Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-02
WHERE MUCH DANGER LIES. I
Alleys of the City That Are in Most Filth,
Condition.

/ SosIE SIMPLE ALLEYS INSPECTED BY A STAR RE-
PORTER-cROwDED TENEMESrs, BAD DRAIN
/ AGE, HEAPS OF oFFAL AND HORRIBLE DOORS -
SOME SUGGESTIVE FACTS.
The possibility of the introduction OF cholera
I into this country and the further possibility
that Washington might be visited by the pesti-
lence has caused some expressions Of anxiety
among citizens az to the sanitary condition of
many alleys.
Yesterday STAR reporter made a thorough
personal estgation Of the condition of sew
eral of the alleys and courts of the city
The alleys and courts inspected were a num-
Der of those in the southwest and northwest
sections 81 the city. several hours being spent
by him in the work. In both sections of the
city alleys and courts We're discovered whose
condition not at all creditable TO those au-
thorltlcs intrusted with their care. And IL
happened that the alleys and courts discovered
to be in the fil,hiest condition those in
that section of the city i'll which Health Officer
Hammett lives,-the southwest-scme Of the
places inspected being but few squares dir
tant from DR.. Hammctts residence.
Indeed. as The reporter. accompa-
MED by Police Officer Charles Kenney.
made his way through the filth and stencil Of
the places visited in Sou.h Washington the
wonder was that some horrible disease mad not
long ago sprung from the pools of black. stag
nant water, IRON the decayiny garbage scattered
here and there. from the bodies OF dead animals
rotting i'll The sun from the tons OF foul RIB
bish piled high in MANY of the yards OF the
wretched Indications
PIG ALLEY.
The first all,.. inspected by the reporter and
Officer Kenuey in the southwest section of the
city was Pig alley, between 9th and eth and IL
and streets The alley vas comparatively
clean, although some stagnant water was
found here and there and scat
tered garbage was seen. 1T il queer
thing, remarked Officer Kenney, but it Is
fact that ill almost every instance where v. fad
garbage scattered in the alleys it is found in the
rear of houses occupied BY people Ct re-pectg-
biiIty-peop!e of seeming Intelligence enough
to know better. We try to catch them. but
unless yon detect them in the act it is nnpoo-
siDlc 10 secure correction
ROBINSON ALLEY.
In Robinson alley, between jtE and 7th and
l. and NJ streets, private and paved alley gar
bage was also discoy cred sircwn about.
LOCUST AIIIY.
Locust alley, between and 9th and 7. and
u streets. was The next one examined.
This i an inhabited allcy and
much stagnant water vas found there, particu-
lariy near the New York Avenue Church Nil
sion on Nj street. The sewer trap near the
windows of the mission emitted a laCst horrible
stencil and was found to be almost filed with
black. thich water and rubbish. At another
sewer trap II the alley was found mass OF
garbage. staguant water and other fi:h.
UNToS ALLEY SOUTHWEST.
In Union alley between ~ and 9Th and NJ
and y, q number of cow house occupied BY
MISUNDERSTANDING animals. produced no little
an of tl,. ,f,rs a
VAN COURT.
Van stree. or court. in the square bounded
by cd and az aud NJ and y streets. was IN q
most t;ightiul state. Van street runs east and
west and Oh the north side was found a row of
foul one-story frame shanHes. occupied by col
orod people. II - miserable novels were unfit
FOR occupancy b. human beings, indeed not for
occupancy By animals set tter were dciseiy
packed with human beng. some Of the shan
ties being occupied by TWO or three families.
The sttpCh which met :ha nostrlls of
the reporter and has companion was
simply horrible and noticeable
long before the wretchcG buildings We're reached.
Each sEanty had small ward running back
from 1t 10 a short, narrow alley, and In each
yard was discovered mass of foul rubbish.
consisting OF Old rags, bones, bed clothing.
timber. ashes and similar trash, in some IN
stances Piled several feet high. in the short
alley back OF the sheutie5 rank weeds grew
waist high. and the ground was strewu with
decayirg garbage. dead eats and dogs and
other iilih. an Old colored resident informed
the reporter that the garbage man never cane
around ard the condition OF the alcv weL' a
great ways toward confirming mis- statement.
YARDS " BAD CONDITION.
Bad as was he condition OF the yards in Van
street or alley. ;hey were little worse than many
Cs tho yards l. other alleys inspected For, in
almost evcrt in stance the yards no. only in the
alleys. but also those running back from the
main stret D contain great mass Of such rubbish.
and. ~ Otrcer keRner remarked. he yards are
Ar bad II not wc-fe than the alleys and not
only was this of the sou;hwert section. bat
also OF the northwest section.
WILLOW TREE ALLEY
Willow Tree alley. between Sd and A and 3
and c. which has the reputation Of being per-
laps. the greatest criminal center in the Dis
tTict. found to be il a frign FIJI condition.
The alley j. SAID 10 be the most dcnse.y popu-
lated one in the city and Its inlabitanls are III
orally packed tCce ,her N small hoIecs. Not
only was foul. s.aguart water found in many
places there. bat the sewer traps were flle'i
with deep mass OF slime and refuse which
emitted Il stencil almost unhoarable. The bodies
% many small dead animals were also poisoning
the air as they rOtted in the sun.
LOUISE ALLEY.
Louise alley or Shea court, between Maine and
Maryland avenues and 81 and = streets was
the last one visited in the southwest section
With one exception il was found to be in COM
parativeiy clean condition. although "A pc
cuiiar sickening odor every way prevalent.
The one exception to the comparative cleanli-
ness Of the alley running black stream of
slime and water which made its way into the
alley from one of the houses on Maryland
avenue.
N THE NORTHWEST.
The reporter then made his way to the third
precinct, where Lieut.. BOYLE detailed Sergt.
HARRISON 20 accompany him in an inspection of
the alleys In the northwestern section of the
city. The alleys i'll that part of the city were
found to be for the most part in good condi-
ton, although Il number were discovered to be
i'll about the same condition as those examined
in the southwest.
One OF the first inspected was the alley be-
tween Virginia avenue and y and 2ist and 22d
streets The houses in the square are mostly
OF the square. at 22d street and Virginia avenue
stands the Briggs cOlOrcd school. q large brick
building. In the uuinproyed alley running
through the square was found small wooden
open drain filed with s.a.,nant slime and
waters and poliuting the air with POISONOUS
odor.
HUGHES ALLEY.
Hughes alley. between 2jth and 26th and
ana streets. was i'll fair condition. but the
yards Of the houses were filed in almost every
Il stance with great piles of Iiithy rubbish.