Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-06
BAD SANITARY CONDITION
Complaint of Citizen Respecting Two Streets
in Mount Pleasant.
Report In Response Made by Acting
Health Ofncer-Defects
In Law.

Mr.. Carl Hoffman. resident and proper
ty owner in Mt. Pleasant: several weeks
ago complained TO the District Commission
erS of the ms: nitary condition of Grant
and School streets in Mt. Pleasant. He also
protested against the removal of the brick
cutters on Grant street. Upon investiga-
Ting the complaint, ii was ascertained by
the Commissioners that there was no in
tention on the part of the municipality to
remove the cutters.
1T seems to me-" wrote Mr.. Holman,
that even the engineer department does
not know that on all these streets leading
ID the johnson School not the faintest re-
st mbiance 10 a gutter exists, except in
mont OF my place, where the improvements
We're made by me- No drainage. no sewer
traps. only mudholes. fed year in and year
out With sta2nant water. Any business man
would be held in contempt if he should
keep his place in such a shameful state of
art and mud as are the Surroundings OF
the johnson School, Mt. Pleasant. AS the
honorable Commissioners are aware, the
School Is again under the ban of disease.
and number of children are down with
Sickness. Lately, experts have been inveS-
GgatIng the sanitary condition of sewer
age heating and airing the building. Per-
NIT me to express my opinion that the
source of danger Is outside
All the streets leading to the school are
only mudholes. in the trucst sense of the
word. After any rain the mudholes turn
INTO mudlakes. The children going to
school have to wade through this mud and
dlrt. is 1t any wonder children take sick,
sitting in closed. crowded rooms. with mud
soaked shoes and garments?
Abuse of sewer Connection.
1T seems to me- continued Mr.. Hoff-
man, almost criminal neglect in which this
section Is left in regard to grading. curb
stones. cutters and pavements Both in
School and Grant streets there are water
and sewers. but permit the impairment
question How is it that the argus-eyed
police and health departments do not per-
celve that several houses close to the school
are left without sewer connection? All the
drainage of these houses and stables goes
ad hbitHm into the streets surrounding the
school Some stables housing a number
of cows and horses, are, 20 my knowledge.
without proper sewerage. All this seems to
me to make the question plain why the
johnson School is considered unhealthy
Permit me to offer you at any time my ser
vices or testimony in regard to my letter"
Mr.. H. c. Mclean, the acting health Off
GER reported to the Commissioners that an
inspector Of the health department upon
investigating the complaint, discovered that
OF the houses complained of only one is
owned by resident of the District. The
health department, explained Mr. Mclean
is, therefore. unable to force compliance
with the provisions of the drainage act in
these cases. In the case of the house own
ed by a resident CT the District he stated
that notice has been served upon the owner
requiring him to connect the premises with
the public sewer and water main.
Needed Amendments
Mr.. Hoffman has been notified by the
Commission in accordance with the re-
ports made to them in the case, which, it
is understood. presents in their opinion an
other argument in favor of such amend
n.ent of existing laws as will permit them
10 enforce the laws not only where the
property at fault is owned by a resident
but also in those cases in which 1T is found
to be owned by a nonresident. 1t Is prob
able that the Commissioners will ask Con-
gross to so amend these laws. it having
been suggested that notice to nonresident
property owners could be given by publica
ri