The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-04-26
SANITARY SCIENCE.
Points in Plumbing Communicated
by an Observant and Level
Headed Practitioner.
Bungling Worklnen and Faulty Plumbing
Fruitful Cause of Disease-An Ordi-
nance to Regulate Plumbers

Yesterday afternoon Journal reporter
stroAed into the plumbing and gasftting estab-
lishment of j. Giles Smith, No. 76 North Penn
sylyania street. casual inquiry as to the bust
ness OUTLOOK in plumbing work had the effect of
drawing him out.
'The business outlook for work in my line is
good-never was better" said Mr.. Smith, "but
people are more careful in making contracts
for plumbing than they have been heretofore.
The plumber of bad jobs done this city has
awakened them to the fact that there is such a
thing as sanitary science and that faulty plumb
ing is a most fruitful source of disease
as there no way Of regulating this matterf"
inquired the reporter.
sit is regulated to some extent in other Cities"
said Mr.. Smith, 'and should be here. There
should be city ordinance on the subject,
and the Board of Health should have
supervision over the plumbing work
done IN public buildings and
in our residences. 1 have made sanitary science
study, and endeavor to keep mp with all the i'm
provements in my business. 1 make it rule
each year to visit a number of the large cities,
New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, st. Louis and
Cincinnati, to Investigate the best appliances
and see the best work and endeavor to con-
soientiously apply all the knowledge thus &C.
quire. There are fine houses, houses of luxury
and refinement, IN this city that by reason of
faulty plumbing are filled with pestilent posons.
The agitation of this fact through the newspa-
pers has done much to excite alarm and inquiry,
but has not been sufficient to fully show tine
danger done TO domestic health by the deadly
vapors that escape from underground drainage
and defective plumbing apparatus Take a lOuk
at this"
"What's that"
"These are some appliances have fitted up in
my show room to exhibit to my patrons the
practical working of some of the best and latest
a no rnf huryn in win xy a
positive and perfect exclusion of foul air and
sewer gas They are connected with the water
supply, as you see, and show the working parts.
always tau pleasure in exhibiting these things
to any one interested in such matters Chief
among these appliances, and the one that inter
ests the public more than any thing else is the
Hartford glass watercloset, the most perfect
piece of sanitary furniture"
you have done considerable work herei" said
the reporter inquringly.
Eyes, too much to particularize BY the way,
the SIOcky Yards hotel, done by about four
years ago, is a fair sample of my work. Among
the recent jobs have done are Mr.. w. H. En-
gllshs hotel, Mr.. " I. MalOtt's new house
on the corner of North ana Meridian
streets. and numerous other dwellings. [
have large amount of work under
contract now in the city, and considerable out
side of the ciUy. OF the work in this CITY, will
only mention that have the plumbing work OF
the new residence of Mr.. ]. G. Douglass, corner
of Meridian aad Michigan streets; the residence
wood, now being erected by the Bee Line COM
pany and the Scottish Rite building, now in pro-
cess OF erection on South Pennsylvania street"
Your services appear to be in demand" said
the interviewer.
"Yes, try to make them Iendeavor to do
skillful and conscientious work, and have no
reason to complain of my work not being appre-
ciated. am able to handle q large business,
however, as mine Is not merely retail but a
wholesale stock, and carry the largest supply
of any dealer in the city"
"And your wOrkmen"
care the very best l can get tolerate no
bunglers, and employ only the best workmen."
"Good day"
'Ta-ta."