Columbia:
GRHTLKMKN: have the honor to inform you
provided BY the municipal authorities Of the Dis
trict in accordance with section Is Of the act ap
proved August Q, 1851 the proposition to furnisha
presented at your Instance 81 Mr.. Plowman, in.
spector Of buildings, meets the approval Of this
asIT to a uiDsS Badns q
house on Seventh-street road, near Boundary
street, and that Of Mr.. Plownan to rent q salts
factory building for station-house in lieu Of the
Sixth precinct station house recently condemned
by the Board Of Health.
Very respectfully. your obedisnt servant,
TH. A. LAZRNBY, Secretary.
The new station-house for the Fifth precinct
will be on ID street northwest, adjoining the
Franklin engine-house The present building Is
to be removed and another Immediately erected
for the purpose. 1t is to be completed with all
the modern improvements and possessed Of many
convenieDces that cannot be found in the present
houses. Due attention will be given to ventila-
tion, and every precaution taken to insure health
fulness. In the Sixth precinct the ground has not
yet been selected, but Il is surmised that the sta
tion Will be located several squares northwest Of
the present Site which is considered necessary to
bring 1t nearer the centre Of the precinct and q
rapidly y.growing portion Of the city. The build
ing for the Second precinct is we'll adapted to the
purposes for which 1t is to be used, and will re-
Quire very little modification TO make 1t perfectly
acceptable. But these three do not supply the
demand. The Seventh precinct (Lieut. Kelly's)
as badly needs station any Of the rest, proba-
bly, worse than come, and one cannot be provided
for that precinct any too soon. The places where
the prisoners are confined might make acceptable
cowstables, but certainly unfit for the housing
of human beings. In the First precinct Lieut.
Gessford's) the accommodations are fair still the
building Is not suitable for the purposes for which
It is occupied. Each precinct should have reg
ular building erected for that use, and not be
compelled TO take old tenement houses, lifted up
by patching and painting.