Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-28
ALLEGEnsNUISANCE
POND OF STAGNANT WATER ON
CoLUMBIA HEIGHTS.
Source Of Uneasiness to Residents Of
Section-Efforts Toward Remov-
ing the Cause Unavailing.

The problem of getting rid of the pond OF
stagnant water, Ia. square 30. CoIumpia
Heights. between. Columbia road and kene-
saw avenue and 18th and 14th streets. is
still battling the Commissioners. The pond,
it is said. is a source of much annoyance
and uneasness to the residents in the COM
munity and has been complained of a num-
Der of times. Health Officer Woodward re-
Gently reported to the, Commissioners that
the title to the property on which the pool
is located Is vested in non-reSidentS. Efforts
have been made in the past to secure legis-
lation that would enable the authorities to
act in such cases and assess the property
for the cost of abating the nuisance, but
without success. ...-=
When Commissioner West, who is a resi-
dent of Columbia Heights himself, and lives
within two squares of the alleged nuisance.
read this report Of the health department
he suggested that the chief engineer of the
fire department be instructed to detail an
engine to pump the water out of the pond.
THE latter is very close to the engine
house, said Mr.. West. land the water Is
said to be deep enough to drown little chill
dren who make RATS and sail upon it. The
pumping out of the water will, in some de-
gree. abate nuisance of which the resi-
dents Of the neighborhood have every right
to complain.
Mr.. buttons Statement.
Chief Engineer Dutton, when the matter
was brought to his attention. referred the
papers back with the following statement:
1.-THE Sd of this month Mr.. J. s. Sworn
stedt called upon Commissioner Mcfarland
and requested that the pond referred to be
pumped out by an engine of this depart
ment. The Commissioner referred Mr..
SWormstedt to this department, and the
mach1nlst was directed to accompany Mr..
SWormstedt to the pond In question, and,
after examining the water therein. to report
that 1t would take at least two days to
drain the pond with an engine. He further
reported that because of the debris on the
bottom OF the pond an engine would be
seriously injured If used to pump out the
water. The department therefore informed
Mr.. Swormstedt that 1t has found, much to
Its regret, that 1t would be inadvisable to
use one OF Its engines for such q purpose,
IN which conclusion Mr.. Swormstedt con-
CURED.
Cannot Use Engines for Purpose.
personally would like very much to see
the nuisance complained of abated, as I
i've very near the pond and am one of the
many affected. but for the reasons indi-
Gated to Mr.. Swormstedt. am unable to
recommend the use Of a fire engine for the
purpose desired. In this connection re-
spectfully invite attention to an order Is
sued by your honorable board January 81,
1902, that hereafter the engines of this de-
partment shall not be used for the purpose
OF pumping water from cellars or conduits
This order was. made upon the recon-
mendation of the departments machinist,
who reported that in a number of Instances
engines had been seriously damaged while
being used for the such a purpose
Commissioner West has now recommend
ed that when the paper goes to the en-
gineer department for estimate of the
cost of proposed alley in the square, that
az To hath
is any excavation, municipal or private, in
progress in the, neighborhood, the earth
from which could be. utilized to fill up the
pond in question.