Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-01
DISTRICT AFFAIRS
More About the Location of the Con.
tagious Hospital.
CHIEF JUSTICE BINGHAM
Sends . Protest From DR.. McWilliams and
Letter From Acting Attorney General
Maxwell Against Its Being Placed in
Square 1I1e-Other Items of Interest.

Matters are beginning to assume bad shape
regarding the establishment Of hospital for
Contagious diseases in square 1it2. This morn
ing the acting attorney general. through the
chief justice of the Supreme Court Of the Dis
trict, entered protest against the location Of
the hospital on the site above referred to.
As heretofore printed in THE STAR. DR.. A.
Mcwilliams, the physician at the Jail. called
the attention of the Attorney General to the
probable location OF the hospital near the Jail
some weeks ago in the following letter:
II beg leave respectfully to call YOUR attention
to building known as the Smallpox Hospital,
which stands in very dangerous proximity to
the United States Jail. The building has been
the source to which every case Of smallpox
which has appeared in the Jail has
been traced. In more than one in
stance patients have wandered from the
hospital and have been found in the
vestibule Of the Jail covered with smallpox.
Well understanding the great danger the pris-
oners and officers Of the Jail exposed to. the
late warden ard physician, well as the pres
ent warden and myself, have been endeavoring
to have the building destroyed or removed, but
without success. as no one seemed to know
who had the authority to extend the protec-
ton called for. see that it is the intention of
the city authorities to erect additional buildings
on the same site for the admission at all times
OF contagious diseases. 1t is useless for me to
say to you that such an act would be one of
needless cruelty, forcing the unfortunate
prisoners to hive in a death trap, as the
Jail would inevitably become crowded
as it is. and with persons of 80 low a class. The
number of men, women and children to be
locked behind the bars Of a prison. with no
chance of escape. daily exposed to tho danger
eases. h too possible thought to be dwelt
upon. You will. 1 hope, pardon
my trespassing on your valuable
time, but the medical officer
of the Jail feel in duty bound to call your
attention to this matter while it may be in
your power to interpose and apply a remedy
for the protection Of those who are in some
measure under your Jurisdiction.
THE ACTING ATTORNEY GENERALS LETTER.
Acting Attorney General Lawrence Maxwell.
jr. after considering the matter. sent the letter
Of Dr. McWilliams to Chief Justice Bingham OF
the Supreme Court of the District with the
following letter:
Il inclOse herewith a copy Of letter from
DIR. A. McWilliams, physician at the United
States Jail in the District of Columbia, relative
to the smallpox hospital near the Jail, and the
report that it is intended to erect additional
buildings near by for the treatment Of all con-
tagious diseases.
DIR. McWillIams statement that patients
from the old Smallpox Hospital have hereto
fore been found covered with the disease in the
Jail vestibules. is startling, and shows the
danger to which the occupants Of the Jail have
been subjected.
II sincerely hope that such action NAV be
taken by the District authorities as will effect
the removal Of the building referred to as the
Smallpox Hospital, and that the erection of ad-
dltional ones for a like purpose on the same
slte If contemplated. may be prevented. The
lives of those who are obliged to occupy
the Jail, officers well prisoners,
should not be jeopardized by the
proximity of a building for the reception and
treatment Of persons suffering with the most
virulent and loathsome diseases. / have the
honor to request that. If you approve the posi-
ton of the department in this matter. you will
kindly indorse such approval on this coInmuni-
cation. and refer it to the Commissioners of the
District for their consideration"
Judge Bingham made the following indorse-
ment upon the letter: THE foregoing COM
munica:ion, with that Of DIR. A. Mcwilliams, is
respectfully referred hto the onorable Com
missioners Of the District of Columbia for their
careful examination and wise action in the
premises. BY direction OF the Justices Of the
Supreme Court OF the District of Columbia"
SPEED OF THE RBIGHrwooD CARS.
Upon the recommendation of Capt. Fiebeger
the Commissioners today ordered that the max
imum speed Of the Brightwood railroad cars
should be fifteen miles per hour from Bright
wood avenue to Takoma Park. and twelve miles
per hour upon Brightwood avenue north of
Rock Creek Church road, and nine miles per
hour on Brightwood avenue south OF Rock
Creek Church road.
WANTS THE WORK. HURRIED.
Mr. A. A Birney has called the attention of
the Commissioners to the extremely slow man