Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-10
1.-THE DRAINAGE OF LOTS
PROVISIONS OF ACT OF CONGRESS
MAKING APPROPRIATIONS.

The act of Congress approved June 6.
1900. making appropriations to provide for
the expenses of the District government
during the present fiscal year, sets aside
$1,000 for an emergency fund for the en-
forcement OF the provisions of section 4 of
an act to provide for the drainage of lots
In the District. approved May 10. 1894.
This appropriation is designed for those
cases where the health department discov-
ers it to be necessary for the preservation
of health to require the drainage of lots
owned by non-residents or by persons upon
whom personal service of the required no
tice to make the improvement cannot be
had. as we'll as those owners who, after
proper notice. neglect or refuse to make the
required Improvement.
Prior to the current fiscal year, explains
the health officer. Dr. VIM. c. Woodward,
in reporting to the Commissioners upon a
case recently brought to his attention. no
specific appropriation has been made to de-
fray the expense o; sewer and water con-
nections for the property OF non-residents,
and it has not, says DR.. Woodward, been
deemed advisable to use the emergency
fund for such work.
In view of the amount recently provided
by Congress for this purpose. says DIR.
Woodward, the sanitary inspectors of his
department have been instructed to report
the worse nuisances in their respective dis
tricts arising from the absence Of such I'M
provements, preferably those connected with
houses of a permanent character. When
these reports shall have been received such
steps Will be taken. states the health Off
Ger. as may be necessary to secure the en-
forcement of the law. Dr. Woodward how
ever thinks 1t is doubtful whether houses
or lots where the nuisance is temporary in
its character, and where the nuisance is no
| worse than other similar ones, will be rec
commended by the inspectors as beng Of the
character demanding such immediate mu-
nic:pal action.
Provisions of the Act.
The act of May 10, 1894, provides that
each original lot or subdivisional lot stu
ated on any street in the District where
there is a public sewer shall be connected
with said sewer in such manner that any
and all of the drainage of such lot, whether
water liquid refuse of any kind, except
of personal kind, shall flow into said
sewer, and where such lot is located
on street where there are both public
sewer and a water main it shall be con-
nected with said sewer and water main in
such manner that all drainage thereon
shall flow into the sewer. Where the
owner is nonresident or cannot be found
| notice to make the connection shall be
made by publication twice a week for two
weeks in some local daily newspaper, and
where the owner is out of the District, but
his address is known to the Commission
ers, such notice Is to be made by mail
Either of such notices having been made
the Commissioners are authorized and di-
rected, after the expiration OF thirty days
to have the improvement made, provided
the owner fails to have 1t done meantime
Where the work is done by the Commits
sioners the cost shall be assessed as tax
upon the real estate in question, such tax
to be collected in the manner provided
for the collection of other taxes.
1t is further provided by the act Of 1894
that where the owner neglects or refuses
to make the connection within thirty days
after receipt of the required notice, said
owner shall be deemed to be guilty of
the reof in the Police Court be fined not
less than 81 nor more than IS for each day
he shall fail or neglect to make such con-
nections.