Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-06
Front and Back Yard Nuisances.
To the Editor of The Star:


In your edition of Sunday last badg.s
as dividing lines for parktngs.. were dis
cussed by a resident of California, who said
that If individual property owners will
unite In the movement which has been
started in Washington to still further beau
my, those with good-sized lawns can emu
late the plans OF the citizens OF Los An
geles.
Inc writer has endeavored to cultivate
such hedge as suggested and had fairly
succeeded when his neighbor was granted a
permit by the Engineer Commissioner to
erect a wooden picket fence against the
dividing hedge. This permit was granted
after personal protest had been made. In
whlch all the facts were presented. and It
was only after repeated efforts that a DO
lice regulation could be secured prohibiting
the use of parkings as chicken runs.
IN this connection further abuse OF the
parkings can be mentioned. A gasoline
tank, With Its necessary protrusions was
buried in this adjoining parking, also
against personal protest at the District
offlces, where promise was made that II
permit for the above purpose were issued
at all il would require that the tank would
be placed In the rear yard. The statement
was made that II there is such a yard per-
mlts are never given for the placing or
tanks in the parkngs.
The fact that It is permissible to store
gasoline In the parkings is perhaps not
generally known. and II possessed of sucn
many StOrSkeeperS WOULD
doubtless avail themselves of the privi
lege
There is a yard in the rear of the house
In question, which yard, it Is true, is filed
with garbage recepta cieS, chicken coops
barrels of feathers, and has also fuel
shed which is used as a chicken house.
The tenant of this place keeps a grocery
store, and all the great accumulation or
garbage is stored in said yard and tire
stencil emanating therefrom Is so great
that 1t is almost impossible for near neigh
bors to sit In their front parking; indeed,
windows must be kept closed as every
room exposed. including the dining room
of the writer's house. is permeated by the
effiuvia. Appeal after appeal has been
made to the health officer for relief. and,
apparently, all has been done within the
law to effect an abatement of the nuisances
which has obtained for only a day or two
at time. No permanent relief seems pos
sible under the present police regulations
The writer suggested in letter TO the
health officer the propriety of making some
ordinance to regulate the locating or
chicken houses, on the ground that same
are greater nuisance than stables, which
are very carefully supervised and restrict
ed. but the said officer replied:
Il doubt the ACCESSIBILITY OF undertaking
to regulate by law the location OF sheds
used for the accommodation OF chickens"
This general lneffectiveness is a sad COM
ment upon the present administration or
municipal affairs
The boast is often heard that Washington
is the best governed city in the United
States. yet the comment is frequently
heard, also, that many villages are far
more advanced in sanitation than this city.
The Commissioners are frequently quoted
as saying that they are In hearty accord
with any and every effort to improve the
conditions of the city by beautifying the
parkings and in other ways. yet when re-
quests are made for permits to mar these
parkings, and with the dissenting facts be-
fore them. the Commissioners sanction and
grant such disfiguring projects and re-
quests DORSEY M. MCPHERSON.