The morning times., 1896-03-14
FOR THE PUBLIC HEALTH
Bill TO Provide a Better System
For Draining Refuse.
URGED BY HEALTH OFFICER
mmissIoners Forward the Measure
To Congress and Ask for Its Adop-
tion-Substitute for House Bill TO
Regulate Street Hallway Transfers.
Issued Only for Cash Fares.

The municipal authorities have transmit
ted TO both houses Of Congress, as one
measure to prevent diseases from becoming
epidemic, tie draft of II bill 10 make it
obligatory upon lot owners to connect their
premises with the public st wers to drain the
lots of all objectionable refuse
The bill provides that every improved lot
or subdivision of a lot in the District which
is located on a street where there are sewer
facilities shal! be connected with the sewer
or water mains in such manner as 10 admit
OF free drainage.
Lots upon which there are no buildings
may be also required TO be connected with
the sewer when, in the Judgment of the
health officer. such connection is necessary
for the public health.
II is provided that notice shall be served
upon owners OF every lot coming within
the provisions OF the act TO so connect
his lot, and upon failure or refusal TO comply
the offender shall be declared guilty q q
miSdcmcanor, and upon conviction in the
police court shall be fined not less than 81
nor more than SO for each Gay Of neglect.
In the cases of nOn-TesideBtS, the wnprs
! being beyond reach of the ordinary notice,
| the commissioners are authorized I o
| advertise the notification and subsequently
TO have the work done ana charge the costs
! against the property, which is To be
! levied as tax and collected in the usual
! Mariner.
HEALTH OFFICER COMMENDS.
a communication from the health officer
accompanies the papers to Congress. In
support of Tire enactment DR.. Woodward
| says the necessity for such legislation
| was made more than ever apparent by the
recent Investigations made 10 ascertain
/ the cause OF the prev alence of typhoid fever.
| The enOrmouS value of properly
! planned and constructed system of ewers, y
/ he says cannot be overestimated. But
/ il is emarkabie that in the recent agitation
for improvement of sewer facilities so
much should have been said about the need
of new sewers and SO little about the inn
| portance ofavailing ourselves OF those veal
| ready have.
Sewers do not serve their purpose unless
| the o owners of ahutting property connect that
! property with them. In some cases IT is
done voluntarily. but in others, aud these last
are the cases where St werS are most needed,
the owners failforeConomicTea c Tea sons TO make
| the connections
Referring 10 the act OF the legislative
assembly upon this same sub ject, Dr..
| Woodward says that without considering
| the present legal status OF that law, IL Is
! imperative. There is no public money
| available for usc by the District in making
| the connections required by he act OF
assembly. and no penalty upon the owners
| except that the District shall have the
| connections made, ard charge IL against
| the property, TO bc collected in the same
| manner as other special taxes.
In conclusion, the health officer says IL
| is the urgent request OF his department, in
| view OF its impOr ance 10 the health OF
| the community, hat the bin shall become
| a law
FREE TRANSFER SYSTEM
missioners for the measure now before
Congress TO provide for interchange of
| fares and transfers among the street rail
ways OF the District, IHention OF which
was made in The Evening Times OF yes
trrday, prov d,S lha; the Anacustia and
Potomac River. the Belt Line. the Capital
| Traction, the Columbia. tie lexington and
Soldiers Home, ard the Metropolitan Rail.
way Companies, respectively, shall, after
thirty days from ne approval OF the act,
adopt the transfer system.
Each company is required to issue on its
| cars, for scent cash fare"
The Bright wood, the Georgetown and
Teneyto wn and the Washington aml Great
Fails Railway Companies, respectively,
andany others that ma : hereafter construct
a road, principally suburban, are each
required to sell four coupon tickets for
twenty-five cents, each ticket good for
one continuous ride over tie road issuing
il, ard also uron intcTseCting, connecting Z
or nearly connecting lines of tie street lines
named as within the city.
All suCh tickets shall be sold on the
! cars, and violations OF tie law are punish
able by q fine of SO for each offenSe.