Evening star., 1896-10-05
TOCREMATE PAUPERS
A Plan Suggested to Do Away With
Potter's Field.
MORGUE INCLUDED IN TEE PROPOSAL
Affairs of Interest to District Resi-
dents and Taxpayers.
EXAMINI G YSICIANS S

Potter's field is doomed. The pauper
burying ground on the Eastern branch is
to be abandoned-that is, if the Commits
sioners. can persuade Congress to appro-
pirate enough money to erect crematory
there. The scheme originated with Inten-
dant Stoutenburgh, and has the indorse-
ment of the Commissioners, who will in
clude an item for the same in their annual
estimates to Congress.
Aside from the sanitary features of a
crematory for destroying the bodies of the
pauper dead, Intendant Stoutenburgh points
to the fact that the field has been buried
over and over SO often that within p short
time it will be impossible to dig grave
without striking another very near the sur
face.
1t is the purpose of the Commissioners to
erect model crematory on the site Of the
present bury1ng s>rund and have in con-
nection with it a first-clasS morgGe, with
all modern conveniences. In fact, the
proposition will be made in connection with
morgue, building of which the District
has been SO sorely in need for so many
years. At the present time there Is a
small brick building in the rear Of the sixth
precinct station house which is used as a
morgue. 1t Is thoroughly unsuited for the
purposes of morgue. and there are no
facilities for keeping bodies of unclaimed
dead nor for performing autopsies. Year
after year the coroner has recommended
that an estimate be included in their rec
concentrations to Congress for a morgue,
and the Commissioners have consistently
asked Congress for an appropriation to
build one. No matter how modest their re-
guest. it has always been denied.
Matters have changed now, and it is be-
heved with the argument of an over-buried
cemetery and the proposition to purchase
another burying ground for the paupers.
Congress will realize the exigency of the
situation and appropriate sufficient funds
to erect a crematory, and with it morgue.
A Star reporter interviewed Intendant
Stoutenburgh upon the subject today. He
said it was true that he had recommended
the erection of crematory. He did so for
several reasons. First and foremost, be-
cause potter's field was overcrowded. The
cemetery had been buried over several
times. until at present it was difficult to
find a place of sufficient depth to make a
burial. He was opposed to superficial in
terments. They were always liable to
spread disease. Cremation was sanitary
and defied grave robbers better than all the
guards in the world.
An Incorporation.
The Widows and Charitable Working
Club. No. l, of the District of Columbia
was incorporated today by articles filed by
Lizzie Johnson. Harriet Boston, Mary E.
Cousey, Josephine Green. Susannah Pratt,
Ellen Branders and Mary Segal. The pur-
pose OF the organization is to care for the
colored poor and sick widows of the Dis
trict. 81" s.1i
Reserving Seats.
Another fight to prevent theatrical man.
ayers from reserving seats after the open
ing of the theater is promised. Recently
a gentleman called the attention of the
Commissioners to this matter, which he
characterized as unjust to the public, and
urged that the District take some action
to compel the managers to observe theSlaW.
The Commissioners, it is understood, have
decided that while there has been a legal
opinion upon this matter confirming the
injustice, and declaring in specific terms
against 1t, they have no power to issue a
police regulation upon the subject, nor &C
compel the theaters to observe the law.
The matter, 1t is understood, will be fur
ther prosecuted.
CrematOry Site.
A plat of the ground upon which it is
proposed to locate the new garbage crema-
tory has been made by the building inspec-
tor in accordance with the direction of the
Commissioners, and furnished to the latter
with report that the proposed structure
is within the limit prescribed by the build.
ing regulations for buildings OF that class.
In other words, the whole question of q
dlDdSS CIcIHdlOTy upon the OBSERVATORY
site hinges upon the Interpretation of The
law regarding nuiSances. 80
The Commissioners will probably send the
matter to the attorney for the District foi
a legal Interpretation of the statute, anL
upon this report final action will be taken
1t Is understood the property owners i1
the neiehborhood of the proposed site will
make fight before the Commissioners tt
prevent the erection of the crematory. They
Will, 1t is stated, use the argument thai
will Z T.,
depreclate property, and further, being
within the limit of 200 feet of dwelling a.
prescribed 10y law, is Illegal.
Street Sweeping Estimates.
In an interview with reporter Of The
Star concerning the new street sweeping
estimates, Superintendent Mckenzie said:
In making my estimates for street an6
avenue sweeping, &C., for 1898, increased
the amount for such work $4,000, as the
eiEht-hour law will affect the next con.
tract, Ii one is made, or the authorities. il
they did the work directly. Under the
present contract, the contractor works his
men ten or more hours per day, the law re-
ferred to not having gone into effect at tn.
time the contract was made. He Is not COM
PEELED under its terms to complete his work
between 1O pm. and am. Those hours
as fixed in the specifications and made q
part OF the contract. allow him in addi
ing is done. to get up the dirt, which makes
ten hours If, however. he was working
under the law CT 1892 known as the eight
hour law. he would have to complete the
work as an en- t1rety between the hours OF
lO pm. and am. II those were the hours
hxed In future contracts. 1t follows, then
that to do the same amount of work il
eight hours as now done in ten, it would
require more force. More force increase:
the cost; hence, l estimated such increas
OF cost at 21,0OO, or One-fourth more thar
the same amount of work was costing a
| present. 1 think that 1 am right. 1 submit
copy of section Z of specification ATTACHED
| to present contract:
The daily sweeping must be done be
tween the hours of 10 pm and 6 am il
summer and 10 pm. and am. in the win
ter. Tne sweepings must be removed from
the street within two hours from the tim,
| OF sweeping. In special cases the Commits
| sloners may direct such variation from
these hours as in their judgment shall b,
| advisable.
THE other increases asked for are SO. .OO
| to sweep streets now swept once Der wee,