Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-03-25
GUARDING THE CHII.DREy.S
HEALTH.

REPORT OF THE HEALTH OFFICER.

hhiuni Or The OFFICER.
Or. ownshend. the health officer, reported
to the District Commissioners this morning az
follows:
"1n accordance With your request proceeded
yesterday to make personal inspection OF the
Peabody and Force school baildingsHthe for
mer located at stanton square east and the lat
ter On Massachusetts avenue northWest-the
object being to ascertain whether or not Injury
10 health OF pupils In attendance at these build
closets and ur1nalS IL Easements. Both these
buildings are new, the ventilation well accom-
pnshe o. ana an proper sanitary appliances In
use .a rhs closets are Of the kind known
far the most suitable for sohoois. The hs
s water supply seems to De ample, ventll-
ators which work well in conducting of Vita
teo air are found in each OF the closet rooms,
and am thoroughly convinced therefore, that
win proper care there Is no reason why they
and all danger of contamination Of the at
mosphere avoided. have always been opposed
10 the locating of closets and urlnals In school
ouiloir gs, except when absolutely necessary
Tor want OF yard space as IT, affords oppOTtU-
nifty for nuisances TO result in case OF ne eject
On the part OF the janitor or other persons
whose duty 1t may be TO keep them In order
but II the flush tanks are flushed twice daily,
scrubbed out weekly and distrfectants used oc-
caSt0nally, not the slightest danger need be
apprehended from locations OF closets In these
81,
REP0RT OF THE INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS
Mr.. Thomas 3. Entwisle, inspector OF bu Id
ings. reported to the Commissioners to-day as
Ioiows:-1n reply to the article published n
THE STAR OF the ODD instant, stating that the
commissioners have so changed the pian or q G
architect OF the P-street school building thai
the privies are placed I'm the building tu-
stead OF the yard, &C.. have the honor to
state that the Peabody school Is built upon the
Laur1tZen plan. which was selected In cOrnue-
tition With fourteen others among which was
also the pan for the p street schooD by the
Board CT School Trustees, and for which
premium OF $500 was paid. This plan located
the water closets IN the basement as did also
the modified plan Made Ia this Office and upon
which the Force school was built after being
approved by the school board. The plan OF the
street school located the water closets In
st parate building. The lowest bid $500,
was s., 500 In excess OF the appropriation, and
In order to curtail the cost it was agreed in
consultation with the school board to omit the
separate building and locate the closets In the
basement; the plans were SO modified and ap-
proved by the board. / see no objection to
locating the water closets In the basement as
they low are constructed with cast iron flood
troughS. Each one Is well trapt SO that when
pass into the building and there can be no odor
when properly attended to. When considered
that the Capitol OF the United States all public
buildings and hotels have the water closets tn
them see no reason why closets. which are
or far better construction than those In use In
pubic buildings and hotels, should De OBJ
Jectonable. The health officer, who has ex-
arined them, will port his views as 20 their
sanitary condition and construction.