The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-11-29
WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON d. G. Nov. oath 1877.
The recent report of the District health
Officer brings TO our minds the suf1erings
experienced around US last winter and that
will Of course exist in q greater OF less
measure the coming season. Last year
the weather was unusually cold and incle-
ment and the miserable poor suffered accor-
dingly. During the past year a hundred |
low, filthy delapidated, but inhabitated
shanties have been condemned as public nui- |
sances by the Board of Health and de-
stroyed, and within the last 4 years 959
such buildings have.been so condemned and
either torn down or repaired. This is a
great stride in the advancement of sanitary
interest OF our city so crowded with coarse
ignorant people. These shsnties or cabins
are situated in the alleys and outskirts of
the city and inhabited by colored people
mostly, many Of them have mud floors and
leaky roofs, serving simply as partial COW
ering from the weather for the large fami-
lies who rent them. For even these tum-
ble-down heaps of old lumber are owned
and rented a; from three to eight dollars
month. They are so dirty and dark that
more disease is eDgendered among their oc
cupants than il they lived and slept in the
opeu air the year round. In some locali-
ties where rows of these old houses existed,
blain substantial brick ows have been,erec-
ted and their tenements are readily rented
and this will eventually take place as re-
CARDS them all. The Capital is fast grow
ing into the city that it ought to be. No
one can doubt this who compares its condi-
tion today with what il was a decade ago.
Last winter an attempt was made to allie
viate the intense suffering away the poor
and unemployed by the establish ment of
several soup houses, and altogether without
doubt the effect aimed at was accomplished
in some degree, vet the charity was grossly
abused and will probably not be repeated.
But a movement is already on foot for the
organization of sort of "Feiendly Inn" as
it is called, where a bowl of soup, cup OF
coffee and too or three slices of bread, or a
nights lodging may be had for five cent
ticket. These tickets will be sold to citizens
20 for q dollar, who can give them to per-
sons in destitute circumstances whom they
know to be needy and deserving, and thus
give assisiance;where iiwill do real good.
Al this same house it is proposed to furn-
ish permanent board to poor working peo.
pie at rates as low as $3.50 or S3,75 pei
week and good meals to customers for IL
cents each, thus defraying large part Of
the expenses of the organization. %
The Hall of Representatives aud the
Senate Chamber are frequently the seen o.
much merriment and dry wit, though ths
men who try the hardest to be funny rare
ly succeed. Senatro David Davis, the 30(
FOUNDER, sat himself straight through
another Senators chair the other day. Hi
own seat is built "accordin to-" but whel
he placed his ponderous weight upon on
10 the ordinary chairs, he literally wen
through i. aud found himself not owe
comfortably seated upon the floor. Immod
crate laughter ensued in which Davis him
self participated. i1
The following cut from one of our eve
ming papers recently. In hisspeech on th
army bill today, Senator Sargent said. w
sitting here in our comfortable chairs, ca
not know what it is TO hear the startlin
yell Of the savage. Several hands wet
up and as tenderly carresed as many boil
heads, and their owners smiled as much
to say. let them yell we have no hair
raise. Senator Eaton of Connecticut du
ing the discussion ofthe same bill relatir
to the Army, thinking the bill read tha
the number of men should be fixed at 2
600, proceeded to denounce it quite yeh
mently and moved to strike out the wo
five, and fix the number at 10000. IT
Vice President, amid explosive merime
informed Eaton of his mistake, whereup
that gentleman took his seat saying, ! ia
back everything have said, Mr.. Presidel
The delightful indian sumner weather
have been enjoying for the past three wee
appears TO be about over. Wednesday "
sharp and cold and yesterday dull a
rainy. This morning the air is full of m
and rain and rather a dreary atm moaphe
prevails generally.
RICH ARD