The morning times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1897, 1895-11-15

The dangers which lurk around the dis
ease pond, known as James Creek Canal,
are attracting the attention OF Coroner
HamnletU. He is thoroughly alive 10 the
menace, both as regards It's dangerous
condition as a deaVu trap anu las IN
sanitary aspect. To Times reporter Dr.
Hammett said IL was the greatest menace
10 the health Of Washington, and tue light
which The Times has waged against IL has
his Endorsement:
When a caDiegram comes from the other
side of the Atlantic" he said, stating
hatthere is a case of cholera there, peopie
here begin to tatk about quarantine resuia :
tions; when dispatch comes up from the lar
south to the effect that there is an Isolated
case OF yellow fever i'll some place, OF which
Washington never heard of before, the
Marine Hospital authorities begin to get
into their working clothes; but when a
man talks OF the oreadTul disease breeding
open sewer that runs through part or this
town, the warning voice very often fails on
listless ears.
MIGHTY OPEN SEWER.
flames Greek canal ought 10 be closed
in and flushed out. This must be done, be-
cause the danger from this mighty open
sewer grows more imminent each Gay as
the population OF the city increases and
as the mass of sewage passing down into
Tie kldtgniHt bttoAHeo 5iNHeNA'
i don't know that practical plan has
been lit upon us yet Tor obviating this
terror.
II recall that when / was health officer
a Georgetown man came to me ana an
nounced that lie had a proposition for
flushing the canal. He proposed to pump
Ills water from the Eastern Branch into
a tank near the head OF The canal and force
the water back TO the river. thus flushing
-. AL rAlg considered
it was not thought practical.
NO DELAY SHOULD EXIST.
'.something must be Gone and must be
done quickly. II ought To be cone al once.
OF course there is great danger from peo-
pie falling INTO the canal because of the
lack of protection along It's siCes, but THIS
is a minor danger in comparison Will The
menace TO public health. Askany physician
In the District what he thinks about James
Greek canal, and he will become enthu-
siastic in his condemnation Of IT.
''One of the arguments used in behalf OF
the delay in the matter of reclamation is
that it passes through the poorest part of
the city. The residents OF the poorest part
of the city are as much entitled to protec-
ton against disease as the residents Of the
richest. 1t may be that they are more
entitled TO this protection because Tor
various reasons they are more exposed to
the raVageS OF ulseaSe tHu Iedst dpit ~
protect themselves.
IN ANOTHER PHASE.
Then there is another side 10 the case.
which is that one oI The reasons why that
section of the city through which james
Creek canal runs is one OF the poorest,
is that this canal does run through it. 1t
would probably be 4 very desirable part
of the city but for the presence Of this
sewer. But il is Eot cnly u nuisance to
South Washington. What concerns South
Washington in the matter OF health con-
Germs North Washington as well. There
cannot be contagious disease in one section
without exposure to the other section.
| Then this canal is so far reaching in its
| baleful influence that II can attack one
part of the city just as readily as another
| James Creek canal Is a nuisance and
menace which ought, for the sake Of our
lives be abated."