Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-12
WORK OF THE PLUMBER
ARTISAN AN INFORMANT FACTOR
IN MUNICIPAL EQUATION.
Importance Of Plumbing Department
Discussed-A School and It's
Teachers and Pupils.

laugh at joke cracked at the expense of
the plumber, there are only few who stop
to think what an important factor this
much maligned person Is in the municipal
equation said Mr.. H. B. Davis. the Dis
trict inspector of plumbing, to reporter Of
The Star. ''Those who are not thrown in
contact with the plumbers work with all
its intricacies Of modern sanitation do not
realize how seriously ,the health and conse-
quently the welfare Of the community de-
ponds upon this artisan and the safeguards
thrown about his structures by the mu-
nicipal authorities
1T is part Of the business OF the plumb
ing office. as see it, to educate the plumb
err himself up to full realization of the
Importance Of his work, and thus to secure
from him the very best he Is able to give
1t was in recognition Of the Importance Of
plumbing that the plumbing department
was created by law, and likewise a law
passed requiring the examination. bonding
and licensing Of plumbers, in an effort to
have plumbing work properly constructed
and obsolete fixtures superseded by more
modern ones.
'All trades and professions are teachers
and educators to a certain extent, and we
all learn something and instruct others in
some manner every day. In this case the
plumbing department may be considered
the principal. the plumbing business the
school, the master plumber the teacher, the
1ourneymen plumbers and public the schol
plumbers, as teachers, have in many cases
to instruct the public (often by lots of TALK
Of the best sanitary fixtures to use, and
even instruct the workmen In the proper
method to pursue in constructing a piping
system.
Plumbing in Large Buildings.
1.-THE installation Of plumbing in large
modern buildings is an important task and
M
ence Of steel beams and columns which Of
ten form distractions and through which
you cannot pass the pipes. Then the mas
ter plumber must think out and arrange the
piping system in as direct manner as Dos
sible without interfering with the steel
construction. Washington has many
plumbing establishments now equipped to
carry out any large contract and it is graf
flying to see practically all of this class of
work going to home concerns.
One Of the most important branches Of
plumbing. however, is that in private
houses. for people are residing within these
houses-most Of thenp-the greater portion
OF the time and in winter when there is
little or no ventilation. the occupants are
compelled to breathe yitiated air given of
by the lungs, by coal gas. dust, etc. For
that reason they are more susceptible to
disease, and the plumbing fixtures and pip
for when it is otherwise, with the plumbing
the danger Of sickhess is increased. 1t is
Of course the duty Of The plumbing office to
prevent defective work. and it gives me
pleasure to say that no Such work as would
endanger life has been within recent date
brought to my notice. -,
Owners often calf III plumbers to remodel
bath rooms many tof which contain an
tquated fixtures. Such fixtures, instead Of
being repaired. should be replaced by those
Of more modern types and any faulty or
obsolete piping SHOULD be corrected For
when these fixtures are repaired they are
OF rlf1y Crfx l,n
are the cause Of much complaint to our Of
flee. Householders should be impressed
with the necess.~y of some local ventilation
in all bath rooms. There are many means
or accomplishing this powadaws in the fix
lures but registers lfeara the floor CELL
Ing. with pipes leading TO the roof. are ex-
celient means. a ~ - = j se-.ag. >,
r In the School Houses.
School house plumbing Is becoming an
important work. We have for several years
now been installing new plumbing in ex-
isting school buildings. replacing old plumb
ing fixtures and piping with more modern
system, besides heating and .ventilating
each toilet room. 1t Is expensive work. but
absolutely necessary for such institutions
for preserving the health of the teachers
and pupils. The Commissioners have recog-
nized the necessity of 1T and have easily
convinced Congress in the same direction,
and yearly appropriations have been made
sufficient to carry on the work. which will
now compare favorably with that of any
city in the country.
"A subject of much Importance for all
large cities is the building and maintenance
of public comfort stations, public baths and
wash houses. This subject has received
considerable attentionSin foreign countries
for insuring health and comfort pertaining
to such buildings. The large cities of this
country also giving the subject con-
siderable attention, particularly New York
and Boston. which have such vast popula-
ton. The city, too, will, l hope, in time
be provided with these buildings. We al
ready have a bathing beach and the prom
ise of floating baths the coming summer,
but these do not offer the opportunity for
winter bathing, which is essential.
Public Wash House.
THE public wash house particularly APP
peals to me. These buildings are construct
ed for the washing Of clothes, and offer
sanitary buildings. fixtures and surround
ings to the washer woman for nominal
sum. Here they may wash the clothes they
take in and launder them In a proper man
ner. We would, I am sure, cease having
the wash taken from the house If we knew
what conditions and surroundings and to
what novels our clothes are often taken,
had We the time inclination to look into
this matter: for there is no question that
many serious cases Of disease can be traced
to such places where often infectious di-
seases and dirt exist