Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-11
PERCENTAGES COMPARED
ILLNESS OF CENSUS CLERKS ASCRIB-
ED TO HEAT.
Statement From the Three Buildings
Occupied-Temp in Each
Nearly the Same.

There has been criticism at various times
OF the conditions prevailing at the main Gen.
sus office building. corner of LIST and B
streets northwest. 1t has been asserted
that the one-story building lacks sufficient
ventilation and that it excessively
warm during the heated term. 1t has also
been said that these conditions resulted In
an unusual amount of sickness and that
many clerks have been overcome by the
heat at intervals and removed to their
homes. ~
In order to secure accurate informatio
concerning these conditions Star reporter
requested a statement of the census office
covering these several charges. 1t was
shown. according to the official records
that the percentage of people who were Ill
at the census office during the months of
June. July and August averaged about the
same for those employed III the Union
building 1t did for those in the main
building. about which complaint has been
made.
Statement of the Percentages.
The percentages for the two buildings fol-
low:
Main building. corner OF 1st and streets
June, /. of l per cent of the total num-
Der employed for the month; July. n of 1
per cent of the total number employed for
the month"; August - of l per cent of the
total number employed for the month
Union building. G street between 9th and
7th streets-June II of 1 per cent of the
total number employed for the month; July,
Z of per cent of the total number employ
ed for the month; August. 80 of per cent
of the total number employed for the
month.
The above are the percentages OF total
absences on account of sickness from all
causes during the months specified.
iIa1 fnnyr 4 hn
building during the hot weather by reason
of the heat sudden illness averaged less
than three per week. 1t must be taken into
consideration that there are nearly 3.40o
clerks employed. almost all of whom are
engaged upon work requiring intense APP
plication. which Is being pushed much
as possible In order to finish the work in
the time specified In the census act.
Conditions of Temperature.
The temperature of the east and west
rooms of the main building on 1st and 3
streets, of the Union building and the Globe
building have all been kept. the records
being made by standard thermometers
listed by the weather bureau. The temper
azure of the two large rooms I'm the main
building taken from the middle OF the
room. From July IS to September the
highest tempera ture in the main building
was 6 degrees in the east room, which was
only recorded on one occasion, August TO-
at 1 pm. AT the same hour the tempera-
ture In both the Union and Globe buildings
was Oh degrees. and in the west room Of the
main building 1t was % degrees. August II
the hottest part Of the day was at 4 o'clock
when in the main building and the Globe
building. 1t was % degrees and in the Union
building ~ degrees.
A close comparison of the temperature in
these different buildings for the last two
months shows that they were about equal
in that respect
1t has been quite frequent that at 4 o'clock
| the two big rooms of the main building
| have been one sometimes two degrees
warmer than in the Union and Globe build
ings but in the morning the temperatures
Of the several buildings have been about
the same. though In a number of cases the
| main building at such time has been re-
corded cooler than the others 1t has
been rare that the difference Of temperature
among the several buildings has been more
| than three degrees