Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-29
Mass Meeting Considers the Proposed
Contagious Disease Hospital.
EAST WASHINGTON OBJECTS
Doesn't Want the Institution placed
on the Flats.
r EPO RI AND SPEC CHES

night for thu purpose of hearing and taxi
ing action upon a report prepared by
joint committee on the matter Of locating
the hospital in question upon the low
ground Of the western border of the Ana
costa river, as proposed recently by the
board of trade.
The attendance was not large. but in
terest never tagged for a moment.
The meeting was called to order by Pres
ident John w. Babson Of the East WASH
ington Association. Mr.. Evan H. Tucker.
president of the Northeast Washington
Association. briefly reviewed the situation.
Mr.. Tucker stated that he was glad to
have an opportunity of addressing repre-
sentatives Of the whole of East Washing
ton. for. he said, in protesting against
the location of the contagious hospital on
reservation IL the citizens shoulds present
united front. That a contagious diseases
hospital Is necessity In every large city
Is fact that cannot be doubted, he said.
The Commissioners some time ago, he
continued, decided on q site near the East
ern branch, but many good reasons were
presented to them In opposition to it's cs-
tablishment there, including the advice of
the warden of the Jail and the Jail physi-
clan against 1t. The Commissioners heard
the arguments and finally concluded to
abandon that site. Then in u systematic
manner they set about locating the insti-
tuition elsewhere. The mayors Of various
cities were communicated with, AS We're
physicians here and elsewhere. After de-
liberating nine months. the board selected
place where the ground Is high and free
from malaria. and where the air Is salubri-
ous-a site that seemed the very best for
protection of patients and for protection Of
citizens generally. But a committee Of the
board Of trade had chosen Instead Of the
site at Mount Pleasant one In reservation
Ii, adjoining the JAIL and including a por-
ton OF Potters field, a burying ground.
The committee Of the board Of trade Sc
lected this spot within six hours after 1t
was appointed, while the Commissioners
had consumed nine months in careful study
before deciding in favor of the Nit. Pleas
ant site.
Mr.. Tucker said that the executive COM
mittees of the Northeast Washington and
the East Washington Citizens Associations
met and decided to call together the men,
bers OF both organizations TO take action
on report In relation to the matter to be
prepared by ioint committee. The report
was ready.
Eastern Flats.
Chairman John w. Babson of the Joint
committee announced that the matter had
been treated somewhat heroically. The
people of East Washington. he said, think
1t the most healthy part of the city, but
they must admit that a pest spot exists
along the Eastern branch. Years ago the
center of the city was in the same con-
dition, and not so far back the Potomac
flats were similarly afflicted. Since the
latter have been reclaimed, he said, 400
lives have been saved from death that
would have been due to malaral causes.
There is now more acreage of fats In
East Washington, the speaker alleged.
than ever existed along the Potomac, and
therefore his committee did not hesitate
to bring the true condition Of affairs be-
fore the people.
The Report.
The report was then read and proved to
be a lengthy one. 1t placed the associa-
tons on record recognizing the
cessity of the speedy erection Of a hos
pital, and as realizing the dilemma in
which the authorities are placed. I'VE
come forward" says the report, mot to
thwart them in their commendable pur-
pose, but to aid them. We come to pro-
test against the location Of this hospital
upon the borders Of the pestilential marsh
es OF the Anacostia river
The report then describes the proposed
location Of the hospital as upon low
ground. having a small brook near its GEN.
ter, which struggles to carry off the sur
plus drainage through a bed of low ground
and marsh to the river, a few rods distant.
A more inviting place for the invasion of
the miasmatiC atmosphere from the flats
than TINS low ravine can hardly be found
on the line of the river. The ground rises
gradually or the north, east ana west
from this ravine to the altitude of a few
feet, the whole being 50 low to be en-
veloped by the miasm rising from the river
and flats. In evidence of this your COM
mttee has been assured that during the
prevalence of east winds it has been found
necessary to close the windows of the east
from. of the Jail. which stands on higher
ground, more remote from the river, to ex-
ciude the mia jmatic atmosphere. ,
The nearress If the Jail ard workhouse
Is pointed out and the objections of the
officials of these institutions referred to-
The report further charges that the pro-
posed site of the hospital extends over q
portion Of the public cemeteries.
Abstracts of the report made by Col
Peter c. Hams Of the engineer corps are
contained in the report. in which Col
Hams calls attention to the unsanitary
state of affairs along the Eastern branch
Likewise, reference is made to report
upon the sanitary condition of the locality
by cx-Health Officer Hammett.
After arguing that the unsanitary con-
dition of the proposed site would make it
impossible to preserve the health Of the
inmates of a hospital situated there the
report concludes with the hope that the
hospital will soon be built in some health
full locality. =.
MIR. FrfxxelPs Statements.
The report was warmly applauded. Mr..
w. j. Frizzell said that it seemed proper
to him that q set Of resolutions indorsing
the steps taken by the Commissioners
6EOulO De appeHueu. Hc cOuuitiOnS Oe-
fore them, Mr.. Frizzell continued, were
different from a meeting held on Tuesday
ey ening Of last week in Willard Hall. That
meeting was driven to accept on alleged
site for the proposed hospital for con-
tagious diseases. in compliance with the
recommendation of an alleged committee
after an alleged visit to the spot.
The people of East Washington desire q
hospital, Mr. Frizzell said further, but not
such a one as the present shed. which Is
hardly suitable to shelter animals and
where citizens are now being treated who
will probably not leave the place alive.
No mercenary motives can control the
Fest Washingtonians, it was claimed
They are not a syndicate, but are the peo-
pie who may become patients in the pro-
posed hospital.
Mr.. Weller's Speech.
Mr.. NJ. I. Weller stated that a member
of Congress had said that 1t was not neces-
sary for the subcommittee on appropria-
tions to take any action in regard to the
matter. as full authority had been vested
in the Commissioners and that Representa-
tive Henderson had suggested that a prop
er method Of solving the question Of loca-
ton would be for a committee Of repre-
sentatives from all the sections of the city
to get together and choose q SITE Mr.
Weller devoted considerable time to the
committee Of the board of trade.
'Mr. B. H. Warner" he said, ION Monday
oS,t4