Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-03-24

A GRAVE CONDITION OF AFFAIRS SET FORTH IN
REPORT BY INSPECTOR RoBINsoN-THE
FAULTY CONSTRUCTION OF THE sECRETARY's
BATH ROOM, &c.

FAULTY CONSTRUCTION OF THE SECRETARY g
BATH ROOM, &C.
In accordance with a request Of the Commits
sioner OF Patents, the health officer has had an
inspection made of the plumbing and drainage
| work of the Patent Office or Interior Depart
ment building The report, made by Mr.. Samuel
A. Robinson, the inspector of plumbing, has
been forwarded by Health Officer Townshend
to the Commissioner of Patents. Mr.. Robin
sons report says:
Il have visited the Interior department build
Ing and made partial but careful examina-
ton OF its drainage system. 1 say partial ex-
| animation, as a thorough inspection cannot be
wood work, &c, requiring the services of me
cnanics and much OF my own time; but think
from what learned by personal observation,
suppleme nted by reliable statements of other
persons enables me to state concusively that
the Underground drains consist of main lines of
brick sewers running on the line of the east and
west corridors and discharging into the public
sewer on 9TH and 9th streets and terra Gotta
branch sewers on lines of north and south corri-
cal soil and waste pipes. This general plan of
drains for the removal of rainfall and sewage is
| ton, having its beginning with the introduction
of Potomac water in the city and the use of
plum bling fixtures inside OF houses.
ton has been drawn to the subject is that such
sewers are dangerous, and filth diseases are
traceable directly to them. Examinations al
mutations OF excremental filth in all stages of
putrifactiOn, active source OF gases which rise
freely through the crumbling arches which
cover them and mixes with the atmosphere of
the building. In addition to the exhalations
direct from these old drains there will be found
extensive pollution of the soil from detective
or broken joints, and the saturatiOn OF their
bottom and side walls. A somewhat extensive
experience in cases with nearly parallel condi-
tions, supported by the writings of every SAM
tartan, fully justify these statements II a
similar condition was known to exist within
the walls of dwelling house, or any
private property, its immediate abatement
would be ordered by the health department.,
and if necessary the authority of the courts
would be invoked for the enforcement of the
order.
saw very little I could approve in the ar
rangement of the vertical drains and traps of
fixtures. Some wash-out closets recently put
up In the course of reconstruction of the south
wing have been set in accordance with we'll
established rules, and are without objection,
building, are OF themselves not especially OBJ
jectionable; but the absence of soil-pipe extern
sion and efficient trap ventilation is the general
rule with all the old work in the building and
having filthy mechanical traps under them and
no ventilation, is simply an abomnation and
should not be tolerated in any living apart
ment
The bath room so recently fitted up for the
private use of the Secretary of the Interior is so
faulty as to excite most lively apprehensiOns
The average citizen has long since learned that
extensively fitted up woodwork about plumb
ing fixtures often, like charity, covers a multi
tude OF sins.
| recommend that the plain rules of this
10 this as we'll as other public buildings, under
competent superintendent"
The health officer has also sent to the COM
missioner IL copy of a letter written by him to
Secretary Schurz May 6, 1879, calling atten-
ton to defective construction of the building
from sanitary point OF view.