Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-20
District Govern ment Affairs.

District Government Affairs.
THE SCARCITY OF WATER IN SOUTH WASHINGTON.
Mr.. Samuel A. Robinson. inspector Of plumb
ing, has made report to Health Officer Town
shend in relation to the scarcity of water in
south Washington. He states: 81 have found
it necessary, in some cases in the southwest part
of the city. to advise that all plumbing fixtures
be removed from houses on account of the great
scarcity OF water. This Is especially the case on
10th and 18th streets, between B and Z streets
southwest. The pressure is not strong enough
to supply the kitchen sink and boiler during the
day, and serious accidents sometimes result
from carelessness or ignorance on the part of
the householder. The water closets are filling,
and the waste pipes never receive proper flush
ings. As many as eight houses in one row on
1ltn street have had the sewerage so Obstructed
as to necessitate the removal of the sewers run
ming under the houses" This report was to-day
referred by DIR. TOwnshend to the District Com
missioners, who in turn have referred the paper
to the District engineers.
DEFECTIVE SEWER.
Mr.. Samuel A. Robinson. inspector of plumb
ing, has made a report to Health Officer Town
shend of the condition of the eight-foot brick
sewer in square $50. bounded by Sd and 4th and
d and E streets northwest. This is a continual
ton Of the same sewer which runs through Ju-
dietary square, and is discharged into Tiber
creek sewer at the junction OF Indiana avenue
and G streets. He states that in the
yards of premises 42O and 422 Sd street
there are openings 10 by 10 and by inches
respectively. direct into this sewer, without
traps or covers. and being used as receptacles
for garbage, ashes and filth. Premises 424 Sd
street has water closet and similar openings
for surface water. neither of which are provided
with traps, and both are located directly over
and connectingwith the sewer. In premises 421
18th st. he found holes which emitted sewer air and
concluded that the crown of the arch is broken
No. 3l4 E street has a water closet over the
sewer, and the surface indications show that the
crown of the arch is defective. This condition
OF the arch exists not only where it passes
through the yards, but under the houses. and
the volume of sewer gas arising from these
numerous openings is sufficient to poison the at
mOsphere of the entire square. He asks that
some steps be taken to abate the nuisance. This
sewer was constructed nearly thirty years ago.
IMPROVEMENT OF VIRGINIA AVENUE ASKED FOR
delegation of tax payers and property
owners on the line Of Virginia avenue. between
4astreet southwest and Sd street southeast
headed by Mr. S. Norment and Rev. Mr. Meador
called upon the District Commissioners this
morning, and urged the improvement of that
avenue between the points named. Each in
turn had something to say in favor of the grad
ing and paving OF this avenue. Mr.. Norment
and others stated that they had been paving
taxes on property fronting this avenue for about
thirty years, during which time not dollar had
been expended in improvements there
Gen. West reminded the gentlemen that they
We're in duty bound to repair those streets and
avenues where there had been rotten wood
payements laid, and paid for by the property
owners, and who were first entitled under the
system now recognized by the Commissioners
He would see the Engineer Commissioner, and
submit their case to him, and after consultation
would send them reply giving the results.
VITAL STATISTICS.
Health Officer TOwnshend has just submitted
his report for the month Of November, which is
good showing for our city During the month
OF November, 316 deaths occurred In the District
OF Columbia, giving death-rate of zoos per
I COO per annum for the total population
Of this number 1852 were white and 154 were
cOlOred persons. The death-rate for the white
population was 1888 per 1000 per annum, for
the colored 1869 These death-rates are 537
per ,OOO per annum less for the white pOpula-
ton, -O6 for the colOred and 4 80 for the total
population than were those for the month of
November last year, while the death-rate of
both white and colored is less than the mean
death-rate for the past nine years. Sixty-nine
deaths were accredited to ZymOtic diseases; 81
to constitutional diseases; 1873 to local diseases;
"a to developmental diseases; and resulted
from violence. OF the decendents 6 were under
one year OF age; SO were between l and
years OF age; 10 between and 10;
% between 10 and 20; 81 between
20 and 40; SO between 40 and co. 80 between 60
and 80, and We're over so years of age The
deaths, according to nativity We're as follows:
District OF Columbia, 1854. other parts OF the
United States, 127, and foreign countries, "a,
nativity The principal causes Of death were:
Group. l; diphtheria. II; scarlet fever. 8; ty-
phOd fever, 6: malarial fevers, 8: diarrh9al dis
eases, ID; syphilis, 5; hamilton, 9; rheumatism
4; cancer, 9; phthisis pulmonalis. 50; nervous
diseases AZ; of the organs Of circulation, II;
pneumonia, %; bronchitis, 9; pleurisy, 1; con-
gestiOn of lungs g. diseases of digestive organs,
10; Bright's disease. 5; premature birth and
congenital debility, Is; senlity, Z: accidents, 5.
and suicide. OF those dying Of zymotic dis
eases. 70 per cent were natives Of the District,
and 81 per cent were under twenty years of age
while for the other classes Of diseases quite q
marked difference exists. Only sc per cent of
those dying of constitutional dis
eases were natives Of the District. and
70 per cent were under twenty years
OF age. About ~ per cent of the deaths due to
local causes were among natives of the District
somewhat over half of the deaths due to devel-
Opmenta! causes were among natives of the Dis
trict, and one of the six deaths due to violence
was Of native Of the District Of the 50 deaths
from consumption 35 occurred among persons
born outside the District The greatest num-
Der OF deaths 06) occurred on the 7th of the
month, the highest barometer on the 3D. the
highest temperature on the LIST. The least num-
Der Of deaths % occurred on the Goth, the low
est barometer on the 18TH and the lowest tenn
perature on the Goth. The average ages Of the
white males was Sc years. of the white females,
20 years: of the colored males. % years. and of
the coOred females, 10 years. Seventy per cent
of the white males, so per cent of the white
females, Al per cent of the colored males and 81
per cent of the cOlored females were over
twenty years OF age. The greatest number of
colored deaths (2s) occurred IN the hospitals.
The greatest number of white deaths (25) oc-
CURED in the 18th sanitary district Two hum
dred and thirty-eight births were reported of
which number 81 were white males - white
females; 45 eolored males, 46 colored females:
and OF unknown sex and color One case of
trlplets and four cases Of twins were reported.
Eight OF the white children and l2 Of the colored
children We're of illegitimate births Marriages
reported, g. white 80 and colored "a The still
births numbered 81, Is being white and l6 col
ored. During the month permits were issued
for the burial Of persons dying outside of the
District, and for transfers. Seven whites and
% colored persons were buried at the public ex-
pense.
The WOmcn'S Christian Association
THE WORK OF THE PAST YEAR-ELECTIoN OF
OFFICERS.
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