Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-03
CONDITION OF THE ALLEYS.
What the Health Oficer Says of their Bad

State.
/ The publication in yesterdays STAR Of the
results Of a personal inspection Of the alleys of
the city by one Of its reporters Was the subject
OF conversation between DR.. Hammett, the
health officer Of the District. and SrkR re-
porter this morning. DIR. Hammett stated that
he was very much gratified to know that The
STAR had shown TO the people Of the District
the deplorable condition of its alleys. The
horrible state in which the alleys we're found
to be in had been fully known to him, said DIR.
Hammett, but he had been. as he was now, un-
able to alter matters. for the reason that he had
little if any means at his command with which
TO work upon. The existing state of affairs was
due, thought the health officer, not to q lack
of sanitary inspection so much as to lack OF
funds on the part of the Commissioners with
which to improve the alleys by the introduc-
| ion Of sewers and payements.
NOT ENOUGH INSPECTORS.
Ever since the fos nation Of the present health
Office Of the District in 1878. explained DR. Ham
nett there had been. until the present fiscal
YEAR, niEe sanitary inspectors. three Of whom
had been detailed aS inspectors of food At
the late session of Congress he had asked for
fou- additional inspectors. AN increase impera-
lively demanded. because of the increase or
population and the extent of territory TO be
coveted. Yet; instead of granting the increase
asked for. Congress had reduced the number OF
food inspectors BY one. Thus crippled IT had
been rliply a physical impossibiitv for the
present force of inspectors TO satisfactorily
cover the immense stretch Of territory required
to be covered here.
Temporary relief. however, had been granted
by the appointment of the fifteen additional
sanitary inspectors. who went on duty this
morning and who will be retained until Octo-
Der and perhaps longer. OF these fifteen
temporary inspectors one will be assigned to
each of tie nine police precincts and the re-
naming six will be detailed wherever an addi-
tional number may be needed. They will act
both sanitary and garbage inspectors, and
every effort will be made through their assist
arce 70 place the city in the best possible con-
dltio...
Dr.. Hammet. stated that il was his intention
70 csrIse {" lie made. Us far as ii was possible.
house 10 house inspection. and careful atten-
ZION vould be paid not only to the condition of
ttr streets ard alleys. but siso to private yards,
which Tar STAR mad shown him TO be in almost
deploTable condition Is the alleys exam
med b. the reporter. The health officer said
that Il careful record would be made OF every
street. alley. Yard aad other place requiring
attention. and that after a reasonable notice
to the parties offending they would be vigor-
ou,ly prosecuted shoald they fail TO abate the
nuisance complained of.
WILL DO HIS BEST To CLEAN THINGS UP.
Bat" remarked DR.. Hanmett. 1T is one
thing 20 discover such nuisances and quite
another thing TO aba;e them. OF course, when
they are found to be the fault of private parties
II VIII be en- easy matter. now that We have a
respectsbly large force OF sanitary inspectors.
But viii find. as no doubt your reporter
found, many instances in which il is not the
fanlt of private parties. | mean in the cases
of unimprOved alleys without sewerage.
In those places, for instances. stagnant
water IL bound to be found and
Vet through no fault of the people living there.
But YOU can say that the health office viii do
everything in it, power to not only clean up
the city, but also to keep it clean. The STARS
inspection was timely. and trust it will be the
means Ct bringing the proper authorities TO
realization Of the absolute necessity of q large
force Of sanitary inspectors and the improve
meut of our alleys"
DR.. Hammett stated that he hardly believed
that cholera would secure any foothOld in
Washington SHOULD it enter this country. and
said there was no occasion for alarm on the part
of the people Of Washington. As compared with
other large cities Washington was in an excel
lent condition and well prepared to Withstand
an invasion Of cholera. As far as possible he
had prepared for such an emergency. and felt
confident of being able to successfully cope with
the disease