Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-27
DISTRICT AFFAIRS.
How Capt. Powell Will Flush the
Old Canal.
THE INFECTION HOSPITAL.
Protests Filed by Property Owners - The
Authority for Making Milk Analyses -
Bids for New Sewer-Plans for Extend.
ing Streets.

| the problem for flushing the open sewers Of
the James Greek canal and 18th street. He is
paying particular attention just now to the
James Creek canal, which he considers
far more important than the other.
At the mouth of the sewer it is expected a
needle trap gate will be erected and closed at
high tide. shutting in . quantity OF the
sewage. About a million and half gallons
Of water from the lower area will be thea turned
into the sewer and when the tide falls
the gate will be raised and the large BODY of
pent-up water and sewage allowed to fow
with all Of its force through the canal. 1t
IL believed that this force Will remove all of
| the deposits on the sides and clean the bot
tom Of the canal. The needle gate. which is
to be erected is an ingenious continuance to
overcome the pressure of water. solid gate
placed on an incline could not be raised readily,
while the needle gate, which is composed
Of straight strips Of wood operated s;ngly
can be handled with ease. Capt Pow
ellis object is to clean these canals as soon as
possible and operate in conjunction with
the health officer, who proposes in q few
days to commence q general cleaning and
disinfection OF all the sewers in the Dis
trict. DR.. Hsmmett has two schemes. one Of which
is to prepare two tanks containing mapganate
Of soda and the other sulphuric acid and at
stated intervals mix the two in such quantities
as to form permanganate OF soda and then let
it into the sewers. This is q power
full disinfectant and DR.. Hammett believes
will kill any bacteria that may exist. This,
however, will cost considerable money, and
while he is conducting experiments on thai
line q quantity of sulphste of iron will be
dumped into the sewers at different places and
allowed to dissolve.
THE PROTESTS AGAINST THE HOSPITAL.
East Washington is up in arms against the
location Of the contagious disease hospital in
| square 1112, and this mornings mail brought
the Commissioners a number Of letters pro-
testing against the SITE Charles Early
writes that he is the owner Of the
west half Of square 1929 and also has a large in
terest in squares 1887 1884 and 1912. and il q
hospital is erected on the square selected seri-
Gus damage would result to him as well as to
others who own tracts Of land In the same
locality. Already he had suffered on account
Of al intending purchaser declining to close a
deal FOR property in that vicinity which was
about to be closed.
The City Investment Company writes that it
is the owner OF lot within few hundred feet
Of where il is proposed TO locate the contagious
disease hospital and they protest earnestly
agains. its location and ask that a time be APP
pointed for the hearing of objections SO that
the companys attorney eau be present
v. G. Williams writes requesting that before
any further action Is taken the property own
ers in the vicinity be allowed tine privilege of .
hearing in opposition TO the same.
W. Mosby Williams says he is surprised to
learn that the Commissioners even entertained
an idea OF locating sucn hospital within the
city limits. and he hopes that the matter may
be reconsidered and the hospital located out
side Of the city proper.
Williams Bros, real estate brokers, call at
tention to the fact that the property in the
vicinity Of where it is proposed to
locate the hospital has borne its proportion of
taxes for the past one hundred years and
il only now receiving limited returns in the
shape of street improvements 1t would be an
outrage. they say, to locate the hospital as pro-
and such q thing would completely retard its
progress. Thoy ask that before final action is
taken a hearing be arranged SO that those in
terested can appear before the board and state
their case.
The deal, as far as the Commissioners are
concerned, has been closed, for they have al-
ready made q deposit of sIOO and the
title to the land is now being exam
ined. Commissioner Ross said this morning
that protests would come in. no matter where the
hospital was located. He had been informed
by medical men, high in their profession, that
would not be 9 menace to the health OF the
neighborhood. In Boston the contagious dis
ease hospital was directly opposite
school where over 800 boys were in attendance,
and no serious consequences had as vet re-
suited. A contagious disease hospital in this
city, he said, would be filled principally by
scarlet fever and diphtheria patients. and these
we have among us all the time.
THE EXTENSION OF SHEETS.
The engineer department is working zealously
on the plan for the extension of the streets. 1t
has been about decided that the map will be
prepared to show the straigh. extension OF
Connecticut avenue, 18th street and
North Carolina avenue. and will
receive the approval Of the Com
missioners when it goes TO the commission for
final action. 1t is the intention Of the Com
missioners to extend Connecticut avenue and
Massachusetts, avenue to Rock creek with
a view Of throwing handsome stone
structure across the creek at some fu-
ture time. The new map will also
show on 10th street extended, circle at the
intersection OF Piuey Branch and the B,ag1eu
road. New Jersey avenue will probably be
detected somewhat in its extension. 1t is ex-
pected that this map will be laid before the
Commissioners early in July.
THE ANALYSIS OF MILK.
sis SKINNED milk aduiterated milk within
the meaning of the law?''
That Ia the question Health Officer Hammett
is wrestling with just at this time. and he
thinks it is This morning he called the
attention Of the Commissioners TO the matter
and asked them to write letter to the COM
missioner of internal revenue for the purpose
Of getting him to designate the chemist at the
health Office TO proceed under the act of Oc-
tober IL, 1883. to prevent the manufacture or
sale of adulterated food or drugs in the Dis
tfict of Columbia.
DR.. Hammett first called attention to the fol-
lowing regulation governing the sale of milk
under the above law:
Whole (pure) milk. the minimum specific
gravitv,' actual density shalI be lOS0 at co.
f.. and The milk shall contain not less than
1870 parts in 100 of solids. as follows:
Solids. not fat. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 95
Water. not more than. ...............S SO
The removal OF cream. the addition OF water.
| foreign fats or coloring matter will be consid-
cred authorizations.
IF We had such a standard" said Dr. Ham
| NETT. there would be no trouble and nv Office
could proceed against the Illegal dealers at
| once. The following paragraph from the -egu-
| lations OF the book on food authorizations con-
tains the requisite authority:
I'm view Of the fact that the word ANALYST
| is not Used in the act except in section IL. as
/ above quoted, this department is in come
| doubt rs to what analyst is referred to-
| In order to avoid any controversy it ia
| deemed best to require the commissioner of
internal revenue, as we'll as any officer or nersop