Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-09-11
WHY THEIR HEADS ACHE.
The Much Talked OF ssSiek Leave 81
Government Clerks.
ALL THE RESULT OF BAD AIR IN THE DEPART
MENrs-wHAr THE INSPECTOR OF PLUMBING
SAYS ABOUT n.

MENTS-wHAr THE INSPECTOR OF PLUMBING
SAYS ABOUT IT.
Inspector Of Plumbing Robertson, who has
been placed in charge of the improvement Of
the sanitary condition Of the Treasury depart
ment has found cause enough for ill-health
among the employees. The number Of Treasury
clerks off ON sick leave has long been q subject
OF jest and gibe. It has been said, with some
exaggeration, that the ordinary Treasury clerk
formerly spent ons-half Of his or her time on
sick leave Finally, when the new administra-
ton got hold OF the departments war was made
on this "abuse," and all sick leave Was cut on.
no other than the regular annual thirty days
being allowed. This was done, of course, upon
the theory that clerks got sick merely tn shrk
their duties Because female clerks have gone
nome, after office hours, pale and feeble, or
have leaned for q moment over their desks
WIN their hands pressed against their temples,
they have been ridiculed and made the target
Mr.. RoBERrsoNs DISCOVERIES
furnish cause enough for the headaches, lassi-
tude and general bad health of the clerks. The
wonder Is, the sanitary condition OF the build
Ing being what 1t is, that the results were not
more serious. He has found in nearly every
no other use than to vomit foul gases into the
rooms ana corridors, to impregnate the air that
Is nreathed by the clerks all day. II seems as
II tnese pipes were hidden away in every con-
cefvable part Of the building. Underneath the
basement Is perfect net work of waste pipes
all leading into the sewers. From time to time
they have been tapped to put in new pipes and
for other purposes, and when there WAS no fur
Their use for them the holes, instead OF being
sealed, have been left open-vents for all the
foul air from the sewers.
uNCovERING HIDDEN SOURCES OF DIsKAsE.
through the building above innumerable
pipes have been carried in all directions. Some
OF these are in use. Many have been abandoned
tor years. Instead Of being taken out when no
nCn fhnw I,nx.a lao,
wide open, gaping into the sewers. They are
Plastered up in the walls and hid away, no one
knows where. Without restraint they belch
their foul breath into the building.
Private closets have been put into rooms for
convenience, and when they have been re-
moved the pipes have been concealed from
the sewer. Under orders from Chief Clerk YOU
mans Mr.. Robertson is uncovering all these as
useless pipes will be taken out; ali vents not
absolutely necessary will be removed, and
everything closely sealed, and the old plumb
ing will all be replaced by that OF the most APP
proved pattern, supplied with traps TO shut the
sewers OF from the building. VentilatOrs will
oe constructed extending TO the open air out
THE DEADLY SOUTHEAST CORNER.
There has been great complaint about the
condition OF the air in the southeast corner Of
the building. On Monday Mr.. Robertson d.
rected his attention TO this. and found three
large openings in the head OF the sewer there
they had evidently been made for some 1T
tings and were PROBABLY in the wrong place. or
something OF that Sort that they were not
used. Soine loose trash had been thrown over
the place, and the holes lett AS they we've. They
were SO situated that when the water backed
up In the sewer they gave Iull and free vent for
the sewer gas right into the building. similar
tnlnsS nave been run across all through the in-
spectlon. 1u some OF the Offices there a g
private closets. These, il Is found, are not
properly ventilated. They will all have to be
nxed Mr.. Robertson estimates that IL will cost
ABOUT SIo,OuO to put The building ia y good
sanitary condition.
NO BETTER IN OTHER DEPARTMENT BUILD
INGs.
Inc other department Is, he says, are in about
as bad condition as the Treasury. He has goue
through the Posi- Office and the Interior depart.
ments and found them full OF loose pipes and
all sorts vi oid-fashloued aud detective plumb.
lug. Some OF the pipes are walled in where
they cannot be got at, except by tearing
Through the walls. II will take about sou, UuO
each ne says to put these two buildings in
good condition. The health and lives OF the
clerks and oIhciais VINO have TO breathe the air
fmpreguated with sewer gas are ENDANGERED.
lie says he has seen fresh and healthy Young
women and strong young men go into the de-
partlnents and in the course OF six or eight
years lie mas seen them ala pale, sickly aud
broken down, their nerves aud their minus
almost shattered aud their bodies feeble, This.
he Thinks is due enLire.y to The sewer gas that
Is let loose IN all tue buildings, poisoning the
sort Of blood poisoning. All the plumbing he
Says, should ue torn cut anu the best skill at
sanitary engineering applied 10 the work OF
renovation.