The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-22

THAT STATE-HOUsE PLUMBING.
What DR.. Metcalf Says About Some of the As
sertions of the Commissioners.


In the reply of the State-house Com mission
ers to the State Board of Health's communica
ton calling their attention to defects in the sys
tenn of plumbing In the building, the assertion
is made that none of the Commissioners ever
stated that defects which existed wnen the in
vestigation was begun had been corrected before
the experts report was presented to the
health board. .No such information" the Com
missioners say, twas ever furnished the
Board of Health, and the statement is wholly
untrue" In answer to this assertion. DR.. C. N.
Metcalf, the secretary Of the health board,
says that when the experts report on the de-
fects in the plumbing was adopted, Mr. Sew
ard, one of the State house Commissioners, was
before the board, and carefully read the specif-
cations. He stated in the presence of all the
members of the board that the specifications in
items four five, six and eight had been changed,
and wrote the word changed" with blue pen
Gil at the end of each item in the original copy of
the report Item nine be mari ed with the
words will be remedied."
''The charge of the Commissioners that the
Board of Health formed an alliance with Mr.
Hudson president of the Journeymen Plumbers
Association" DR.. Metcaf says lis absolutely
false There was not a member of the State
Board of Health who knew Mr.. Hudson at the
time the investigation was begun. Further
more. Mr.. Hudson was not present at the con-
vention of local health officers, which first
took the matter up and had nothing to do with
the action of that body. few days before the
sanitary convention was held, received from
DR.. j. F. Hibberd, Of Richmond, letter, stat
ing that he had read an article in the Sanitary
Engineer condemning the plumbing in the Ind-
ana State-house and sent me copy OF a resolu-
ton which he proposed to introduce in the con-
vention. l concurred in his suggestion to the
advisability of inquiring into the matter, and
sent to the State-honse Commissioners copy of
DR.. Hibberd's resolution. telling them that it
would be introduced, and requesting them to
send representative to the convention. The
resolution was adopted by the convention, and,
in pursuance of its suggestions, the State Board
OF Health instituted an investigation. The
State house Commissioners well knew that they
were asserting falsehood in saying that the
Board of Health formed alliance with the
lourneymen plumbers"
Dr. Metcaf further says, in reference to the
fourth specification, that Mr. Seward stated to
the board that ''there were thirteen down spouts
to the State-house, used as ventilating shafts to
the sewer" DR.. Metcalf supposed this was the
case until the last meeting of the board. when
Dir. Stewards attention was called to defect in
one Of the down spouts, leaving an opportunity
for sewer-gas to escape. He said there was
no danger from that as they were
trapped. DR.. Metcalf remarked that
he supposed these were to be
used as ventilatng shafts to the sewer. Seward
replied that that was what he wanted to do, but
he wasn't sure that the other Commissioners
would agree to it. It was from this understand
ing of the matter that the board referred to the
pipe in the language used
Our communication to the State house Com
missioners," Dr. Metcalf says, Twas respectful.
Their answer is insulting. If the other mem.
bers of the board feel as do, there will be no
further communication with the Commissioners,
but whatever is said will be addressed to the
public. The act establishing the State Board Of
Health provides that they SHALL when required,
or when they deem it best, advise officers of the
government or other State boards in regard to
the location drainage, water supply. disposal of
excreta, heating and ventilation of any public
institution or building This is the law. We
can't be intimidated from doing our duty by
sneers or insults. am satisfied that the position
taken by the Board of Health is right, and it is
supported by the best suthority. There is no
argument In making false assertions or charges
or in calling any body of men liars. If the sys-
tenn adopted by the State-house Commissioners
is as perfect AS they would have the public be-
ieve, why can't they cite recognized authorities
on sanitary engineering in support of il! be-
lleve that the members of the State Board of
Health are gentlemen who are as much respected
and are as intelligent as the Statehouse Com.
mssioners, and their opinion, think, will have
as much weight anything the Statehouse
Commissioners say"
DR.. Metcalf will communicate with the men,
bers of the Board of Health. and, if it is
deemed best, meeting will be held soon. He
cannot himself make any reply officially to the
State-house Commissioners, but will, in day or
two. on his own responsibility, give to the pub
lie detailed answer to the assertions regarding
the sanitary features of the defective work.
The sneers of the State-house Commissioners
at Mr.. Dunn, the expert employed by the Board
of Health to inspect the plumbing are hardly
with the estimate which they seemed
to place upon his judgment prior to the invest-
cation, when he was requested by Mr.. Farrell
the contractor for the State-house plumbing, to
examine the work for the Commissioners. He
replied that he was not willing to give his time
to the matter without pay and nothing more
was said to him.
Dr. Metcalf suggests that If the Governor, who
is a member of the Stated house Commission,
would have the government supervising archi-
tect inspect the building, the State Board of
Health would abide by his decision as to
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