The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-12
AFFAIRS 0FTHG DISTRICT
The Coroner Submits a Statement
on the Needs Of a Morgue.
The Present Building Said to BE En-
tfrely Inadequate for the Purpose-
Telephone Connections for Third
Precinct Stati0n-LiEhts ON v
Street Fireman Discfplinea.

= DR.. J. Ramsey hewitt, the District Coro-
ner, yesterday submitted to the Commits
.sivners statement relative to the need
of new morgue and added that it should
be provided Tor as soon as possible. In
his letter TO the Commissioners, DIR.
hewitt says in part:
I'm considering the estimates of the
Coroner's Office for the fiscal year end
ing June 80 1902, 1 will say that the
necessity of new morgue is of The
highest Importance. The present building
used as morgue is entirely inadequate,
and serves very poorly the purpose in
tended though we are forced to admit
that this building is an improvement on
what il was in 1895. Since then an ap-
preparation of $1,000 has been procured
and expended il a most economical man
ner, so that what We are pleased to call
the city morgue today was made some
what more worthy of the name.
81 venture to say that there is no other
city in the United States which has not
q better morgue, even with the improve
ments of two years ago. 1t was only last
week that its unfitness was most clearly
demonstrated. On this occasion two
bodies were discovered which were al
ready in an advanced state of decompo-
sition, and although these cases were
promptly attended to the stencil which
emanated from the norgue, after the
bodies had been placed there was almost
uncomfortable and actually compelled the
officers of the Sixth precinct stationhouse
10 vacate their quarters temporarily, and
this too after every precaution had been
taken, including the liberal use OF disin-
fectapts. to lessen the obnoxious odor.
The Coroner. as is well known, Is not
provided with definite OF suitable place
for holding inquests, but at times he is
compelled to have them either by
courtesy at some undertaker's establish
ment or at the several police precincts.
There are many reasons why conducting
inuuests at the stationhouses Is obiec-
tiopable. The legitimate work Of the
Police Department is interfered with on
all occasions by the crowdiDg OF stations
with witnesses and others, by innumerablt
telephone calls, and by the answering oil
many idle and unimportant questions
Again the men and officers are deprived Of
certain privileges they are entitled te
when on reserve and their sleep is dis
turbed to no little extent.
..'As to the location of the morgue. prob
ably the best would be the river front
and at the same time accessible to tn
car lines. Such site is always selected
ps Tue I6fSt tlileS s'stu "a AZ
to general architecture, pref, rably il
should be in the form OF small chapel
or church Concerning the interior cf tho
building. there should be room for held
ing inquests, another suitable, when
necessaT., fer conducting religious SER
vice, ard another part should be equipe
for the performance of autopsies and b.
especially constructed in the form Of ar
amphitheatre, which would permit
anatomical demonstration when suitable
cases are in hand. There SHOULD also bt
stable in proximity to the r,orgue.
The morruc should also possess AZ
ice plant. as freezing is the only method
OF thoroughly destroying the cdr which
arises from body in an advanced stag;
Of decomposition. and Il will inisfnitel;
preserve the body for Identification. A.
commodation for twenty is desirable il
case of destructive fire. railroad acct
dent or other catastrophe, also fire.
proof vault. where the records OF the of
fee can be cared for.
Il have stated in a general way som,
Of the principal features which should b
included in a morguc. A rough os.imat,
OF the cost Of this building. including !u-
5 niture. but independent Of the land Il