Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-23
DISTRICT AFFAIR S
Citizens Complain to the Commissioners Of
Nuisances
Street DISTINCTIONS and Sewers
News of interest TO District Tax
pMyeRS-Favorably Reported.

The Commissioners gave up the entire
morning today to hearing complaints, and
a number of citizens appeared before them
First Of all came a delegation from the
Citizens Association of South Washington
with complaints enough to fill wagon.
NJ. J. Brown, chairman of the committee
on nuisances, presented the following report
for the consideration of the Commissioners:
rs street southeast of South Capitol
street has for a long time been INSTRUCTED
by a fence, which is maintained by the
Odorless Excavating Company, as we are
| informed by your permission. and the said
street is further INSTRUCTED by building
occupied by the said company and by
| odorous night soil barrels. We ask your
honorable body to have this street cleared
of all distractions and nuisances and open
ed through to the Eastern branch, as well
as westward to the James Creek canal.
Half street southwest between M and l.
streets southwest is blockaded by dumps Of
manure, ashes, scrapings of yards. ETC.
We ask your honorable body to have this
street cleared and kept free from use as a
dumping ground.
IL street south from South Capitol street
to James Creek canal has been and Is now
ing ground. This section of that street was
improved with gravel about two years ago.
but is now covered with dumps. We called
the attention of various officers to. this
matter. and were informed that the only
thing that could be done would be to report
| 1t to the police, who would arrest any one
found dumping there. We ask your hon.
orable body to have this street cleared of
| those dumps and kept clean. In conclu-
| sion, we have to ask that your sanitary in
| snectors make frequent visits in our sec
| ton. and keep our streets and alleys clean
and free from Guisances.
Sewer Complaints.
| Chairman Leonard of the committee on
| sewers read the following report:
| The long existing nuisance in the shape
| Of the James Creek canal, which We claim
| to be- not only detrimental 10 health, but
it also depreciates the value OF real estate
| III our section of the national capital, as
| can be readily seen by the large number
| of vacant houses in that immediate vicn-
| ity. and not being surrounded Or properly
| guarded by proper safeguards, 1t is a
| veritable death trap, for the proof of
| which We refer 20 the record of the police
| department of this city, which will show
| not a few bat Ineny deaths resulting from
| the same. In conclusion. We most respect
| fully ask, in behalf of the citizens or South
| Washington. that measures be taken al
| once looking to the abatement of this
| nuisance either by arcI'ing or otherwise.
After these reports had been r'ad, Mr.
| Brown invited special attention to each
| &C mplaint and pointed out in detail the
| character and extent of the nuisances
| recorded. Speaking of the Sncd occupied
| by the OdorlesS Excavatirts Company, he
said during freezing weather, when the
| river was closed the company transported
| its collections over the bridge, and he did
not see why it could not do so all the time
| and rid that section Of the city OF the
| great nuisance it inflicted.
Other Complaints.
Mr. }. b. Prout of the committee on street
| no
town railroad facilities South Washington
had and urged the Commissioners to rec
ommend rapid transit for the road now
| operating along NJ street.
| James Martin called attention to the con
dit.oa of The WI at occupied by the Odorless
| Excavating Company, and said when he
| visited it some time ago he witnessed a DIS
| graceful state Of affairs. which was prejl
| d.oial to the Ieaith of the neighborhood
| The barrels which transported the collec
| tions of the company down the river wer,
| not capped, and foul odCrs We're constantly
being emitted therefrom.
| piumbcrs' Association.
TIE Ccmm,ss. oners promised to look intt
the matter, and then called the Master
Plumbers Association. The delegation
was headed by Mr.. E. J. Hannah. He ex
planned the object of the hearing was t.
protest against the proposed idea Of com
pelliDg all master plumbers in the Distric
now operating under license to be re-eX
anined before they would be allowed to d
business Such a proposition was not rea
sonable. The work of the master plumber
showed for itself, and there was no gooy
reason why there should be a re-examina
| ton. The plumbing beard had no exts-erc
in law, and to be re-examined it would b
necessary for them to appear before tn
Commissioners.
! Using the Bridge.
Messrs. o. E. Hne and r. L. Lacey, repre-
senting the Falls Church and Potomac Rail
road Company, were next heard. They call
ed in the interest of House bill 32T7 which
if passed. will give the road an entrance int
the city. by traversing Analostan Islam
and entering the city proper at E street
thence along that street to 18th street south
along that street to B, and eastwardly alon
; 3 to and aero IS 7th street to the propose
| passenger station.
| The Commissioners asked why the roa
did not use the Long bridge, the same d
the Mt. Vernon road was about to do, an
! the reply that the Mt. Vernon roa
| claimed to have a contract with the Penn
syivania railroad which would not alloN
such an arrangement. And even if this wer
rot so, their road could not afford to pc
500 per day for the use of the bridge, a
they understood the Mt. Vernon road wa
doing. The Commissioners took the matte
under consideration.
Home for Inebriates.
Within few days, the Commissioner
will return to Congress with their earnes
approval Senate bill 1865 to provide for
home for inebriates in the District of &C
, lumba.
: The bill is almost identical with the on
introduced last session, and the Commits
sioners are assured of the Importance of tn
matter and the necessity for providin
some retreat for that unfortunate class c
individuals, whose love for strong drn
amounts to a disease. The public care Q
inebriates under special treatment has bee
a subject of much consideration Throughout
the country. The bill under considerable
5 | provides in proper way for official direc
| ton. inspection and accounta bility of In
| ebriates.
building Permits.
2 Building permits have been issued to L.
fayette c. LOOMS, dwelling lots 46 and 4
: block 6, Winthrop Heights, $3.50: Frank M,
: CURE, frame dwelling. 1905 Frankfol
4 | street, Brookland, $1,000; Mrs Ellie
| O'Brien, brick dwelling. 1902 18th stret
v | northwest, $1,000; Georgeld Arlington, Nv
S | brick dwellings, "a and 20 p street norti
= | west, 5000.