Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-05-04


committee on Improvement of the river front
heartily concurs upon one point, and that is that
the flats are injurious 10 the public health. The
medical and engineer expsrt5 agree tn 1t the fats
are responsible FOR nearly al the maiaria diseases
which affect Washington The testimony further
c9ncur5 in tda opinion that this Demonstrating
nuisance should be abatad at once, and In CON-
mending the plan OF Abatement held in view by
the committee, VIZ: raising tiIo low ground, by
niiing to grade high enough u prevent over
Tow. it Is quite likely that - the committee
would continue for months the examination OF
scientific men upoa this subject they would not
develop any din 5renca OF opinion to tAe I'M
healthy effect OF the fats, and the Importance,
even necessity, OF removing this effect by some
means III there were any doubt as to the delete
rouS effect OF the fats upon the city. the statis
ties presented - the committee yesterday by DR..
Wales would settle that point. He presented fig-
ureS showing the preponder .nce OF malarial dis
eases In td05e localities most expose to the poiS
onous vapors arising from the bats. lie also dem
CEStratel that mallrial diseases more prev
alent when the wind blows rs 70 d,nuse these
poisonous vaporS over the city. The medical
thOrtieS have advised the committee that the
question Of cost should not be permitted to delay
or impair the projected Improvement With the
fats nuisance abated Washington would be In an
excellent sanitary condition, they say.
Inv int4lffltttl set anu 1T int
certain Washington correspondents had attempted
ia extort money fron the representatives OF the
diStillerS who here in the interest OF the bi.
for the intefnite extension Of the bonded period
for whisky ought now to either make public names
ana details else confess that there is truth
in the allegation. The matter has attracted con-
sid rabe attention, and the truth should now come
out As the charge stands It furnishes plenty OF
material to keep rumor busy. and my do injustice
by mixing innocent persons up IN the gossip and
speculation concerning 1t. IL there any cores
pOndents who offered TO sell the Influence OF the
papers they represent and threatened to use that
Influence against The bill unless their price WAS
paid. they ought TO be exposed without any hest
tatiOn on the part OF those who know the facts.
Should the Senate see proper to grant the CON-
nttee OF investigation asked !or then, of course,
the parties in possession OF the truth about this
allegation VIII be justified In withholding the facts
until they appear before that committee; but. IL
there IS not To be investigation, then the truth
should come out through the same medium that
the charge originally became pubiic-the press
The proposition to render the City OF Mexico
much more salubrious than at present by draining
several lakes that surround 1t and utilizing their
reclaimed areas by cultivation seems to be pretty
wen formulated. The plan involves the con-
structon OF canal OF fifty miles in length to con
meet with a system of sewers under and below the
city, that Will be flushed by the canal after which
the water, laden with the impurities gathered into
it. will be conducted to q double basin, where it
VIII be above to settle and then be drawn OFF,
so rs to permit the fertilizing sediment to be
RED away for agricultural purposes. These i'm
prOvements are eminenty requisite II the Mexi-
cans would render their capital not so much at
traotiye as place or residence tolerably habit
able. The estimated cost OF these changes is set
at the comparatively low amount OF s7,OO0OOO
good part OF which will be met by the water rents
for irrigattng purposes, which are quite consider
able, say, at an average OF $1,000 year to each
renter. Senior Ricardo OrcZco Is the engineer who
has charge OF these extensive works.