Evening star., 1896-12-02
DISEASE BREEDERS
Anacostia Flats and the Necessity
Of Their Reclamation.
DISCUSSED BY CITIZENS MEETING
East Washington Association
Means to Push the Plan.
OFFE RS OF ASSIST nee

The largest meeting the East Washington
Citizens Association ever held took place
last night at Baum's Hall.
Representatives from the Northeast Citi-
zens' Association and the North Capitol
and lexington Association were also pres
ent, the presidents. Mcssrs. Tucker and
Henderson, occupying the platform with
President Babson. Mr.. Frank Hume of the
beard of trade. District Chemist Hird and
Engineer Commissioner Powell were also
present.
Before the regular business of the even
ing. the discussion OF the reclamation of
The Anacostia flats. President Babson an
hounced the chairmen of the following
&C mmittees: Railroads. J. D. Croissant:
streets, avenues and alleys. T. w. Smith;
water. light and sewers. A. F. Sperry: as
sessments and apportionmcrt of appropria-
uons. M. l. Weller: parks and spaces. w
a tronut; schools. Robert F. Hill: pro-
posed legislation, w. c. Dodge: health DO
ice and charities. S. S. Yoder; reclamation
OF mats and improvements of the Anacostia
river, Tracy l. Jeffords chairman-T "A
Smith. A. F. Sperry. j. r. Nottingham. J.
"A. II: richards. Hugh T. Taggart ami
Evan n. Tucker.
AnacUxtia Flats.
President Babson announced his gratifoa
ton at The large attendance. He called
Upon Chairman Jefrords OF the committee
on the Anacostia fats, who read extracts
from Il former report upon this subject.
a letter from Commissioner Ross was
read. expressing his hearty approval of tie
movement ard regretting his inability To
be press mt at the meeting. Engineer Com
missioner Charles +. Powell then address, q
the meeting. He explained, among other
things. that the Anacos:ia river above the
pennsylvania avenue bridge Should proper
~ belong to the District. and it was pro-
posed, when reclaimed to lay out a parx
along its banks. He exhibits a map
showing ,he details of the proposed pian
and explained ii fully. This map, with its
numerous features. has heretofore b. en- re-
ferred to in The Star.
letter commerdine the movement from
Dr. $. c. Busey was read
Disemse Propagation.
Then came the doctors and there were a
number of them present. They gave TIE
flats big black eye, and made il appear
Icy tfeir experience that these Anscostia
fats had propagated more disease than al.
other things put together. Superintendent
Stoutenbureh of the Washington asylum
gave some interesting testimony to the
evil effects of the Anacostia fats upon the
convicts and paupers. He was followed by
his son. DR. J. A. Stoutenburgh ply
sician to the poor for the fourteenth dis
trict. who referred to the great prevalence
of malaria in his district, the n. Arrest tc
the Eastern branch. Last week cut of 116
patients seventy-nine had malaria. He
urged in the interest Of health that the fats
be reclaimed. And he pointed out the
money that could he saved in medicines
alone by the Improvement Of the flats. DR.
StoutenDurS!i gave an interesting and
tertaining discussion of malaria, and point
ed out conciusiveiy the part the fats played
in the dissemination of the disease. Drs.
Clark. Hodges and Battle gave simil;r tes-
timcny. Prof. Hird, the District chemist.
also spoke to the subject.
Rev. DR.. Parsons believed that the move
Anacostia fats should be universal 1t af-
fected the entire District. There should be
larger meetings and more energy put into
such d we!l-deserred improvement.
Plan Proposed.
Mr.. T. W. Smith offered resolution re-
citing that the channel of the Eastern
branch must be deepencd for navigation
purposes. in the interest of commerce and
the navy. far. at least as PENNSYLVANIA
avenue bridge. but no further. That above
should be reclaimed for the benefit of the
District and recommending that the Com
missioners be requested to urge an appro-
priation of $5uWOO0 for that purpose. Ii
was carried. after Mr.. Smith had explained
that IL was agreed on all sides that Con-
greSS would not consider the deeu-ains of
the channel above the Pennsylvania avenue
bridge. He said further. that there was
little need of such thing. Wharyes were
not needed there. The energy uf the city
Should be concentrated to reclaim III. fla;s
The board of trade had agreed 10 :ppoint
a special committee at its next meeting
OH the 9th instant. 10 investigate This very
subject.
Mr.. Frank Hume followed. Tl:e nosrI of
trade was ready. willing and anxious 10 CO.
operate with the East Washington Citi-
ems Association to help "ec.ai.n the Ana
costa fats.
Upon motion of Mr.. Jeffords a resolution
Was passed thanking the board of trade
Tor its interest I'm the proposed improve
ment.
Presidents Tucker of the Northeast
Washington Citizens Association an.. Hen
derson of the lexington Citizens Asstc;a-
tion also spoke IN favor of the proposed
reclamation.
BOard Of Trade.
President Babson read a letter from
President Woodward upon the subject. set
ting forth the importance of the subject
to the health and welfare of the people of
this city and promising the cooperation of
the hoard of trade to bring about this
much reeded improvement.
Secretary John b. Wight of the board of
trade also wrote letter. which President
Babson read, in which he expressed his
hearty syn pathy with the movement.
Representative f. S. Minor of Wisconsin
closed the speechmaking of the evening
He came here two years ago with hIs
ia niiy, and in short time they had ma
laria. He lived in the eastern section of
the city. 1t was shame and a disgrace
to the capital city that ii had gone forth
a hof oc,;