National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1877-05-25

influence sufficient to push them into an office
Of some sort, they drift aimlessly about, look
ing for employment which never comes. 1t Is
too late to reclaim the vast concoure Of youths
who have gone wrong from the beginning.
As drones, idlers, or enemies Of society, they
have gone beyond hope Of recovery. But every
good citizen Is bound to do what he can to save
the boys now coming forward. .
OUR PoLfcE STATIONS.
Filthy. Uncomfortable and BADLY Ventilated
Buildings.
There Is probably no city that boasts of q
police department in the country more poorly
provided with police-station accommodations
than the District of Columbia. Barring
police headquarters, there are very few build
ings occupied by the police which are at for
use, and II Is an outrage to conhne prisoners
in the badly ventilated and filthy quarters
provided for them In some Of the precincts.
The dodgers rooms are nothing but places Of
fifth and vermin. Yesterday a representative
of The REPUBLICAN visited the several sta
on-houscs and quietly made thorough in
spection Of their condition. with the following
result:
FIRST PRECINCT.
This station is q brick structure, located on
Z street, near the corner Of Four-and- q half
southwest The Office and reading room are
on the first floor. The walls look rs II they
had not received n coat Of whitewash for years.
The sleeping rooms of the sergeants and men
are In the second story, and SO bad Is the ven-
tilation that II Is almost impossible for the
men to occupy the apartments. Tho building
Is filed with vermin known as "chinches,"
and II Is impossible for man not used to these
bed fellows 10 find rest. The cells and dodgers
quarters are In the basement. The cells arc in
filthy condition, and any one that Is 30 I'M
for at m IN ha rnuGnnI Il, than, Ia
sure 70 leave the prison with bis clothes filed
with vofnip. Fhe dodgers room, which has
not been whitewashed for q long time, Is In a
fearful condition. Some Of the dodgers who
realize the situation strip themselves Of all
their clothing so rs not to expose their gar
mcnts.
SECOND PRECINCT.
The Second precinct station is brick build
ing on Seventh street, beyond Boundary street
The Office and lieutenant's room are on the first
floor The sergeants and mems retiring room
are on the SECOND floor. in the rear of the
main building are the cells in which prisoners
are confined. The building Ii thoroughly ven.
tilated and in good sanitary condition.
THIRD PRECINCT.
Che Thru precinct station is located on High,
between Bridge and BI4ee slteets, Georgetown,
and was erected by the old cofpStqiiop Of that
city. It Is complete In every particular. The
sleeping apartments, which are in the second
story, are SqpmRdioHs and thoroughly venti-
building, and the eei, arc Vert ~ y tety clean
condition, This Is one Of the most convenient
station.houses In the District.
FOURTH PRECINCT.
The Fourth precinct station-house Is located
on X street, between Twentieth and Twenty
atf fI.x -. A.I
with gravel roof. Since then the old ROOF
has been removed and tin roof substituted in
it, steed, The building Is two stories In height
Tho iffSt u00r Is nsel ~ iho Gii,lA, lieGtepants
room and the sctgebnts' nom, Iyhjlei tho Sec
ond story Is set apart us the sleeping apart
ments Of the men. This building Is in very
bad sanitary condition: The room occupied
& III 5tstl IL, s s q no v vSn' lila;
little BctteLN Ereduantjy lie Hen hive to iii
up in chairs all night ii consequence of the
he'd ventilation of the sleeping apartments.
Whichever j rains " any sxgent ND Lasement
is oiled with about two feet Of water, as was
the case last Sunday evening.
Tho roof u In worry had and leaky eondi-
tion. During tho late storms the rain beat
through II to the second floor and dripped
through tho ceiling to the Office room on the
first floor. The cells are In a building to the
add law uS''VsStmiGh a,etstRaaa N Emted
doors. Tho sewerage "A not sdffipiensYo carry
of the Nth from tho cells, and frequently the
closets are stopped up, causing such nuisance
that 1t Is disagreeable for persons occupying
the sitting room. The dodgers, room cannot
b. asca Y III VI sssoSp tnSE hsyihg satti;
%etHr ~ aa hs summer Snfhs and
During the past winter the outcasts who
apbHea a. the'stptioh fSr Lodgings had to be
with PRECINCT.
The Fifth precinct or what Is generally
known rs tho Central station" Is located on
Tenth street, between ID and Z streets north
wes.. as APARTMENT ii ii Us s.:..ief Are con-,
pss;;..tiyely new, and, consequently, are in good
tSsf 4ss sItsqs se re say !"
the command are provided For up stairs. Tbs
cells are ii hardly any better condition than
those ut most Of the other stations, and II
seems .ima r. shAms e 'lock 4 EaPeSstlaehle
SIXTH PRECINCT.
This station, which Is located on Massachu
sets avenue, between Ninth and Tenth street,
northwest, has been one of the most com plets
and best stations In the District. The building
was formerly used as church, but was leased
by the District goycrbme.,t year ago, and
remOdelcd so that IT has every convenience
for station. The rooms are large and tht
ventilation and drainage good. =
sEyESTH PREcIBcT.
Fhe seventh prociHot station, WHICH is sit,
uated on the GoInef u v and First siFGets
northwest, Is In u most deploabio condition
The sleeping rooms for the men are contracted
and poorly ventilated, and there Is little com,
fort to DO found In them. Chinches have taken
possession Of all Of the rooms. Tho cells have
been recently fitted up, and are In tolcrably
. glal condition, but are very close and uncom
fortabld'"ntrhe isqgpys Jg9m / about as pool
place IA one could iinaeineA human helms
could occupy. The creatures whose misfortune
compel them to lodge there have TO dispute
possession with the vermin.
EIGHTH PRECINCT.
af Fifth street and South CatSliha' avtluc; Isl
two-story pressed.brick- front building, bail
on plan similar to the Fourth precinct sta
ton. Tho first floor Is used for the office, lieu
tenants room and sitting room for the men
bathroom and closet. The second story Is uset
as the sleeping apartments for the sergeant
and men. The ventilation of these apartment
B very paJ, Although the building 'front.'
south Tho wingAws arelka arranged ~ 10 pro
vent the passage Of tho air throsghathe bcd
rooms. Tho building ID also infested will
vermin, which In the summer months TAX
entire possession and compel the men to stretcl
themselves on chairs In the Railways and in tn,
ysrd when they wish to sleep. -"
The prlsop Y w y sefarate h4ilqiRg ~ III