Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-01-06

Commissioner Dent Is much better, and his
speedy recovery Is quite probable from the in
dications this morning.
The policemen On night duty are to be furn-
ished with ration OF hot cofTee at the station
houses before they leave on each patrol. This
Is TO be Kept up during the cold snap, and the
cost to be crarged to the police fund.
Mi. McCauly, contractor for removing night
soil and garbage, was summoned before the
Commits SOners, and appeared there Saturday
afternoon, to answer TO the charge preferred
by Health Off1cer TOwnshend In relation to the
manner OF executing his contract. The case
was partly heard and continued.
The code OF District ordinances proposed py
Mr. Edward j. IDgerSoll, under direction OF the
District Commissioners, has been submitted 10
and reviewed by the latter, and will be pre-
sented 10 Congress tomorrow for ratlncation;
J his cOdficati0n is In pursuance OF the act VI
government for the District of Columbia.
The clerical force in the Dlsurlct Elgiueei ;
work done in the way OF street Improvements
bp the present Commissioners since july 1st
15ls in the different locations embracing Capt.
FOL lin ond East Washington, showing the To-
catfon, character. quantity and cost of such
work for the Capitol Hlll and East Washington
citiZ6 rs association.
THE POUND.
POundn aster EinStein has made report of
work GCne in his department for the month OF
December. showing 500 animals impOunded, and
amount received, $500. For the six months
ending Dec /, 1873, 1888 dogs were impounded,
and l.3 were redeemed, and 3,055 killed: and
at the pound. There has been issued to Janu-
airy 1st. 4,iI0 dog licenses The poundmaSter
IS OF opinion that large number OF dogs are still
running at large, without tags.
COLD WEATHER AND THE SICK POOR.
The cold weather has developed many cases
of extreme suffering among the poor, some of
whom are sick from various diseases incident
to exposure. Health OFFICER TOwnshend says
the number of cas- S Of death from exposure is
greater than ever before, as shown by the rec
ODDS Of his office. He says there is hardly any
provisions made for the sick poor. They get no
medical ATTENDANCE and no medicines, as there
are no physicians Dor medicines furnished. eX-
cept by the Central DSpenSary, on 10th and f
streets. and many Of these sick people live at
such remote places that they cannot commune
cate. and in many cases have no one to send for
relief. This diSpenSary does not furnish medical
attendance except TO those patients who can go
there, ard there are hundreds who cannot do
so. lie states that if the authorities do not ap-
Point physicians and furnish medicines the
mortality will be fearful among this class.
TEE WATER SUPPLY.
Many complaints are made to the Water Reg
iStrar this morning by hoUSehCeperS residing on
elevated portions OF the city about a scarcity OF
water. All seem to realize what the cause Of it
is, and the Water Registrar is taking all the ac-
ton in his rowGr to prevent the waste hut il
is found entirely imrracticabe 10 prevent this
row almost general practice. of letting water
run in sinks and water closets TO prevent freeZ-
ing. The truth is apparent that thousands OF
these spigEOtS are open continuously night and
day. and tie water is running OF through them
into the sewers and river. Engineer Commits
Sioner TwinEg states that some system viii
have TO be devised 10 prevent this. The first
thing. and he thinks the most practicable Is 10
amend the building regulations relating to
plum bng work in all new buildings, compelling
tie plumbing TO be put in in such a way as to
guard against the freezing OF water pipes
which has never been done in this city. There
are very few dwelling houses or other buildings
i'll the District where special care has been
given To this. Another thing TO be considered
Is that OF a uniform system of water meters to
be used by every householder or business man
using tie Potomac water. He thinks such
meter can be made that will cost not above 50,
and when persons find that they will have to
pay the District for the amount of water used
they viii be more guarded in the eXtravarant
waste OF it. Water Registrar Cox states that
he has Lad corps OF men out day and night
repairing water mains, which have bursted i'm
all directions. Mr. Larman reports the ground
frozen In some places, where he has had Occa-
sion to dig for this purpose, thirtyseven inches.
When the thaW commences all defective plumb
ing work will become apparent.