Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-08-20
LETTERS IRON TEE PBOPLB.


me case OIL william GIBSON
Editor Star:-As the public have been led to
believe that my husband, william Gibson, was
nnder the influence OF liquor at the time he was
kllled by the cars l wish to correct the state
ment. He had not been feeling well for two
months and left home on that morning without
taking anything but little coffee for breakfast,
and was on his way home after having worked
ness felt wearfed and from the position he sat
in must have had an attack OF vertigo. which
he was very subject to. Had my husband been
marketing with him which was found after he
was killed, but he was thinking of me and nv
little children. He had also the best part OF his
round the track. He is not the fITst Who hss
been killed there and the company do not seem
to think nything OF 1t. 1t is q dangerous, bad
there. The engineer swore he blew his whistle.
but was sitting up sewing as the train passed
and know he ola not blow at our station, Which
that blows five pass without giving any warn
ing: By correcting the statement you viii
oblge his bereaved wife,
Washington. August 18th, 1879. ''''
The Asphalt Nuisance.
voH 1og sGrA suffering public is grateful to
asphalt reiiners. The position taken on this
subject by the District Commissioners is indie
lensl0le; that Of the health officer, that the
to health, is not sustained by facts. The as
phalt from Trinidad contains a great deal Of
rotten vegetable matter and volatile gas and
peculiarly suffocating, nauseattng and stckening
character The carnations from the pitch lake
OF Trinidad are so noxious that no white man
don't kno 9,sa about others, has ever retained
men sent there by Boston firm, few years
ago, to erect works, twenty refused
to stay and seventeen OF the others
died, the three survivors escaping by returning
to Massachusetts. The most hardened asphalt
ref1ner Is often nauseated by the stenches from
q suddenly uncovered tank: The numerous affi-
davis recently taken for Messr5. Birney & Biz
ney, In the intended suit for injunction against
the Asphalt Co., on N. Capitol and K streets
northeast, establish beyond doubt that the
s smoke from the works complained Of has COW
posed to 1t, and that the gases from them have
not only penetrated the clothing, furniture and
food Of the people OF the nefghborhood but
nave produced among delicate persons, chiefly
Children and women coughing, loss OF appetite,
nausea and, In numerous cases, retching and
vomiting.
refining asphalt is carried on In cheap tanks
with loose covers, as In this city; the only pro-
per mode Is In close stills, clamped and riveted,
S Wa Of pipes to the Olsen
naceS. The cheap tanks cost about one fourth
as much as the close stills.
~. Instead OF standing between the people and
the contractors, and granting permits for the
erection OF these cheap tank nuisances, the Dis
trict commissioners should have firmly per.
formed their sworn duty, to enforce all the laws
for the protection OF the public health and COM
fort. They should have refused the permits
asked for and directed the health inspectors to
make the proper aftidavits for the arrest of the
onending contractors. Permits for close stills
with gas consuming pipe attachments might
have been issued
There is no question that the common law
against nulsanceS Is In full force In this District
ana can be enforced at any time, through In.
dictment, by fine and imprisonment for several
years, II necessary. Nor Is there any question
that the duty Of the Commissioners is to enforce
this law. AS I understand their present posi-.
ton, they refuse to enforce the law. In regard
to the 18th street nuisance, they defer action;
IN regard to the others OF the same kind, they
take no steps whatever and, it is understood,
VIII take none, either on the criminal or the
equity side OF the court. In view Of their oath,
they should revise their determination.
TIE people should now take the remedy into
their own hands. Any citizen fncOmmoded,
annoyed or Slckened by the asphalt open tank
fennef1eS can swear out warrant or get an
injunction. This course has been determined
On by the persons near the North Capitol street
nuisance; and the result is that the owners
nave agreed to demolish the works, beginning
Today. The same course will abate the other
nQlSances OF the same sort. It is not worth
Wnlle TO wait for Hercules; let the citizens put
their own shoulders to the wheel, and they viii
succeed, spite OF DR., Townshend and the Com.
m1sstonerS. LAW AND RIGHT.