Evening star., 1900-10-11
THE MORGUE INADEQUATE
CORONER SEvTTT URGES NECESSITY
FOR NEW STRUCTURE.
Estimated Cost, Exclusive Of Price of
Ground. $4,000 Salary of
Keeper and Assistant.

| DR. J. Ramsay hewitt the coroner of the
| District, today submitted to the Commits
! sioners a report on the morgue. or rather
| on the necessity for a new one. which ne
| cessity, in his opinion, is a matter of the
| very highest Importance. He makes a
| rough estimate of the cost of a new morgue
building including furniture, and expresses
| the opinion that the morgue master should
| receive a salary commensurate with his
| duties. and have an assistant, who should
| act as hostler.
The present building used for morgue
purposes is, declares DR.. hewitt, entirely
inadequate. and serves very poorly such
purposes. though 1t Is admitted that the
structure is an improvement on its, condi
ton two years ago. Since then an appro-
prfation of $1,000 has been expended i'm a
most economical manner, SO that, says the
coroner what the people of the District
are pleased to call the city morgue has
been made more worthy of the name.
Il venture to say" continues DR.. hewitt.
that there is no other city In the United
States which has not a better morgue even
with the improvements of two years ago.
1t was only last week that its unfitness
was most clearly demonstrated. On this
occasion two bodies were discovered winch
were already in an advanced state of de-
composition. Although these cases were
promptly attended to, the stencil which
emanated from the morgue after the bodies
had been placed there was almost unbear-
able and actually compelled the officers
or the sixth precinct station house to va
cate, temporarily. at least their quarters
And this. too, after every precaution had
been taken. including the liberal use of dis
lnfectants, to lessen the obnoxious odor
Place Where Bodies Are Kept.
Ihis Is the place where in many in
stances we are, for a longer or shorter
period, compelled to have the remains of
ha ,f.~
prising. under the circumstances, to meet
with strong objections from relatives or
friends when the bodies of their dead are
removed to such a place. Very often, for
the purpose of identification, many visit the
morgue and this. of course, includes all
classes. The mode of access to the build
ing and its immediate surroundings
cause quite shock to sensitive peo-
pie. especially to women. Not only is the
morgue itself inferior. but its location is
undoubtedly a source of great ANNOYANCE
to the officers and men of the sixth police
precinct. as it makes no little demand upon
their time. especially when an unidentified
body is held. as this multiplies their work
In numerous ways.
'Ihe coroner, as IS well known is not
provided with definite or suitable place
Tor holding inquests, and is at times COM
PEELED to have them-by courtesy-at some
undertakers establishment or at one of the
several police precincts. There are many
reasons why conducting inquests at the sta
work Of the police department is intercered
with on all such occasions the station
houses being then crowded with witnesses
and others, with innumerable telephone
calls to answer. well as idle and unm-
portant questions to consider. Again the
men and officers are deprived of certain
privileges to which they are entitled when
on reserve, and their sleep is disturbed To
no little extent.
For Preservation of Records
No place is DrovI1pd for kaanipo tho rao
ords of the coroner's office These records
in themselves have assumed bulky propor-
tons which are being constantly increased
Few private residences afford suitable
places for their keeping. They are liable at
any time to be destroyed by fire, and as
they are valuable both to the government
and TO individuals they should be kept in a
sare and appropriate place. There are
many other deficiencies connected with our
morgue which point out clearly the incom-
pieteness OF this institution.
The public and the press have been loud
IN their condemnation of the morgue as it
Is today, and We have no defense That
we need a modern structure which will be
representative of our city will be readily
admitted by all. AS to the location of a
morgue. probably the best would be on the
river front. and at the same time accessible
to the car lines. Such a site is always Sc
iected by large cities with a waterway AS
TO general architecture, preferably ii should
be in the form of small chapel or church
concerning the interior of the building
there should be room for holding inuuests
another suitable. when necessary. for con-
Quoting religious services. and another part
should be equipped for performance of au-
topses, and be especially constructed in the
form OF an amphitheater which would per-
NIT anatomical demonstrations when suit
able cases were at hand
There should also be stable in proxfm
ity 10 the morgue. The morgue should pos
sess an Ice plant, freezing Is the only
method of thoroughly destroying the odor
which arises from body in an advanced
state OF decomposition, and will indefinitely
preserve the body that must be held for
Identification. Accommodation for twenty
bodies IS desirable in case of destructive
fire, railroad accident or other catastrophe.
also fireproof vault. where the records of
the office could be cared for
The Estimated Cost.
Il have stated in a general way some of
the principal features which should be in
cluded in suitable morgue. rough esti-
mate of the cost of the building including
furniture. but Independent Of the land is
Slo.@D. The morgue master should receive
$40 month. and have an assistant who
would act as u hostler, at salary of $40
per month";
1t is understood the Commissioners are |
agreed that a new, conveniently located and
modern!y equipped morgue is, as the cor
oner says. matter of the highest import
ance, and it is expected that in making up |
their estimates for the support of the Dis
trict during the fiscal year ending June 30
1892. on which they are now engaged they