Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-17

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CROSBY .. NOTES. ............ -. .Editer.
THK EVENING STAR Ia. . regular s.a
rermassut cfreslssiea In washingtsa three
tfass larger than tsat Of any ether paper In
the city. AZ . LEGAL NEWS paper and Ad.
yeytisiss MedisM 70 hes nc ee.petiser.
In the interest Of the public health The
srsH today once more directs attention TO that
fountain Of dissase-lower Rock Creek-and
again call. to Congress for the relief that Con-
gress ought to be so ready to grant. Expert
medical opinion IN this and In other lands has
come to . startlingly unanimous conclusion As
TO the probabilities Of cholera visitation next
year and cholera IL bred only in filth il 10
not unreasonable to suppose that the destroy
ing monster will establish his head
quarters In the District Of Columbia on
the banks Of o stream that. like its twin the
James creek canal, is beginning to rival the
Chicago river in every disgusting and fstid
feature. To ssy that this condition Of Affairs
would not exist for n week did the people Of
Warrington control their own expenditures il
simply TO make statement that needs no argu-
mensafive support, while to assert that Con-
gress will take no favorable action on the pro-
position to remove the plagus-breeding causes
is 10 insult the intelligence Of the
national legislature. Congress n COM
posed Of indiyiduals-soms the possessors
Of all the brsin-force ninetesnth-century man
kind 10 entitled to; others not so well endowed
but every one Of them is anxious to live and
most OF them want to be reelected Both OF
these desirable probabilities might easily be
defeated by the cholera microbes which viii
arise from the gAs-broken and slugsish-moving
surface Of lower Rock Greek and be scattered
all over the surrounding country ON the wings
OF every breeze. And Congressman has just
as much chance TO secure overdose Of germs
a. any other fragment Of mortality. But the
hygienic phase Of the situation IL not the only
one TO be considered. II 10. Of course. Of the
greatest importance and demands speedy legis-
hilton, but there is an incidental benefit Of an
other description. This open sewer and the
declivities up which a thousand varieties Of
stencil climb with so much facility have been
the physical barriers which have prevented
Washington proper and Georgetown from be-
coming as closely associated a. they
should be. In many respects the two
are one, and when Rock
Greek has been archsd and the District
laws have been properly codifed there will be
perfect union. The advantages which must
accrue to Georgetown when the sewer has
been buried beneath a. much dirt as
may be necessary 10 fill up the now
noisome gulley are evident to every business
man. There will be a wonderful increase in
property values as well a. in sanitary condi-
lions. Without waiting to perfect comprehen-
sive plans for hiding Rock creek underground,
and to decide how In perfect justice the cost Of
this money making improvement should be ap-
portioned. il might be considered wise as pre-
liminary measure TO arrange for the removal Of
the dam. thus enabling tide-water and the
rreek's current to clean out the bed Of the
stream. IL Is very clear that either no sew
rrage should be permitted 10 enter Rock creek,
Or that the stream should not be damned. and
that at some time as q permanent remedy of
he evil the gully must be filed. II would seem
10 be easier and cheaper AZ temporary remedy
10 remove the dam than to divert the sewers. |
But something must be DONE and done quickly |
Elsewhere in this issue THE STAR discusses at |
greater length than is possible in the editorial
'Oluma the financial aspect Of the grade-cross- |
ngs problem. There Is reason TO hope for The |
Iyeedy and satisfactory settlement Of this ques-
ion, 80 important 10 municipal development |
mi the public welfare Both roads have made |
propositions Of reform. the Baltimore |
md Ohio TO elevate, the Baltimore and |
Potomac to depre.s its tracks. The |
method Of abolishing grsde-crossings by |
'ieyatiOn OF the tracks especially If an arched |
masonry viaduct Of the Berlin type is con- |
tructed. il preferred BY Tue STAR. for reasons |
shich II has frequently stated. and receives |
more unre-ervedly the public approval But /
he grade-crossings must 60. and a depression /
md bridging % tho tracks will accomplish this /
ireat public improvement The question who /
hall pay for the track reconstruction. and in
hat manner the community can best meet any
mall charge which NAV Justly be made against
:. u the most important one remaining open |
or discussion. and this is considered i
lsewhere In today's issue II IL
o he understood that the so-caJled |
Mcmillan ball does not.represent the vie'ss of |
he chairman Of the Senate District committee. |
. l. the railroads proposition. put forward |
eniaiively. 10 be considered IN connection with |
he presentation Of the city's case. So no,with- |
tAnding some impossible and some unreason-
bile propositions IN this measure The srAR Is |
iopeiul that the differences between the |
orporE'e and the public interest NAV be |
eeoneiled. that The Stars long fight for bet |
erment Of the eiiy's terminal facilities NAV
con lie crowned With success. ard that the con-
h;ions Of Washington in this regard NAV
7se,iiy cease to be antiqua;ed and barbarous.
nd become worthy of the capital Of the yres,
epabHc.
Judge Miller Il plainly very much in earnest
. III sforts TO suppress policy. Thai the Dun
shmsni Of small writer's is Intellectual has been
ismons,raied- A soon is die ,osed OF