National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-11-12

n
room2 How often have many Of us learned in
there above, supplied from Latrobc In office
or sitting room below, that a poor cigar was being
burned by some smoker in the apartment last
These give as common Illus tr0tions
Of the channels through which impure AIR may DO
brought to our living and sleeping rooms. Prob
ably you will say that the odors arising from beef
steak, coffee, and cigars would not be liable |
to prove detrimental to health, and I grant you |
the point is we'll taken. This, however, Is not the |
question. There is any quantity Of
FREE, PURE AIR
all around u.s. and there is no necessity for breath.
ing that which has been once breathed by the
cook, which has purnsd over the viands, fresh or
STALE or travelled through the interscos OF tobacco
and come out with the snioke Of cigar All that
Is required to accomplish the avoidance of such
conditions and the securement of an adequate
supply Of fresh air TO furnaces and Latrobes is TO
sec that there is proper cold air duct taken from
some point out of doors, and all means for the
taking In OF indoor air excluded. The Importance
of this question should not be underestimate. In
many instances in this and other cities hot air
furnaces are located in unventatcd cellars, and,
having no cold air duct from the outside the ln-
mates of the entire building forced to breathe
the air taken up from the cellar The cellar Is
probably made receptacle for all refuse from
the rooms above, there is an accumulation oil
fecuy drained surface and n defective sewer
trap md sewer opening m the floor, with
other insaniary conditions generating i'm
purities were to be taken up by the ducts oil the
furnace and conveyed above for use as lung FOOD
by the unfortunate and unsuspcctng occupants.
Instances are known where the furnace has been
set in pit in tho cellar (room not being given
between floor and ceiing), and the trenches
about this pit found filled with stagnant water.
do ote gn Iotrnhnc IA n n bppu taken out
and hole found under the hearth whereby oil
air for rooms supplied was taken from damp ana
entirely unycntilatcd cellar In the winter season,
with all possible means Of ingress for cold air TO
rooms stopped and the hot air being supplied from
such source as described,
CAN WE WONDER
that cases Typhoid and scarlet icvcr diphtheria'
and other diseases dependant upon impure air are
developed? 1t Is said, and very truly too, that
ventilation Is wasted when directed against any
avoidablc pollution Of the dir. II is the wisest
policy TO sec that nothing is taken into your
dwelling by one channel which it may be neces-
sary TO construct another to remove. BY all means
acauaint yourself thoroughly as TO from whence
comes the air you heat to breathe.
THE ABATEMENT OF NUIsAScEs
is next considered. The number and character of
the nuisances nbated by direction Of this depart
mcnt during the year is exhibited, and foots up
2OO7 This number is $50 less than came to our
notice last year, and the fact speaks word In
favor of our sanitary condition. Alleys-The con-
dition of many of our alleys adds largely
to the nuisance table every year, and
/ con only repeat the recommendation formerly
made OF having the alleys paved and severed as
fast as possible. take this opportunity also, while
speaking of alleys, to indorse the petition of the
physicians to the poor, asking that the populated
alleys be named and the houses therein num-
bcred. Every movement looking to an improve
ment of their condition in any way renders the
committing of nuisances In them less liable to &C.
cur. Ashes-Ashcs have again contributed a
large share to the total number OF
nuisanccs reported, no less than 1909
standing accredited to this account
Iteration and reiteration is usually necessary
to secure the accomplishment of needed reforms,
and propose to continue still further the agta-
ton of this question of the removal of ashes from
all dwellings at the public expense Last year but
1876 cases where ash heaps had become nuisances
| were reported, while this year the number has
crept up 10 Og7. In my last annual report atten-
| ton was called TO this matter In the following
| words: This Is subject of no small Importance
and one upon which think action has been too
long delayed. No provision is made for the
removal of ashes by the authorities, and as con-
| sequence large accumulations are found in al
leys yards and vacant spaces over the entire area
of the two cities. These Accommodations Of ashes be-
come also place of deposit for filth and refuse OF
all kinds, and entice the creating and maintain
| ing of numberless nuisances. On majority oil
premises in Washington and Georgetown you viii
| find In cellar, area or yard such an accumulation
In some cases 1t is kept in box or barrel in other
| It is dumped on the ground or pavement In ont
corner of the yard. To 1t is added daily some por
ton of refuse, animal or vegetable, potato-par
| ings, egg Shells dish water, and other refuse
| II in the cellar. which you will find II
| many instances is the case. the foul odors and
| noxious gases emanating therefrom permeate the
entire house, and their constant inhalation by the
inmates results in some form Of low fever, which
| no one can account for and which is accordingly
set down, in case ofdcath therefrom, as vista.
ton of Divine Providence" The ash of wood OIL
coal is not set down in the category of nuisances
and taken alone there is nothing In either to prove
| injurious to health but, us l said before, the
accumulation invites deposits of animal
| and vegetable matter, and these, decaying
| do create nuisance, and one which, If within O
building used rs dwelling. is liable to prove In
furious to the health of the inmates. 1 think
| therefore, 1t would be wise measure for the all.
thorties to take steps looking to the regular re-
moval OF ashes from dwellings. This is work
| performed In many cities, and one which, / think
| could be inaugurated and successfully conducted
here at no very great expense" would earnestly
recommend that an appropriation be asked o
Congress at the coming session to meet the require
ments Of such service.
DEFECTIVE DRAINAGE AND HOUSE SEWERS.
The good work of lettering the drainage of yard
and enforcementofhousec connections where sewer
are available, is being pushed forward with du,
energy. During the year $40 defects in drainage
have been remedled and lis connections with
sewers made upon notice from this department
Soap factories--Ths item, so suggestive of appro
priateness in the category of nulsances bids fur
disappear entirely from our list The igur'
one covers the years work In this line, and nj
further trouble from soap factories is ap
| pretended. The question as 10 the authorit,
of the Health Department TO abate nuisances o
this character was finally decided when the legal
zations Of the health ordinances by Congress tool
place, and the perpetrators of nuisances of tina
class have yielded submission.
GARBAGE.
The question Of the removal of garbag
Is not new. All are acquainted with tn,
trouble continued from year 10 year and tn
numerous contracts annulled. We have beef
hoping against hope for better things In this line
We have been promised by contractors and hav
promised the peoplei in return. How those promise
resulted Is known 10 the public. Now, however
we have better reason TO hope. My recommends
ton oflast year, that u sum sufficient to secure
proper performance of the work of removin
garbage be asked was acted upon and the presen
contractoris receiving an advance Of one.thir
on the former price for the same labor. The out
look now, It affords me much qualification to 50,
Is that the trouble has been enectually remedlet
House nusances are next considered.
MANURE AND ITS REMOVAL
is a subject which has been discussed in tw
former reports Tho table gives evidenc
of 42l cases In which nuisances have arisen from
this source, and doubtless manure has contributes
in greater or less degree to many more. The tim
/ ,sht oh a at,lg fha a1n .
means for the transfer through one channel of a
oiIal from our cities. The country around the Dis