The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-23

The advent OF dog days brings as much
discomfort to the District Building as to
other places Of human habitatiOn and en-
ployment Whether 90 degrees III the
shade is due to the direct rays Of the sun
upon the earth. or, as the anciCnts be-
lieved, the mad race Of Sirius across the
sky at the heels of Old Sol, the heat is felt
and interferes quite as much with busi-
ness in the executive offices of the Com
missioners as in the stores and shops on
Pennsylvania Avenue.
The sweltering heat of last week wilted
the high collars of fashionably dressed
clerks, drove heads OF departments home
an hour before closing time. and thorough
ly enervated all whose duties called them
to the brick edifce fronting judiciary
Square 4 few yenturasome young men
even threw aside coat and cuffs in Plain
disobedience to the established usage and
traditions of the departments. Those
who could do SO obtained leave and
FASTENED to the mountains or s"Lshore for
GOODNESS and recreation.
A reference to the secretary's records
reveals the fact that an order of the Com
missioners is still in force enjoinins the
employees in the various executive Offices
to wear coats and cuffs and at all times
Ito dress in q presentable manner in
searching for the origin OF this measure
the records reveal that It was a fulmina>
ton from the energetic brain o. a former
Commissioner, not long since retired froiu
the Office and its emoluments. Tradition
says the Commissioner in question was
fond OF dress, and that 1t was his pleasure
to don q new suit each day, and that some
of them were recent styles from London.
Tradition also says that the said Commits
sioner one morning came to his Office IN
the hot days CT a previous July and found
his secretary Respondent in linen trousers
and negiigee shirt of the hues OF rain
bow, the two being Joined by belt Of
yellow leather. A short tour OF InVestlga-
ton revealed other able-bodied youths IL
the departments similarly attired. Mutter-
ing something to the effect that the IN
mates of the District Building looked as
though dressed for the bathing shore the
Commissioner returned to his office ana
had a private conference with his secre-
tary. The secretary, after time APP
reared with his coat on, carrying newly
iacketed paper, which, upon being read
bv the other Commissioners, was prompt
w approved, and in the course OF an hour
the edct went forth that clerks must Keep
coats in, as well as shirts, and the law
was never violated while its author re-
mained in Office.
Careless of the Edict.
But the new Commissioner seems to be
actuated by a Willingness that his subor-
dinates should enjoy bodily comfort amid
their exhausting labors, and in the recent
boiling temperature he has said never
word at the casting off of coats and the
exposure of the summer shirt IN It's ra-
diant hues Of blue ard pink.
In the faulty of human events it hap
mems that the hardest work OF the year
falls upou some of the municipal depart
ments in dog days. The fiscal year ends
June 80. and this year the Commissioners
ordered that the annual reports should oe
submitted before August l. This mas
placed special work upon all the officers
during the month of July, and with the
usual delay in such matters the haToesl
mart of it was left for the hottest days.
In addition to this in many of the depart
mants the busiest time is during the sum-
mer months. $780,, =
A good illustration is to be found IN
the Health Department. 1t is in the hot
weather that smells abound, and that
conplafpts multiply. II there is vacant
LOT on which weeds grow li,Xurianty or on
which water accumulates and becomes
stagnant, an alarming statement OF the
unsanitary conditions Of the place Is SURE
IN reach the Health Office. Inspectors
hasten TO the spot. look into the causes
and responsibility Of the same, and report
to their chief. Steps are then taken 10
correct the evils complained Of. sometimes
this is accomplished by notices TO owners
and sometimes harsher means must De
uead But among the nuisances caused by
fah
cboked drain pipes the Health Department
is busy in these hot summer days. And to
these tasks are added innumerable com
plajpts Of dogs unlawiully impounded, OF
animals running at large, and reports OF
contagious diseases from all parts OF the
District.
New AppropriatIons Available.
The Engineer Department Is also much
occupied in summer On July l the appro-
priatious for streets. sidewalks, curbs, new
buildings, etc. became available, and there
is always rush of interested parties to
have the improvements begun. The several
bureaus of the department, therefore, are
crowded with work during the three hottest
months OF the year. The last appropriation
bill made provisions for the erection OF a
considerable number OF new municipal
buildings, including a police station, en-
CINE houses, a new female workhouse, and
ten or twelve schoolhuildings. This has
nut unusual labor upon the office Of the
Inspector of Buildings in the preparation
Of plans and the drawing up Of specifica-
lions preparatory to advertising for bids.
AS Captain Brady remarked few days
ago he and his assistants have been OBJ
liged to pull their coats off and to roll
their sleeves up to accomplish the work
required of them.
In like manner the Computing Engineer
and his assistants have been hard at work
executing the orders of the Commissioners
for new streets. curb. alleys, and sewer
work. Contracts have been let for much OF
it. but its execution requires constant IN
spection and there is no rest nor holiday
for the District employees in this depart
ment until the busy season is over.
The superintendent OF the Water Depart
ment has also large tasks on hand in eX-
tending the mains of the city service, in
completing the work on the new reservoir,
and in the installation OF the new pumping
station.
Garbage and street Cleaning.
The Street Cleaning Department having
| taken upon itself the added burdens of the
collection ard disposal of reuse, has be n
employed working out the details OF the
new service. Here, as in the Health De-
partment, complaints multiply with the
| hot weather The noise OF the sweeping
machines causes more annoyance at night
while people are sleeping with the winco"s
open The creaking OF carts and the flying
| OF dust are the subject OF many letters to
| the Commissioners while the stencil OF
garbage CARTS the boats which convey 1t
| T,,,,n tho river and the odors from the