Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-14
DISTRICT AFFAIRS.
Phillips Court is Pronounced a
Veritable Plague Spot.
HEALTH OFFICERS REPORT.
Twenty Houses That Are Uninhabitable-
Immediate Steps to Put the Locality in
Good Sanitary Condition A Letter From
the Commissioner OF Internal Revenue.

According to the report Of Health Officer
Hammett Phillips court, between oath, 25th, NJ
and N streets northwest. is a veritable pest
spot and should be put in good sanitary con-
dition as soon as possible.
The attention Of the Commissioners was d.
rected to this place by several citizens and the
health officer was directed to make q thorough
investigation Of the premises and report. In
his report, submitted today he says:
"As regards Phillips, court between oath ,25th,
M and N streets northwest. 1 woud invite your
| attention to the letter to you from this Office
dated March z, 1893, which describes this loca-
ton as a veritabe plague spot, without water
or sewer facilities, and asking immediate action
upon the recommendations contained therein.
II desire to add for consideration in connec-
ton with said letter that the row of twenty
four-room) houses are uninhabitable. These
houses have privy accommodations which
are merely barrels sunk into the ground
and seats placed upon them The widths Of
the lots average about ten feet, consequently
two feet from alley line and five
feet from dividing lines. The five
foot alley (owned BY the Dis;ricD in
the rear Of these houses is consid-
erably higher than the surface OF the
yards, caused by the embankment on the north
II.
account of the grade of said alley the water
runs into the yards and under the houses.
There appears to be but two methods for
permanently sbating these threatening nui-
sances. First. by afording proper sewer and
water facilities and paving the alloys. which
want Of appropriation. Second, by order
ing the houses vacated and premises cleaned up.
/ recommend that the latter be done at once,
as absolutely necessary for the preservation
Al -lal
il added that he tenants in this row of
houses throw all the slop water and
other filth into 25th street, where at the mouth
Of the ffteen-foot alley. there il a manhole to
the sewer, which Is very foul and
unsanitary. 1t has been suggested that
catch basin be constructed at that point, which
might be cleaned out and flushed at stated
intervals. This is expedient ana would be adj
visable only in case permanent improvements
are not commenced at once Relative to the
condition Of 25th street between N and n
streets northwest Mr.. Callahan has Just ground
for strong complaint, and the conditions are
not overstated by him. Extremely foul odors
arise at the mouth OF the alley Phillips court,
which caused by the deposits Of slop
water and all kinds of filth around the man
hole and is not conveyed into the sewer If
the catch basin suggested is constructed 25th
street would probably be benefited. l cannot
too strongly urge that immediate steps be
taken to put this locality in good sanitary con-
d ton, and thus protect the health of the peo-
pie OF that vicinity"
PROF. HIRD CAN'T BE DESIGNATED.
Some days ago, as printed at the time in
THE STAR, the health officer requested the Sec
rotary Of the Treasury. through the Commits
sioners, to designate Prof. J. ID. Hird, the
District chemist, the analyst specified in sec
ton IL of the act to prevent the manufact-
ure or sale OF adulterated food or drugs in the
DiSfr of nl Of ipin
that this would give the local authorities better
facilities to prosecute milk dealers who
adulterated their milk.
The letter was sent to the commissioner Of
internal revenue, who says in letter
ceived by the Commissioners today:
$50 far this Office is concerned, il would
willingly divest itself Of the control given by
the act. But as the act itself
requires such control of the ANALYSIS
under rules and regulations TO be pre-
scribed by the Secretary of the Treasury and
az the regulations have been adopted (seres7 No.
l5) under which the certificate also Of the COM
missioner OF internal revenue is required to the
correctness of each anal ysis made under the act,
have not been able TO determine that it is within
the scope Of my authority to designate an
Individual not in fact under nv control or con-
nected with the bureau OF internal revenue.
1t seems that preliminary to such desig-
nation 1t would be necessary for the honorable
Secretary to be asked to modify the regulations
IN question so as to dispense with the certificate
Of the commissioner Of internal revenue
"If this shall be done and this Office relieved
from the necessity Of making pro forma certif-
Gates to facts not within its knowledge. there
would be no objection to such designation as
the health officer desires, if the authorities
more Immediately interested in the enforce
ment of the law shall deem such designation
sufficient for the purposes to be accom- lished
"In the meantime any samples submitted
under the law will be analysed by the chemist
of this bureau and certificates Of the result
promptly furnished to the District authori-
ties.
WANTS THE WORK COMPLETED.
Mr.. John E. Hammond writes to the Com
missioners today in the interests Of a number
Of residents on NJ street between 18th and 18th
streets northeast. He SAYS about year ago
q contract let to construct q sewer
on NJ street between Trinidad avenue and
18th street In January last about one-third of
the work was completed and last month a third
more. The work has since stopped and a pool
of stagnant water has formed, threatening the
neighborhood with disease. He urges the
Commissioners to look into the matter at once.
WANTS A BUILDING INSPECTED.
The Secretary Of the Navy writes to the Com
missioners today as follows: '.In view of the
recent disaster on 10th street have the honor
to request that you will have an inspection
maze OF tine bullolng NO. SlO 18th street, now
occupied by the nautical almanac office a
branch OF the Navy Department, with a view Of
determining as to Its safety, SO that il any
doubt exists on that point such measures as
may be advisable may be taken to provide
against any possible injury to persons or public
property"
SEWER CONTRACT AWARDED.
The contract for constructing the main Ana
costa sewer has been awarded to NJ F. Tally
and the construction Of the sewers ON 18th
street to B. F. Coyle.
AGAINST LIQUOR LICENSE.
The residents and property owners in square
9l5 have filed petition with the excise board
against the issuance Of a liquor license At sIs
Maryland avenue northeast.
TAXING THE FARMERS.
The Commissioners were advised this morn
ing that two men were observed going down
the line Of farmers on the south side of street
yesterday collecting a tribute of 10 cents or
more from each person occupying space at
the curb. The gentleman who protested against
this wished to know by what authority the
privilege Of using public property as private
perquisite is & ven. and also where is the law
that allows private persons to levy daily tribute
upon the farmers, which tribute must be reim-
bursed by consumers. He said it was an abuse
and an outrage.
WANT THE UNION BUILDING EXAMINED.
This morning Capt. J. G. d. knight, repre-