Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-09
FOR SEWERAGE AND WATER
A Petition Urging Their Necessity Pre-
sented to Congress Today.
Statement Made by the Committee Ap-
pointed at the Citizens Mass
Meeting Last Saturday.

The paper prepared Dy the committee dp-
pointed at the meeting of citizens that
Was held at the Shoreham last Saturday
afternoon was presented to Congress to-
day. It bears date of February Z, 1885, and
is addressed to the Senate and House Of
Representatives. The signatures are those
of Justice Harlan, W. ]. Boardman, Gen.
John M. Schofeld, Col. James G. Berret,
Crosby S. Noyes, Frank Cotton and DR..
John S. Billings. The text in full is as
follows:
1.-The undersigned were appointed COM
mittee by mass meeting of citizens held
at the Shoreham on Saturday, February 2,
and were directed to urge upon Congress
the necessity of some early provision for
the extension Of the sewerage system and
the improvement of the water supply of
the District of Columbia.
1.-THE subjects referred to have been long
under consideration by Congress, and care
full investigation has been made regarding
them, not only by the municipal officers Of
this city, but by the committees on the Dis
trict of Columbia in both the House and
Senate, who have made elaborate reports to
both houses, urging prompt and favorable
acton, realizing the imperative needs of
the proper facilities for sewerage as well
as absolute publication of the supply or
water for this District.
Seriousness of the Situation.
1.-THE seriousness of the situation. so far
as sewers are concerned, was recognized by
President Harrison, and a board of sani-
tary engineers of the highest prominence
and character was appointed by authority
of Congress, to whom they reported in
1890. From that date to this the substance
of the report has been constantly brought
to the attention of the proper authorities,
but without resulting in any action.
THE necessity for action regarding the
improvement of the water supply has been
stated by the chief of engineers, and has
also been demonstrated by the lack of
water during the past few weeks. That
the District Of Columbia, in view of the
contamination of the water, as well as de-
fective sewerage, seems remarkable.
1.-The national capital, where so many
citizens from all parts of the country live
during part of the year at least, is one of
the most exposed places, so far as typhoid
fever and other kindred diseases are con-
cerned, in the country.
Pure and Abundant Water Needed.
Pure water alone should be furnished,
and there should be an abundant supply,
the use of which should be encouraged
rather than restricted. No private corpora
ton or individual would be allowed to fur
rish a city with an insufficient supply of
water or where there was the least sus-
L
polluted or tainted. so As to endanger hui
man health or life by the propagation or
extension of disease.
mo matter how great the supply of wa
ter may be, it cannot be used to advantage
or with safety without adequate sewerage.
Congress absolutely controls the revenues
Of this city. When it is not in session no
officer. can entertain an appeal involving
the appropriation of funds The taxpayers
are compelled to meet charges for main
tanning the municipal government and yet
are absolutely powerless as to the expen-
diture of their contributions for this pur-
pose. The only source Of relief, therefore,
is found in Congress.
Phenomenal Growth of the City.
''Ths city has had a phenomenal growth
within the last quarter of century, and,
although wonderful improvements have
been made, still they have not been rapid
enough in the directions indicated to meet
the demands of health and comfort.
Thousands of new residents have located
here from all quarters of the country, and
are now looking for protection to intelli-
gent and liberal action of Congress, for
they can look nowhere else.
There can be no question that any
proper expenditure of money for furnish
and health would meet with the unqualified
and vigorous support of very large ma
jority of our taxpayers.
Speedy Action Needed.
$50 far as possible the urgency of speedy
action has been set forth by the Medical
Society of the District of Columbia, whose
president has been most active and efficient
in expressing the views of this body for
many months past to both the Senate and
House of Representatives and also by the
board of trade, an organization composed
of more than five hundred leading and
representative citizens of the District of
Columbia, and among them a large number
of the heaviest taxpayers.
'"This committee, therefore, Is not COM
municating any new information regarding
the needs Of the District, or the dangers
which attend the postponement of prompt
action for relief. We do, however, feel
that steps should be taken at once to rem
edy the dangerous condition and to remove
causes which are liable at any time to
result in largely increased death rate and
bring terrible disaster upon the national
capital"