The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1897-07-24
A DISGRACE TO THE CITY
omething Must Be Done and Done
Soon for Health's Sake

The proposition to improve the sani-
tary condition of the city hall is looked
upon with favor by all who have given
the subject thought, and indeed is re-
garded by most as an imperative neces-
sity. 1t is generally admitted that the
existing unSanitary arrangements are a
menace to the health of everybody con-
nected with the city administration, and
any good plan adopted by the council
which will abate the nuisance will be
heartily approved by citizens generally.
The consensus of opinion seems to be
that If the ak were laid at the root of the
evil the closets would be closed to the
public.
The larger cities of the east place lava
tories in the alleys, far CROUCH removed
from the buildings to prevent nuisance
Yesterday the Herald interviewer
talked with number Of citizens on the
subject and the above ideas were sug-
gested during the course of the CONVEX
sation. Among the number. who eX-
pressed an opinion were the following:
Frank J. Thomas. the assistant dis
trict attorney, said: Il think that assist
ant City Attorney Crutchersi present
sickness is due largely to the bad plumb
ing in this building. In fact, nearly
everybody around the place complains
of headaches and of feeling general de-
bility. Such a stae of affairs is due, no
doubt, to the unsanitary condition of the
building caused by bad sewage"
JNv-poIipa Gam m Ct io m Cpal, i'll
why, of course the building is in j bad
condition. The remedy lies in removing
the plumbing and substituting improve
ments in that line
Commissioner Mathuss said: Things
are in vilely bad shape around here.
There is no doubt about that. But il Will
be an expensive matter to remedy the
matter. l got a resolution passed by
the council to place additional windows
in the lower closets on the north side, be-
lieving tina increased ventilation will
show a decided Improvement. But the
plumbing is bad. There is no doubt
about that. The work was badly
botched or mismanaged; besides, the ca
pacity of the closets is too small for the
demands daily made upon them"
Councilman Ashman said: Il believe
we ought to place the urnals and clos
cts on the outside of the building, clear
away from ii. They could be erected in
the back yard. That would help matters
no doubt The present water supply is
insufficient, but that could be easily
overcome"
w. D. Woolwine said "There should
be some remedy for the existing
trouble, no doubt and there will be
shortly, l am certain. AS the direc.
cause of the bad odors, is ascertaned be-
You'd question no time must be lost in
applying such measures as will do away
with it. The foul air should not be al
lowed to float through the building as il
does now
Mr.. Carey, superintendent of the
parks, said Il cannot tell whether it is
the pipes or whether the closets do not
receive the proper care that causes al
this trouble. The place is in a terrible
condition, surely, and a remedy should
be applied without additional delay"
Charles A. Stison said: THAT place
is in a frightful condition. A man can
not get to Chief Moore's office without
being almost stined by the horrible
stencil that meets him as soon as he en-
tiers the building. II is disgrace to the
city, and all of that plumbing ought tc
come out"
w. j. Aherns is frequent visitor to the
city hall and is a competent judge of the
condition. He said: Think the plumb
ing is bad. The haNs are filled with
bad smells every time come here. Some
times it is worse than on other occasions
If necessary, the whole building shoull
be remodeled.
Mr.. Haskins, deputy in the city clerk:
office, expressed the belief that the mat
ter could be remedied by closing tn,
closets to the public. 81 know peopl
have right to every part of this build
ing" he said, but I am not in favor O
granting accommodations of this sor
by the city to those not directly connect
ed with the building. Not that want t,
discriminate but because | believe tina
to be the only solution of the difficulty
unless the closets are removed from tn
building to the rear of the yard"
Numerous other citizens talked in
similar VEIN The opinion among ex
perts is that the plumbing original,
was not quite UP to the plans and spec
ifications. 1t was not 'back-winded.
in order to give full and free circula
ton of air, and nothing can be done t.
| better the condition but TO mill n al