Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-02-02
District Government Affairs.

|
j. bIadieJ Adams erect three story store F.
between sth and 9th streets northwest: 81. 900
George A. Henderson: repair frame, AL Tsh
street southeast $500 Patrick Cox. erect a two
story brick dwelling on POmeroy street, county;
$500.
COLLECTOR COOK EXPLAINS.
Ihe following letter was last evening ad-
dressed by collector Cook TO the District Con-
miSSionerS:
COLLECTORS OFFICE, DISTRICT OF CoLUMBrA,l
NAsHINGToN, DC. Feb ls5, 1851. ,
ION tOnihtSSiphPrS District Of COiLIIbjG:
STS:--l was hot little surprised and chap-
1lned on reading the report In The EvENING
STAR OF the debate in the United States House
OF Representatives on the District approorta
ton Dill, wherein 1t was stated In CONNECTION
with the appropriation for the Office OF the col
rector or taxes, that clerks and other employees
aSo oDtfuded, unaskec, their opinions on the
bill This ls not true
About the 18th OF January received letter.
directed to me individually, ffo-a the Hon.
Thomas r. Cobb asking the necessary cost OF
d1Scharg1ng the duties OF the office OF collector
OF taxes upon the transfer thereto OF tbe'duties
OF the treasurer Of the District of Columbia, and
as soon as my duties allowed ] furnished him
respectfully the Information asked for.
To-day the Hon. T.. j. Henkle a mem Der OF
the committee on the District OF Columbia,
called at the Office OF the collector of taxes on
business, and finding the office very much
crowded, made inquiry as TO It's clerical work
ing capacity and concerning other duties of
the Office. Upon being informed as to the cler-
lcal requirements, desired that the statements
tHCu ulgll bc Sent III W1lltQg TO nun,
Which was done addressed to him personally
as was the letter addressed to Judge COBB
The letter addressed to DIT. Henklc is in sun.
stance The letter previously addressed % you
dAN or two ago.
This explanation, under the Circumstances. is
due TO you as Commissioners of the District OF
t0'uTnbia, and also due TO my own Selr-respect
Very respectfully,
JOHN F. Coos Collector d. c.
EgFCREn E.
II -,
Health OftiCer ToWDshend recef yed from
Prof DeSmeit reports OF analyses OF SIX
samples OF ice: One from pond foot OF 20tn
street; from riy er off Iittlefield'S wharf: below
and from Eastern Branch az navy yard. Also
a report or analysis or a sample OF snow C are
fully selected from the Professors garden, on
18th street northwest. The professor. Ia max
Ing his examinations. found shat that portion
OF The ice composed mainly or snow, the upper
layer, contained nearly all the niirogenoui In
puritleS and organized bodies. He then pro
cured sample OF the cleaneSt looking snow he
could find. aud upon analysis ascertatned that
1t contained all the impurities. and in about
same proportion. as the SnOH-fOrmed ice La
remafkiHg upon this fact lie says: This result
IN TACT, is not surprising. and | expected the
snow to contain that which actually found by
analysis. Let us now examine why snow con-
tainS SO much impurity. Al air contains min
erai and organic matter. IL has been divided
TITO wholesome, putrld and organized; It may
be or an animal or OF a vegetable nature, but
b
organic character the fine dust III the air
almost Invisible % the naked eye. composed OF
mineral and organic matter which exists n
the surroundings where II collects; eXcre-
mental Nth In a condition OF impalpable pow
der Is often present Ia the air, and Is the most
disgusting or all the impurities to which man
Is exposed. As many diseases propagate them
selves by eliminating Their posons through the
medium OF thu eShalatinn5 and eHcfriionS OF
the body, air thus polluted IS the bearer OF
organic poiS0nS-'' niaSrna'- which III ala
dies are dissent mated. / wish now 10 explain
how the beautiful white snow becomes the
collector ana receptacle in concentrated con-
dtlOn OF the impurities OF air. Hail rain anu
principally snow, are the great purifiers Of air
but II Is at the expense or their own purity.
The spODgY snow in its do" mall from the
clouds collects In It's paSSagr through the air
nearly all the impurities Jhererrom, and
| although the perfect white color OF the snow
seems not TO be altered by The Immense nun.
| Der OF corpuscles II has collected one Is sur
| pr1sed after melting II to find the black aud
| dirty stun in such quantity; the microscope
! detects the organized bodies. and the ANALYSIS
| brings the evidence OF the heterogeneous impurt-
| lies l conclude that snow water is not
! healthy beverage. and / would suggest and
recommend that ice. when collected for drink
| Ing purposes be entirely free from snow, and
| That no Ice f0l drinking purpose b. collected In
/ the Potomac river in front or the city or near
| the outlet OF sewers In the river.
The ice from Little river IS pronounced
good The other samples all contain oac-
| tel ia ana i!itrogenouS Impurities and are pro.
! houlCtd unit for drinking purposes.