Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-16


great quantity of water. 1t Is certain that
the improper consumption Is not in the
homes. but rather in some Of the large pub
lie institutions. This topic leads the COM
mittee to discuss water meters, and the
proposition of the District Commissioners
to place those devices in every house where
there Is water service.
The committee is Of the opinion that the
meter system should not be pushed beyond
the experimental stage until it is demon
strated most clearly that meters are truth
teilers; at present the committee is not
sure that any meter can claim a full public
confidence as to accuracy. The difficulties
that now beset us can be remedied for a
long time to come by the prompt compile
ton Of the tunnel and Howard University
reservoir, after which the authorities will
have ample time to test and develop the
meter system, If such development is then
deemed proper.
The public health is of first Importance
to that consideration everything else should
be Observation-Disclosures the water supply
ought to be ample as its source Is I'M
limited.
Gentlemen of the Washington Board of
Trade: There is testimony to unfavorable
conditions in the fact that we tonight ask
the governing powers to give us the same
improvements that were petitioned for a
year ago. All of US have known how seri-
Gus has been the financial depression of the
past year So none of us is really surprised
when he notes the failure which, from
causes far beyond our powers of control,
has overtaken so many excellent enter
prises in which the people of the District
of Columbia are deeply interested. We
have however, no reasons for self-re-
proach. Wherever and whenever the
board of trade has had an opportunity to
advance the interests of Washington it has
done so: If we have not succeeded as we
deserved to. the inability has been con-
gressionai and not local. The inadequate
revenues of the general government natu-
rally resulted in appropriations that were
also Inadequate, and, as logical conse-
quence, the District of Columbia-which,
unlike any other community. is dependent
upon Congress-was denied many things
absolutely necessary to it's growth and wei
fare. Such a state of affairs is not likely
to exist much longer; mercantile activity
and vastly improved financial conditions
Will be reflected in the conduct of our
common council-the national legislature
1t therefore behooves us to strengthen and
Soiidify our organization so that we NAV
be ready when the time comes for earnest.
concerted effort. }
our needs must this winter be urged be-
fore Congress with more than ordinary per
sistency. Conspicuous in the catalogue of
are:
"A municipal building; commodious. suit
ably located and INTELLECTUALLY creditable
to the capital of the nation
The reclamation of the Anacostia flats.
with all the benefits to health and com
merce certain to accrue therefrom
AN increased water supply, to be secured
by the completion of the abandoned tunnel
the construction of which more than a mil
lion dollars of Washington's money was ar
bitrarily diSbursed -
Legislation that will make operative the
statue Wnlch authorizes the establishment
OF Tree circulating library
Street extension legislation that will re-
suit In extending our streets
sewer system of capacity sufficient for
the entire District of Columbia.
IL Will not be enough to merely give us
municipal building; the building must
contribute much to the esthetic education
of every beholder.
VIII not be enough to merely give us
su1nciency of water; the wafer must he
pure; must, necessary, be filtered.
1t Will not be enough to provide amn,e
sss ss facilities; the sewage must be
ulsppseu OF In such manner that it will
NOT De menace to the public health
1t will not be enough to saw we NAV
nave q pubic library: provision must be
mace Tor books and for librarian and a
ssau OF attendants. In the state of Mas
sacnusetts there are only five towns-and
they very small ones-that are witho,,t a
public library o"' q
mere Is a general awakening to the ne
cessty Tor sincere and busnesslike effort
along the lines of charities and correc
tons The term ''businesslike' NAV sound
strangely to people who must regard theory
and who often have reason for wonder-
ing why phiianthropic and delightful the
the af Mln not work satisfactoriiy;4 1t is
principles that will make our eehefGences
valuable to ell The parties concerned and
therefore,, to society at large. Many of
the best citizens in our leading commu-
mites are seeking to organize into mar
mony existing associations, properly be-
heVing that a combination of energy viii
accomplish things that cannot pos
silly be done by number of independent
cit of H.
ton, should be in close accord in this cx-
tremeiy important matter. Do we realize
now great IS the army of dependent ones !?
Inere are the habitual criminals: criminals
susceptible of reformation; Eabitual pau
pers; paupers susceptible to reforma ton !;
the aged without property; the physically
detective: the insane, the epileptic, the
idiotic. chronic invalids, the poor from
Incompetence, the poor from accident, the
poor from improvidence, the poor from in
justice. the durable sick, convalescents,
criminal children. vicious children, de-
formed ard defective children susceptible
or material Improvement: orphans.
Does not this catalogue of unfortunate
humanity touch the tender sympathies of
us all? Should we not rnitedly and syste-
mafically attempt to reduce the number
OF the growing host which in all our cities
is becoming more ard more willing to live
on the benefactions of others? The city
of Paris is about to spend ten millions
Of dollars in charity reorganization ard
service. w nat are we
going to do?
The public health has at last come to
be matter of real moment In Wash
ington We have inaugurated reforms and
planned other reforms that will sooner or
later work marvels in the physical condi-
ton of the community and the desirability
and longevity of the individual. During the
year the most conspicuous endeavor has
been that of the Sanitary ImprovementCom-
pany Itself child of the board of trade),
which has already erected and placed In
readiness for occupancy eight buildings
subdivided into sixteen flats. in which peo-
pie of limited means can be properly
housed without excessive cost to them
selves. This is a proper blending Of the
business and philanthropic ideas. Much
yet remains to be done if We are to rank
with other wide-awake cities. Public baths
are a part of the municipal equipment in
many great centers of population. Here
we have bathing beach-which has surely
been productive of good-but that Is not
sufficient. There should be baths of am
pie capacity In two or three sections OF
the city. so that every resident DESTROYS
of using such aids to civilization could
do so without serious Inconvenience. Per-
sonal cleanliness should be taught just
as we teach reading, writing and arithrfie-
tic; it is an essentia: and must be a part OF
our educational system.
Play grounds and open-air gymnasiums
ara al daSira hla- thew do the hest kind of