Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-16
THE HEALTH OF THE CITY.
Some Sanitary Suggestions by Plumb
ing Inspector Robinson.


''Now that people are returning to the city
for the winter, what are the most important
things to look TO in the care Of dwellings by the
occupants as well as the owners?' asked a STAR
reporter of Plumbing Inspector Robinson.
MY annual report touches upon these sub
jects, and can only repeat some OF the recon-
mendations have made for the information Of
the public. II We are to make this city the
winter resort Of wealthy people, as the ten
dency plainly is, we must be liberal in our
management Of affairs for the protection Of
health. We must not only be clean without
and within, but must be so clean that commen-
CATIONS OF our condition may be sent out by
all correspondents, who are so quick to detect
aereheaons. Though it is expensive to keep
olesn, the consequence OF neglect are far more
90. From commercial standpoint there is no
way In which liberal appropriation would
better repay the city than in improving the
sanitary condition of our hotels, boarding and
lodging houses. Some householders are SUBJ
iected to great hardships from scarcity of
water through the wilful waste of Others.
This waste should be rigidly dealt with
through official inspections. as entire
districts are deprived Of the rightful use of
water at the great risk Of health. The unfor-
tunate Delay In the completion Of the new
aqueduct makes it necessary to regulate the
use, or at least prevent excessive waste. This
waste comes chiefly from defective plumbing
fixtures and largely from the trickling waste
from thousands of defective valve wateroclosets
II may safely be estimated that more water
runs wastefully through an ordinary valve
water-closet than a dozen families REQUIRE for
their ordinary service. would advise that a
high water rate be charged wherever such de-
fechye fixtures are used and free water be fur
uished when approved appliances are main
tanned.
ssNuch Inconvenience ard AVA, s;ol,,.. ::
sometimes caused" Mr. Robinson continued.
"by occupants of houses failing to turn OF
water in severely cold weather and allowing
the water in the pipes to freeze In all new
work, stop and waste cocks are provided and
properly located. and IL is only necessary for
the occupants of the house to take the precau-
ton to turn of the water at the proper time to
prevent freezing. No intelligent or painstak-
ing architect or builder will permit water pipes
or plumbing fixtures to be located in exposed
places, but we unfortunately have in our midst
'snides' in the building business who
will resort to any expedient to lessen the
expense of the contract not caring for the con-
venlence or comfort of the house after compile
ton. In addition to the freezing and bursting
OF pipes, there is another danger to which
house-owners are exposed, and which q recent
visit to some of our largest unoccupied houses
satisfied me very little attention has ever been
paid to. 1t is the unsealing of traps under
plumbing fixtures by evaporation during sum-
mer months when the houses are unoccupied
This subject is presented in the following Ian
guage by distinguished architect: Few peo-
pie need to be told that a week or two of hot
weather is enough TO evaporate the
sealing water from the traps of waste
bowls, baths, or even water hydrants, leaving
an open passage from the drains to the house.
through which sewer vapors flow freely, often
saturating curtains, carpets, and furniture with
their faint, sickly odor to salute the family on
their return home in the autumn, when the
system is especially susceptible to zymotic in
huences. As the return of delicate persons from
the country air to the sitting atmosphere of
the city is generally attended with a certain
depression of the vital powers the danger of
sudden exposure to the influence of a house
where foul vapors for month have been float
ing undisturbed, and their deposits accumu-
lating are evident"