The Washington times., 1894-06-17
PHYSICIANS OBJECT LESSON
House Committeeman Instructed BY
Charts on Sanitation.
FAVOR BONDS FOR NEW SEWERS
Relation Of Public Health to Proper Sewer
age System Explained-Typhoid Fever
Can Be Prevented-W. c. Dodge Opposes
the Proposed Issue.

There was a large assemblage Of physicians
and other citizens of the District in the room
OF the House Committee on the District OF
Columbia yesterday morning. Two large
maps were displayed on the walls, giving
some very interesting Information on the
relation of sewers to the public health. Great
black lines showed the comparative amount
of sickness from typhoid fever in the large
cities of the world before and after proper
sewer facilities were provided. They showed
that an enormous mortality from this cause
was reduced to almost nothing when sewers
were provided.
This little object lesson was there as an
argument in favor of the bill to permit the
District OF Columbia to issue S7,500, 600 Of
bonds to perfect its system of sewers and to
extend its streets throughout the ten square
miles set apart as the capital of the nation
IT cAE BE PREVENTED.
DR.. Prentice was the first to ad lress the
committee He said that it was an undis-
puted fact that typhoid fever could be pre-
vented. Every well in this city was polluted
because of a lack of proper sewerage. Only
4 l:.;le while ago he had discovered that
about fifty or sixty boys and girls OF the high
school We're drinking water from a pump at
the corner of o and Sixth streets. The water
from that pump was impure, which fact he
reported to the health officer.
DIR. Adams said that Of the inmates OF the
CEllGrens hospital in this city during the
last two years there had been one death from
typhoid fever. and this was caused by drink
ing impure water from pump.
Commissioner Powell was present and ex-
planned that once year all the pumps in the
city were examined and cleaned, aud that
wherever impurities were found the pump
was removed.
OPPOSED By ". C. DODGE.
Nearly everybody who had come before the
District Committee in regard to this bond is
sue has favored it, but W. c. Dodge made an
argument that every one recognized as an
able one on his side of the question. He was
against the bonds and this extensive street
and sewer Improvement. He did not think
the District debt ought to be increased, as it
now took S7500 000 year to meet the sinking
fund. He went on TO say that there was no
justification OF the scheme to tax the District
in order to run streets and sewers through
out the county.
PRESENT SYSTEM SHOULD BE FOLLOWED.
He urged that the present system for
finally securing proper sewerage for the
District should be followed but the item
for street extension could not be passed,
as Congress had already provided that the
general government should not share in the
expense involved In such work. He did not
think it wise to place a vast sum OF money in
the hands of the District Commissioners, who
would probably be influenced IN its expendi-
ture by great syndicates.
Mr.. Dodge's statement in some instances
were contradicted by Commissioner Trues-
dell. Mr.. Truesdell said the government
owned about 40 per cent. OF the property in
the county. and drew the conclusion that on
that account the District would not have to
pay all the expense for improvement there.
He showed a little feeling in speaking of
people who condemn all those who want to
advance the interest of the county by calling
them spectators. and said that by the terms
of the bill, which had been prepared with
great care by the Commissioners. every street
in the city must be graded and curbed before
there could be any expenditure in the county.
The committee. at the close of the hearing,
requested both Mr.. Dodge and Mr. Truesdeli
to present to them in writing on next Tuesday
any further statements they may wish them to
consider in regard to the bond issue. Mr.
Truesdell will submit statement, in which
he proposes to show that Mr.. Dodge has not
kept strictly within the bounds Of facts In
what he said yesterday.
One hundred thousand readers. Ttcenty thousand
circulation. That is the short Of trhat The Times
riu do, beginning trith to-day It is the peoples
penny morning paper, reaching its readers before
they start the days shopping. Remember this, you
L. IL.