Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-14
THE DISTRICT BUILDING,
Defective Sanitary Conditions Pointed
Out by q Board of Experts.

Defective Sanitary Conditions Pointed
Out by . Board of Experts.
The board of sanitary inspectors, COM
posed Of Messrs. Hird. Shepherd and WEIGH
detailed to make an examination Of the
District building with a view of determin-
ing its sanitary condition today made its
report. which is as follows:
1. This investigation included an exam
ination into the general sanitary condition,
such as location, ventilation. capacity of
quarters In relation to the number Of en-
ployes. toilet arrangements, etc. .. An
inspection Of the plumbing. 8. An inspec-
ton of the sewer located under the build
Ing and the outlets leading from the same.
AS result Of our investigation we would
first call particular attention to the location
OF the building. This structure was con-
Verted from a brick warehouse into its
present condition. 1t is built upon made
ground. the deposits of the city's refuse
having been dumped at this point for years.
AS there Is no system OF ventilation be-
tween the ground moor and the surface, II is
fact that this soil, coming In contact with
the steam pipes. which ramify under the
building, cannot but rarely the air to that
extent as to afford an opportunity for the
dissemination OF obnoxious gases from the
SOIL through the rooms of the building. We
l1nd also that there Is no attempt at ventila-
tlon IN the building. aside from the windows,
which are In many cases Inadequate, par
ticularly In the closets. We are also Of the
opinion that the toilet arrangements are
entirely too small and antiquated for a pub
lie building where there is so large a force
as Is here employed. 1t was noticeabl that
the doors Of the closets worked outward
INTO the halls, rather than upward through
the small windows intended for their exit.
Ventilation Defective.
when these facts are taken into consider
alton, together with the large number of
daily visitors to the District building. it is
evident that the method of ventilation, as
1t now exists, Is seriously deficient. The
there being strong evidence Of a direct con-
nection between the sewer and the build
Ing OF such a character as to allow the en-
trance Of gases into the building.
In regard to the sewer, we found the
arch of the same to be in excellent condi-
ton. no cracks or breaks being visible.
There were. however four eight and two
twelve-inch dry sewerage pipes directly
under the building, which are evidently of
no use, and should therefore be closed, as
means Of escape for the gases into the
building.
VIII Go to Congress-.
The report of the inspectors from the
health Office concerning the sanitary con-
dition Of the District building has set the
Commissioners to work. Upon the receipt
of the report Commissioner Ross had a
talk with the Engineer Commissioner. and
1t was decided to go before the House COM
mittee on public buildings and grounds
and urge the Importance of an appropria-
tion for new municipal building. The
Commissioners had a report prepared show
Ing the number of clerks in The building
by rooms, and will exhibit this to show the
crowded condition OF the building.