The Washington times., 1901-07-10
AFFAIRS OF THE DISTRICT.
A Complaint Against the Cries OF
Negro Hucksters.
The sabbath Desecratcd by Men Call
ing Out Their Wares and Disturb
ing the Quiet of the Day-SIippcry
Pavement on Georgia Avenue.

ing the Quiet of the Day-SIipperS
Pavement on Georgia Avenue.
r. Grant Barnwen OF 1904 w Street
| northwest has addressed the Commis-
sioners again relative to the desecrauon
| OF the Sabbath by negro hucksters. He
states that he has not been informed
whether any acticn has been taken in the
| matter and would like t. be so informed.
Mr.. BarnweH states that in his several
| communications upon the subject he has
| requested the Commissioners to direct the
Police Department to make arrests of the
offenders. with a view to abating the nui-
! sance complained OF. He states that he
| has specially called the attention of the
| Board to the bad policy of adopting a
| conciliatory course toward these negroes.
because their instincts are admittedly
| vicious and criminal.
Mr.. Barnwell states that the Commits
| sioners have not seen fit to reveal to
! him whether or not any action would he
| taken in the premises He also says that
| it does not appear from anything that he
/ can discover that anything has been done.
| Mr.. BarnweH desgnates the cries and
yelling of these hucksters on Sunday as
| shameful dissertation of the Sabbath
| He states that last Sunday the cries were
| more numerous and louder. if possible
| than ever before He says the hucksters
| seemed to have fun sway He says fur
| ther that this was carried on before the
| eyes of policemen on their beats. and
nothing is done TO abate the confusion
| and noise which is such a nuisance To
residents Mr.. Barnwell cites an instance
in which an officer allowed the huckster
to go on his way without even warn
ing.
In closing his letter he asks: Did this
policeman. in failing to arrest the law
breaker. violate your orders. or is it Il
fact that the Police Department has been
directed to refrain from arresting law
breakers of the class under considera-
tion o.
The complaint. it is understood. will be
referred to the Police Department for in
Vesugation and report
J. II. Bradley, of 1915 Thirty-second
Street northwest has submitted 70 the
Commissioners a statement relative to the
lack of sewer facilities for premises S627
and SG29 NJ Street northwest He also in
forms the Commissioners that the ten
ants haze been summoned to appear in
Police Court for maintaining a nuisance
when there is no sewer available with
which 10 connect. Mr. Bradley asks what
The letter, of Mr. Bradley was referred
to the Health Department, and H. NJ
Barber. Sanitary inspector, has reported
as follows:
On June p notices were served on the
tenants Of these premises for an obstruct-
ed sewer. ! was unable to locate the own
Cr. and the nuisance was not abated
" here the tenants were given until June
10y the attorney. to abate this nuisance.
There Is cesspc 81 suutfer the hydrant in
ire. rear OF these houses, and there IS a
pubic sewer in II Street available for
these houses
William J. Zeh has called the attention
Of the Commissioners to the slippery con-
dition Of the pavement in Twelfth Street
scnthwest, from Street northward
about go feet. lie suggests that the rail-
road company be required 10 remove their
abandoned tracks, and that the District
cooperate with them in relaying the
pavement so as to do away with the pres
2nt dangerous conditions. The matter
vas referred to c. 3. Hunt the Comput-
ing Engineer. who has now reported:
The roadway paving on Twelfth Street
southwest north of Street. is of gran
ite block. The transverse grade is rather
steep and the blocks are worn smooth
by heavy and constant travelling. with
the result that the pavement. especially
during hot and dry weather, is undoubt-
edly sliDDery- The available remedy for
these conditions, which have been report
ed on similarly in the past, is to repave
the street with "A mOdi ificst ton of tho
transverse grade, but this would require
the readjustment of the grade of the car
tracks or their removal. These tracks
are part of the system OF the Anacos
tia and Potomac River Railroad and have
not been used since the installation of the
underground system on the greater nor
ti0n Of the road The removal Of these
tracts II IS hoped, viii be arranged for
IN the not distant future. under some cir
cumStances analogous to those attending
the removal Of the tracks on Fourth and
- ana streets northwest. at which time
these conditions can be corrected I rec
advised
IT is expected that the Commissioners
VIII approve the report.
Joseph Luchs, Of 5l9 Seventh Street
northwest. recently complained OF the pro-
jecting steps in front of Sl3, Sl5, s17. and Sl9
Fifth Street northwest He then asks
that steps be taken by the authorities to
remedy the defects complained OF.
c. p. Hunt, the Computing Engineer. in
reporting upon the complaint. states that
If the steps in question were reconstruct
ed so as not to encroach beyond about
ten feet from the curb ten-foot side
walk would be secured on this square. As
result of a personal examination Of the
steps in question Mr.. Hunt states that by
reducing the size Of the platforms the
steps can be treated as above indicated
Mr.. Hunt thinks. however. that il is prob
able that the area steps and the floor un-
derneath the steps would in each Ease
have 20 be renOdeied in order TO provide
head room under the reconstructed steps
He is Of the opinion that all Of this could
be accomplished at comparatively small
cost.
The Health Department announced yes
terday that the smallpox hospital has
been fumigated and closed. The last pa
tient was discharged July and no other
cases are known TO exist in the District.
This is the first time since October y,
1893. that the District has been free from
smallpox At all times since then there
have been one or more patients under
treatment at public expense
During that period l3S cases have been
treated, of which only four have died
Some Of the cases were very severe and
IL was necessary for some Of the patients
TO remain under treatment for many
weeks before they could be discharged
The disease has been brought into the
District no less than eight times since
October. 1893.
L. G. Hine, Of 1913 C Street northwest,
recently requested information In regard
to the proposed change Of grade Of T
ond Street northeast. The matter was re-