Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-22
ORDERS TO THE PUBLIC
FoRoE TO ASSIST IN GENERAL
CLEANUP OF THE CITY.

"Clean I'D your back yard-cean the va
cant lots-clean the stables-the kitchens
clean everything everywhere in the city.
The foregoing was the announcement OF
the municipal authorities last week. and
this week should see its realization. for
strict orders were read in every police sta
ton last night for the policemen to inspect
and uncover insanitary conditions every
where on their beats and order Immediate
Improvement. July Is has been decided on
as the date for general house-yard-stable
cleaning. or as the last day of grace for
such work to be done, and after that, 1t is
declared, prosecution in the Police Court
will follow every case where violations OF
the sanitary regulations are discovered.
The campaign for municipal cleanliness Is
not without reason for the recent weekly
reports Of the health Office have shown
alarming increases In mortality, the death
lists being abnormally high and the cor
responding death rate out Of all proportion
even for the vitality-sapping midsummer
season. Then. too, has been noted the In
crease in number of typhoid fsyer cases at
an unusually early time in the year. and
while the authorities have not succeeded In
determining the cause for the spread of the
disease, 1t is pointed out that a general inn
provement in sanitary conditions through
out the city cannot but make for better
health among its inhabitants and possibly
immunity for some from typhoid.
Cause Of Typhoid Outbreak.
The experts of the public health and
marine hospital service are united with the
local health authorities in seeking for the
moving cause for the typhoid outbreak, and
though no results have been announced, it
is among the possibilities that the people,
by cooperating in a general cleaning up,
may unwittingly destroy one or more of the
agencies responsible for propagation of the
germs or for their transmission to other
people.
Making provision for the part the police
will play in the great municipal house
cleaning, Maj. Sylvester yesterday issued
the following formal order. which was
later read out to their men by the captains
Of all the precincts:
1.-THE honorable Commissioners Of the
District of Columbia having given instruc-
tons to the major and superintendent OF
police to have all buildings, yards and
grounds In the District OF Columbia In
spected with view to requiring the occu-
pants or owners thereof to keep them clean
and wholesome you will divide your pre-
cinct into sections, assigning officer to
each. with orders to comply with the pro-
visions Of this order during the daytime
while on duty, giving the matter all the
attention they can consistent with the
proper performance OF their police duties"
Must Be Kept Clean.
In addition to this order the policemen
have been instructed that all buildings,
yards, stables grounds and outhouses con-
nected Herewith and the cellars of all
dwellings must be kept clean and whole
some, and that If the premises are occupied
the occupant is responsible for their condi-
ton. and notice to clean up should be
served on him. If unoccupied, notice should
be served upon the owner.
In addition to the work which Is to be
done by the police the health Office and
the street cleaning department, as has
been previously stated, will do their share
the health office by having its inspectors
at work and the street cleaning department
by putting out its wagons to haul away
the waste material which does not come
under the heading of miscellaneous ref
use" and which would be declined by the
contractor for that service.