Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-13
T W @ PEST SPOTS.
The James Creek Canal and Rock
Greek Sewage System.
DIR. HAMMETTS STATEMENT.
His Letter to the Grand Jury In Regard to
the Health Of the City-The Two Disease
Inviting Nuisances, Which Should he
Abated Without Any Delay, Pointed Oat.

Health Officer Hammett today sent to the
members Of the grand jury a statement Of the
health Of the city and called special attention
to the old James Creek canal, what has been
known as a death trap and disease-breeding spot
for many years. The letter reads as follows:
In obedience to your summons and In COM
pliance with your request submit for your
consideration general statement Of the condi-
| tions Of the District as to its hygiene and its
needs in that regard.
In general terms IL may be said that the
comparatively speaking. This statement is for
the period Of the two years since became the
health officer, and concerning which only 1
feel that have authority to speak
The same can be said Of the sanitary condi-
ton Of the city. While Washington is undoubt-
eddy as clean city Is in the world, vet
there are a few plague spots within 1t limits.
or these which come under the purview OF
the health department and under the laws
relating thereto all that possibly can be reached
are now undergoing remedial action and viii be
abated as soon as time will admit. But there
partment Of which 1 propose to make special
mention.
GENERAL HEALTH CONDITIONS GOOD.
Before doing SO, however, 1 wish to convey .
general idea of the health conditions of the
District. With the exception Of catarrhal in
duenza. which broke out in the winter
Of 1890. no widespread epidemic has
vexed the city. This disease was not dependent
on sanitary conditions for its existence, but
upon mysterious and unascertained causes in
dependent thereof. It has contributed consid-
erably to enlarge tho death rate Of the city
since its advent. but each recurrence has
been in a marked waning degree. Some OF
the so-called filth diseases have threatened to
break out in epidemic form, but have been
checked and restrained by strict and vigorous
measures Of circumstriction. Among these
which may be charged to bad santa
ton were diphtheria. scarlet fever. malarial
and diarrh,ssl malndics. which ore now either
wholly abated or cut down in the number Of
cases as to be no longer Q cause
for apprehension. Two cases Of smallpox. the only
ones for ten years or more, were reported.
Both were imported from outside. They were
promptly and properly cared for and both con-
valesced without communicating the disease 10
others. The number of deaths from typhoid
fever Cor the last two fiscal years fell below
the average for several years previous,
and the result Of the cleaning Of the
city upon this malady. which in a sense is
health barometer, will be looked for with
great interest. BY comparison between the
mortality from eight prominent diseases and OF
| children under five years Of age for the nine
months Of the wears 1892 and 1898, count
ing from August to April inclusive, the returns
show reduction in all, running from per
cent to so per cent. Even the decline in con-
sumption, following former decline. is rs
per cent, and that in diphtheria is .6per cent
HoUsE-ro-HousE INSPECTION.
Although the city was comparatively a clean
one, yet in view Of the threatened invasion Of
cholera from abroad attention was called to
the imperative need Of preparing against
it. In tho early spring the ''house-to
house" inspection was organized and put
in operation. This department Was greatly
encouraged and aided by the voluntary CO.
operation OF the citizens through the Sanitary
League. This work is now in progress. The
thorough cleaning of the city in front and
rear il going on, and every place where a
nuisance injurious to health is found legal
steps are taken to have it abated This inspec-
ton will go forward without halt until all
places showing sources Of contagion in any
| form (Which can be reached) will be abated.
While this is in progress the department
is carrying on its war upon the vending of un-
wholesome food. especially that OF milk,
and this will continue without cessation
until families in all parts Of the city will be
furnished with it in pure and wholesome
| form. Analysis Of the water used from public
pumps is also carried on with increasing vigi
lance. and the use OF this water from contami-
mated wells is prevented by closing them mp
until properly remeaied. In every direction
| where the least source of disease is suspected,
! either in food or domestic surroundings or fac
| tories. inspection is made and abatement, as
| far as law can be executed, enforced.
| While these lines of progressive and cor
receive action are being followed, in a few DAYS
free application of disinfectants will be made
| to all the outdoor places in the city re-
! quiring them. without cost to individuals
| 1t is almost too early to draw con-
IL.
| which has accomplished only about one-third of
| its work That the reduction Of the death rate
may be accomplished through human agency,
iptelllaently employed. has been abundantly
| proved in other instances. The steady
| decrease in the number of deaths weekly for a
| number of weeks. falling successfully from $50
to l09. l04 and last week 10 co. gives good
ground to hope that the improvement may be
permanent against local causes. Then the
| postponement of the annual visitation of
| cholera infantum and kindred diseases gives
further cause for congratulation. This vista
| ton usually for years has made its first ap-
pearance about the first week in May, and runs
the death rate upward speedily to the high
| est point OF the year. Now nigh the
middle of June no sign OF the outbreak has
| happened and infant mortality stands at and
| below the normal for the whole year. Un-
| doub:edly this is remarkable fact. and il pure
surroundings, pure air and pure milk food for
:he infants have effected this result, then WASH
ington has done great work for herself aud
| for her sister cities.
II sanitation, either voluntary or enforced,
| accomplishes so much then it follows that those
| in authority over such matters have great re-
sponsbility resting upon them. II proper
sanitation saves life. then neglect
| thereof causes loss Of life. Hence in
presenting this general and hopeful view Of the
hygienic condition Of our District, also wish
| to present the subject of the abatement Of two
grea: plague spots which now exist in a manner
dreadfully and continually threatening the
lives of our neighbors and people at large l
refer to the James Greek canal and the Rock
creek sewer system.
| THE JAMES CREEK CANAL.
The James Creek canal is but an open
sewer. 1t is q continuation OF the inclosed
Tiber sewer. Beginning at the end Of this
sewer at G street and South Capitol street
| five squares south of the Capitol edifice
it extends southwesterly nearly a mile and
a half. where it debouches into the Eastern
branch. 1t is 120 feet wide, over six feet deer
| average OF water and over seven thousand fee,
| in extent as by the authentic maps Its course
Is over fiat, nearly on q level
Rnd its elevation equal to that OF
The tide water. 1t depends on the ebb and flow
Of the tides for its flushing. 1t ia the outlet O,
| ihore