The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-17
SUFFERING AND DEATH.
fHE RING SEWERS EFFECTS UPON
HBLLTH IN WASHINGTON,


To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Str: Last
winter a large number VI our most respectable
citizens addressed a memorial to Congress ask
ing to have this District relieved Of the present
very bad and Oppressive Ring rule, aud for
thorough Investigation, so that the wronedoers
might be duly punished. An Investigation was
commenced by the House OF Representatives,
but, like all that had preceded II, its work was
merely superficial. II has not touched one
tenth part Of the inqutics known TO exist. NO
attempt has been made 20 investigate tne enor-
nous blunders and frauds on the sewerage nor
to have tho work rcmcasurei by experts on
portions OF which the payments made are
known to he excessive from two to eleven fold.
The committee has thus fallen far short OF meet
ing the reasonable hopes % the memoriallsts,
and has sadly disappointed the very numerous
reformers who confidently expected to see the
House deal a death blow to all Rings by crush
lug Its head centre In this District. They have
thus only pleased the Ring.
But anticipating that Congress Ia about to ad-
journ and still leave the District to the mercy OF
the Ring, without evcn attempting the removal
OF the present Ring commissioners and engi-
neer. another memorial by very earnest reform
ers has just been addressed to Congress, accom-
panied by very plain reasons why Congress-
should not adjourn before enecting a radical
change In the government Of this District. The
reasons submitted for this purpose.
The nrst question to which 1t Is desired to
draw the attention OF Congress Is, the increas.
ing mortality OF the city Of Washington, and the
fact that this condition Is but natural result Of
the late unwise manner In which the so-called
Improvements of the city have been planned
and executed For, there Is not anything In the
topography. or In any Of tho natural surround
ings Of this city that could produce the blight
tnz effects now seen and felt. On the contrary,
Washington Is surrounded with all the natural
advantages required for making II one Of the
most healthy and beautiful cities on this cont:
nent, ana until recently It's health has compared
VERY favO5aUly with that 81 the most favored
cities. But now. since Il has been improved"
by boss shepherd and his Ring associates, not
withstandinR all that has been said to the con-
trlry IL has become the most unhealthy city
within tue range OF one thousand miles; "a IL
proved by observation and by the following
records:
According to the several reports Of our Board
OF Health the death rate per loo Inhabitants
was In ls72, In Washington 2O3; In New York.
32.8; In Boston. D6; In Richmond. 236 In Phil
adephia. ss.l in Baltimore Isl. BY which 1t
appears that the mortality at That time was
cites nj m na" q s"y than S shs
New York where the mortality was he greatest.
enc reSesa hST New s Srs ei
ton to uA In Richmond to = 81 In Phiadel-
In h.d R 4.s TO s. sas is Tas to
In the report for the week enuing on the 24th
2Hne isag' the De oth rate had risen t. -.
beginning Of hot weather. aud although q still
% ne.n na rae probae e ,b rsas S Gr oe
the year viii equal II; yet, there are many rea-
sons for believing that the average for the re
sent year will oe very much higher than that OF
last year. The increase Of tho last three years
leaves no grounds for hoping that the mort atty
will not be stu greater this year. nor for doubt
thst II Will continue TO increase until there
shall be radical change In most Of the so call
ment
Tho alarming facts revealed by these records
are. that while the mortality has gradually de-
creased In oil tue neishboring cities named, 1t
has greatly increased, Is stu increasing and
will. without doubt, continue to do so In Wash
the present Hing rule. For there Is no visible
natural cause for the extraordinary mortality
which commenced with the accession OF Boss
Shepherd and his bad associates to power, aud
their stupid laundering aud noundering over
the so-called improvement Of the streets snd
sewers. Under the operation Of these causes
tho former good reputation Of Washington for
health has departed, the value OF Its property
has deprecated, It's business has been pros
trated, and many worthy men Of moderate
means have been ruined, driven to despair, and
II will not do for the gentlemen who have
brought so much evil upon this city to say tnai
they have only made some mistakes, and hat
all men are liable to make mistakes for they
have been wrong from the beginning. and all
throughout. They have not at any time com
pretended the night nor have they manifested a
capacity OF desire to learn, not even when the
right hss oeen placed before them In the clear.
Ths mistake, II any, is with Congress. in not
realizing that the proper Improvement OF city
requires engineering OF high order, possess.
ing both skill and moral integrity, such as tbs
gentlemen composing the Ring have no ooncep-
tion OF. For Instance, the first man appointed
under authority Of Congress TO the highest po-
Cooke, disreputable bank operator. The next
was A. X. Shepherd, reputed carpenter and
plumber, but wanting 10 suf1cient stability for
half learning either trade. The next, Mr.. Null
lett the nrst engineer. in-chief, came here d few
displayed much ntness Tor a higher position
Since Lieut. X. l.. Hoxie has held the position
OF engineer in chief his work shows that he Ia
Drelpcasznra
Yet 1t Is to such men, appointed by the Presi-
dent and confirmed by the Senate, over whose
ing people Of this district hay: not the slightest
control, that ~e are Indebted for the present
the city OF Warrington. We have forsseen the
evils that now bear so heavily upon us, and we
them. Bat Congress has failed to relieve us. 1t las
been fully proved tnat very large proportion
devised, badly executed, done without legal au.
shorty, some OF 1t in glaring violation OF law;
cannot be good that most Of the sewers are
greatly deficient in conductive capacity, and
air OF the streets, ard within thosands of build
tpgs 10 poisoned with sewer gases, producing
1t will require years OF time, and IN any mil
lions Of dollars To fully overcome the mischief
done. But Congress can al once stop It's further
progress; aud prepare the way for proper i'm.
provement In tho condition OF the city, by
simply removing the present Ring Con- mission
ers and Engineer and substituting proper ones
such as VIII act consistently and render true
missioners shall be left In power Congress will
at its next meeting doubtless 1nd that enor-
nous additional and unauthorized deDts have
been contracted on work US worthless and dam.
aging az the pust.
In Wow Of the fact that Congress has Just
passed n bill for improving Pennsy lvania avonu e.
all Ia bs done under tie direction Of three Com.
nissOners named in the bill by Congress, II
becomes quite plain that Congress might IL the
same way remove the present District Commits.
sioners and name proper successors and thus
arrsst the very great evils complained Of. Con.
gross having exclusive jurisdiction over this
District, and having undertaken to govern It.
must also be responsible for the manner in
winch II ID governed, through whatever agencIes
may be employed. A proper change In the gov
ernment OF this city Is absolutely necessary, and
prompt action by Congress to this end will be
hailed with gladness by all friends Of good gov
eminent. The kins aud It's friends desire nc
aotion A CIVIL ENGINEER
WASHINGTON July I, 1870.