Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-27

The Latter = Greater Menace to Health Than
the, Former.


the. Former.
To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
Will you kindly give space to subscriber for
word?
have more than once thought Of replying to
articles have noticed in The STAR concerning
the garbage question. and today 1 see under
the heading Of at will not down" something
further in this line. Now 1 desire it distinctly
known that 1 am not in any way connected
with the health Office at this time but that l
was for short time last autumn SO connected
as to be fully competent now to speak upon this
subject. have been 10 fully convinced Of the
injustice heaped upon the health officer, DR..
Hammett, from time to time that am impelled
to offer few words in his defense That this
man has been faithful and earnestly conscien-
tious officer, though constantly prosecuted
ample opportunities to learn. That the bulk of
these garbage complaints have been fraudu-
lsntly made have every reason to believe
That there are a few genuine causes or
cases OF complaint also l will not
attempt to deny. But these cannot be
charged to the failure Of the health officer to
perform his duty SO far as the law may be con-
strued to allow him II were asked for an
opinion a. to where the fault lay in these genu-
inc cases l would most emphatically saw it
rests with the very compliments themselves,
who are either away from home or whose
gates are 80 closely locked against the garbage
collector that he cannot make his presence
known unless he calls at the front door, and
sometimes not then. These are the main rsa-
sons for their garbage being left That daily
service Is entirely unnecessary I am very certain
During my connection with the health Office
last fau, while was acting as sanitary in
spector and making house to house in
spections, and that, too, during the period
when our city's population was almost doubled.
! ct no time found such an accumulation Of
garbage In hotels or elsewhere a. to Justify an
additional expense Of this character to the city
The contract service for the removal Of gar
page ID fully sufficient, and all that is necessary
Ia that more inspectors who will do their full
duty shall be provided for and placed At Dr.
Hammstt's disposal. es.
II the people Of this city were more fully
aware OF the more terrible calamity in the form
OF Rock creek and the James Creek canal which
Ii threatening them, and less aware of the petty
garbage problem they are going crazy over, I
think they would do veil. II that dam at the
mouth OF Rock creek lie not now soon removed
and that. too, before spring comes, the authori-
ties who can have II done will deserve but lit
tie sympathy and all the chagrin they are likely
to meet with should the cholera visit us this
coming season, as it appears likely to do What
!! would like to ask, could prove a moro felici-
tous and fertile culture ground for that pecu-
nar disease germ than the stagnant accumula-
tlons and deposits of thousands upon thousands
OF privy fallings, solids and liquids, flowing
into and remaining there for years?
For shame that this should be allowed to re-
main SO for a day longer and that the monetary
interests OF any corporation should deter for
one hour the removal of that DAM when the
health and lives Of thousands upon thousands
OF the citizens Of our national capital are being
jeopardized thereby. How much more noble
and grand would our garbage complainants ap-
pear did they exert their energies to the same
extent in finding ways and means to put stop
to such state of affairs c.. W, B1RDsAIL