Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-03
BROOKLAND AFFAIRS
Meeting of Citizens Associa-
ton Last Night.
SANITARY CONDITIONS
PREVALENCE OF DIPHTHERIA In
THE COMMUNITY.
Closing Of the Public Schools Advocat-
ed That the Building May
Be Fumigated.
SANITARY CONDITIONS

The driving storm or rain ana SieeI IdSl
night did not deter the working members
of the Brookland Citizens Association from
attending the regular meeting of that or
ganization In the town hail. Before the
meeting was called to order by President
Arthur F. Ixinnan the early Corners as
sembled about the big stove in the hall and
earnestly and seriously discussed the diph-
iberia outbreak In Brookland, which, 1t
was stated. threatens to become epidemic.
The fact that there are several cases of
scarlet fever in the village was also
brought out, and remedial measures were
suggested
The seriousness Of the situation was made
APPARENT by the later action of the citizens
association in appointing a committee to
call upon the District health authorities and
urge the closing of the Brookland public
schools for at least two weeks, also their
thorough fumigation. and that the pastors
of the Brookland churches be requested to
close their Sunday schools for like period.
The gravity Of the matter was fully dis
cussed by the members, including physi-
clan, a dentist and a clergyman.
President Kinnan, in calling the meeting
Ford, secretary of the association, who, 1t
was stated, Is In st. Louis on government
business. He thereupon appointed Mr.. Will
liam A. Hathaway secretary pro tenn.
missioners was read stating that they would
recommend an appropriation sufficiently
large to abolish the grade crossing at
Bunker Hill road.
Free Public Fairgrounds.
A resolution was adopted heartily in
dOrsing the recommendation of the board
of District Commissioners for the estab-
lishment of free public Fairgrounds in
this city "as needful and proper de-
velopment of municipal activity and au-
thority.'
communication was read from the
Policemen's Association requesting the
citizens organization to indorse it's move
| ment for an increase of pay for the police
department of the District. The COM
municatiOn was referred to the commit
tee on fire and police.
DR.. Willard ]. Holmes Of the committee
on schools brought the matter of the
prevalence of diphtheria before the associa-
ton by stating that there are a number i'll
of the disease in BroOkland, and that sew
eral families had withdrawn their children
from the public schools as a result. He
said the school building had been fumi-
gated once since the outbreak.
DR.. Holmes spoke of case Of diphtheria
and another of scarlet fever which ap-
peared in the Brookland public school sew
eral weeks ago, and to which a number of
children were exposed. He suggested that
the teachers make careful observation
of sore throat, as the disease usually starts
in that manner. He spoke of child in the
fifth grade who attended school an entire
week while affected with diphtheria.
Il thought the matter of sufficient
gravity last Monday" said DR.. Holmes, to
keep my child out of school went to the
health office and put the matter before the
authorities the same day, but nothing was
medical inspector came out. l have writ
ten to DIR. Woodward and told him the
matter ought to be taken up at once"
Three Children Sent Home.
DR.. Holmes added that three children had
been sent out of the first grade school at
Brookland yesterday with certificates stat
ing that they had diphtheria. The health
inspector had he said, found one child suf-
fering with scarlet fever out playing with
other children The home of this child had
been quarantined, but, 1t was claimed. the
warning card had been taken down by some
unauthorized person. The public school,
he said. had been exposed to diphtheria for
three weeks, and out of a total Of ten cases
of the disease seven of the affected pupils
had been in attendance at school. He con-
tended that the school should be closed
DIR. Theodore Y. Hull, who is the attend
ing physician in many OF the cases, stated
that no malignant cases of diphtheria had
yet appeared in Brookland. He said the
light cases often become dangerous because
they are disregarded by parents and others.
He believed the drinking water cups in the
schools to be a source of danger in spread
ing the disease, as a child with diphtheria
is usually very thirsty.
DR.. Hull made a motion that a commit
tee be appointed to make representations to
the proper authorities for the purpose of
having the public school closed.
School Building to Be Closed.
An amendment by Mr.. c. c. Groomes
was adopted 1t provides that the chairman
of the committee on sanitation CDR. Hulll
take steps to have the school building
closed and fumigated.
On motion of Rev. Elmer Marshall of the
Brookland NJ. E. Church, the churches of
that place will be requested to suspend the
sessions of their Sunday schools until the
reopening of the public school.
The statement was made that the gas
company will lay mains out Rhode Island
avenue extended, which is now being
opened and graded, to connect with the
present system.
A resolution was passed to urge the OPEN
ing of street between Tenth and Twelfth
streets, through what Is known as the
Mcguire tract. The proposed street would
run near the st. Vincent's Orphan Asylum.
Secretary Hathaway expressed the hope
that the change of names of the Brookland
streets will be accomplished in time to
have them in the forthcoming City Dr.
rectory to avoid confusion in the future.
Railway Station Project.
Mr.. McCraight advocated the construction
of a railway station at 18th street and
Rhode Island avenue northeast. where
many people are required to wait for the
Maryland electric cars. Mr.. McCraisht
was appointed a committee of one to en-
deavor to bring the matter to fruition.
Among the members present last night
were: Messrs. Arthur F. Kinnan, c. c.
Groomes. Judge Pennybacher. VIM. A.
Hot Charles
Lynch DIR. Theodore Y. Hull. Capt Joseph
Banner Rev. Elmer Marshall. c. X. Het-
| field r. NJ. Laurence and DIR. Willard j.
Holmes.
The next meeting of the association will
be held at the town hall on the first Friday
| in January at pm.
| Ar,a.,dr, ont 70 Iicensa LAWS SUGGESTED