The Washington times., 1906-07-22
WEED NUISANCE
TO Be WIPED OUT
Health Authorities Deter
mined to Stamp Out Men
ace to Public Health.
WILL USE CONVICT LABOR
Property Owners Asked to Aid in Ex-
termination by Appeal to
Civic Pride.

CIVIC PUde.
As a part of the official program TO
purge the city of the evils attendant
10 insanitary conditions surrounding
houses which District Commissioner
West has inaugurated and promises 10
push with a vim, Health Officer William
c Woodward urges citizens in al. parts
or the community 10 undertake, as their
part of the house cleaning movement
the removal of rank weeds from front
and rear yards. and from vacant lots 20
which they may have title, Advocating
the removal of these growths whether
Toxious or otherwise. as means of
promoting a clean bin of health, he
thinks il should he done voluntarily on
the part of householders and property
owners, rather than TO compel the
Health Department 10 invoke legal
measures through the enforcement Of
The weed law
VIII Institute Inspection.
In this connection, DR. Woodward says
he will give any reasonable complaints
OF violations Of the weed law precedence
over the hOuse-to-hOuse Inspections To
follow this lire of campaign the inspec-
tors will. at the outset be occupied with
more than nifty complaints. which DIT
Woodward has received from various
sections of the city within the past
month His sanitary inspectors viii
take up the work with the complaints
now on hand. and will be expected To
prosecute them as soon as the inspec-
tions and reports are made.
After reviewing with Commissioner
West the scope of the sanitary work 10
be undertaken. and. as ne says. To he
pushed a vigorously as lies within his
power. DR. Woodward issued an official
bulletin Of instructions concerning the
enforcement of the weed law 20 his in
spectors, In it, he charged them TO
first take up definite violations of the
law based on complaints received, and
then TO begin independent Investigations
covering the entire city.
Property Owners to Cut Weeds.
suggestion was made 20 Health
Officer Woodward that in cases where
househoIders and property owners werte
willing 20 have the weeds cut but had
no ready means of removing them from
the premises. the Street Cleaning De-
partment might take the burden of
their hands and cause the weeds TO be
carted away in the Districts wagons.
DR. Woodward, believing that such CO.
operation would be 10 the advantage OF
his department., submitted the PROPOSE
JiOn 10 Superintendent Twohey, of the
Street Cleaning Department, hut learn
ed from him that in the absence Of a
specific appropriation 10 cover the ex-
pense IL could only be done in a lin
tied way. The fact that his contracts
for the removal of general and mis-
cellaneous refuse contained no provi-
sion for such work. he explained. made
IL impossible for him 10 impose the ex-
ira duty on the contractor. He stated
his willingness however, 10 remove. In
the course Of che street cleaning opera
lions. such weeds as might accumulate
in the alleys or streets.
Convict Labor Suggested.
Although not definitely decided. Com
missioner West has proposed TO En-
gineer Commissioner Biddle that con
vict labor be employed in cutting down
weeds on vacant lots owned by non
residents. upon whom il would be hard
10 serve removal notice. COmmis-
sioner Biddle is averse TO bringing con-
victs into the city in the capacity of
laborers, but fl is thought that in view
OF Health Omcer Woodward's plea for
larger working force and his state
ment that the lack of a specific appro-
priation makes il impossible To push
the work as rapidly as the occasion de-
mands, the Engineer Commissioner Will
agree TO have the District convicts rem
der this emer gency service. If this ar
raugement is made the Health Officer
VIII then have less need for the service
OF the Street Cleaning Department ont
side Of the regular street and alley
cleaning.
While not "a believer in the theory ac-
eepted by many that weeds are re-
sponsible for the spread OF contagious
diseases. vet DR.. Woodward thinks they
should by all means go. He regards
them as unwholesOme and unsightIy. IN
many instances affording hiding places
for criminals intent on assault or rob
berry, and, If for no other reason. thinks
civic pride should spur on a greater
portion Of the community 10 start a
crusade which viii end in their exter-
mination. Both he and Commissioners
West agree that the city is far better
of without the weeds than with them.
and both think that ci8izens should take
10 the work on their own initiative.
Weed Nuisance General.
To show the urgent need Of the weed
removal Dr. Woodward submitted 10
the Commissioners q long list of local
titles where the weed nuisance abound
ed. Ii embraced many vacant lots. ad-
Jacent TO fine residences. indicating that
some of the prominent streets. as well