The evening times., 1899-10-13

Considerable comment has been excited
in police circles, and particularly among
the members of the First precinct, be-
cause OF the alleged unsanitary condition
of No. l station. and the appearance
among the policemen there of what is said
to be typhoid fever. 1t is claimed that
not only the alleged unsanitary condition
of the station. but its unhealthful location.
are responsible for the generally speaking,
large sick list, and moreover directly re-
sponsible for the fact that three members
OF the precinct are now on leave inca
pacitated for duty, and afflicted with the
dangerous malady.
One of the policemen, George ]. Burton,
is at present confined to his bed, and this
afternoon it was said that he was at the
point of death. He has been i'll for several
days with typhoid fever, which it is said,
was contracted at the station.
Another policeman, G. l.. Ple..oas. IS Sc
riously ill with the same disease, and his
condition became such that few days ago
he was sent to a hospital.
A third policeman, +. r. Emmert, re-
ported sick yesterday, and it is said that
he is also threatened with typhoid fever.
In the cases of Plemons and Emmert, as In
that of Burton, the unsanitary condition
of the station is said to be responsible for
the sickness.
AS a matter of fact, No. 1 station is
conceded by the police officials to be far
from sanitary. Located. as it is. not a
great distance from the marshes along
the river front, and about an equal dis
tanee from the basins into wh:eA she sew
ers empty, the refuse of the city, it is
~tosr, rhA .NDltn hat
laria has long been prevalent in the yicin-
ity, and that typhoid germs may have
taken root in the station.
This condition of affairs is not OF recent
origin, nor has the department been un-
mindful of ii.
On the contrary, the police officials have
long been cogniZant of the unsanitary loca-
tion of the station. Furthermore, il is
said attention has on numerous occa
sions been called to the fact that, aside
from the objections to the locality, the
station itself is in an unsanitary condi-
ton. With this knowledge in its posses
sion. the department decided upon an in
vestigation, with the object in view of
finding remedy for the evil.
1t was said that the building was damp
and really unfit for occupancy in its pres
ent condition. This was sufficient rea-
son for the detailing of Sergeant Gessford
TO look into the matter, and after thor
ough examination to make a report on
what he observed. While the investiga-
ton has practically been concluded, the
report is not yet in the hands of Major
Sylvester.
1t has been stated, however, that the re-
port will reveal deplorable condition of
affairs at the station and advise as the only
absolute means of immunity toward the
disease germs that the building be aban-
doned.
II is alleged that the cellar of the sta
tion has been found TO be a veritable cess
pool, that it is always damp and that it is
constantly flooded. 1t is well known that
the dungeon of the station which is treated
in the cellar is never used, as the police
| consider that ii would be dangerous TO the
life of prisoner to incarcerate him there.
| Furthermore, il is said, the investigation
shows that it would be almost impossible
to bring about a perfect sanitary condition
| in the building. ~
This, the police officials claim, would
show the absolute necessity of a new sta
tion house in a different locality. And here
| they base the justice of the claim made on
| Congress by the Commissioners for a cen
tral station. The police argue that If Con-
| gress would grant an appropriation for a
| central station, No / would then be aban-
| doned and the existing sick list among the
| police of the first precinct reduced to a
| minimum.