Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-13

all the old wells and pumps that furnished
water before the days OF water mains
have been abandoned, and probably all
soon will be done away with. close
watch Is kept by the health department
on those wells inside the city limits from
which few persons draw water. An analy-
sis is periodically made. and at the first
symptom Of pollution the well Is filed up.
Sewer connections have been established
in even the far outlying sections Of the city.
and the sewers are being steadily extended
A monster modern sewer system Is being
constructed. No city in the United States
gives more unremitting attention to street
cleaning and garbage collection and disposal
than Washington. Very few give as much
attention to these weighty questions.
Shoals Of the Potomac and Anacostia
rivers have been reclaimed or are being re-
claimed and converted into parks. Marshes
have been Al led In. A pond of stagnant
water brings instant protest from the peo-
pie and quick action by the city authorities
The law provides that men shall be arrested
for splitting on the sidewalk, street cross
ing or on the floor or platform of q public
vehicle.
There is another feature Of Washington
life that is making for health. An educa-
tional campaign goes on against tubercu-
losis. Lectures-piain, simple health talks
are given to the people under direction Of
the committee for the prevention Of con-
sumption and by scores of private physi-
clans. These lectures are largely attended
and are making an impression in the direc-
ton of good. The doctrine of fresh air,
wholesome food, exercise and cleanliness Is
pleacher. Open-air treatment Is given poor
sufferers from consumption. The sources OF
the milk supply of the District are under
official surveillance. and milk can be sold
only by diaries having permit from the
health department.
In the matter of typhoid. Washington,
| like nearly every other big city. has seri-
Gus problem that must be faithfully and
frankly met. There Is no greater percent
age of typhoid cases in Washington than
| in most of the other cities Of the land. OF
course 1t Is a preventable disease. but the
health authorities in every city know how
difficult it is to deal with. AS already said.
Washington's drinking water is sand fl
| tered. Science and money can do little more
than this in safeguarding the water supply.
But in addition to this, thousands Of fam
| lilies in the District boil their drinking
water and then cool it. Much. perhaps,
| most of the typhoid cases in Washington
are imported. People get the germ during
vacation. They go off for a week or two
weeks, live at some farm house where, or In
| the vicinity Of which. there has been ty-
phoid drink from an infected spring or
| well, or eat vegetables raw that have grown
| in infected soil. They come home sun
burnt and apparently strong. Pretty soon
| they are sick. The physician says "ty-
phoid." There is usually no way of ascer-
| tanning how the disease was contracted.
| While the claim can be truly made
| that Washington is as healthful as the
great majority of big cities. and Is becom-
| ing more so with the progress and more
general acceptance of sanitary measures,
Washington has overcome and is overcom-
ing some natural disadvantages. 1t is a
question whether the Potomac country.
with it's long summers. short winters. gen.
orally humid climate, great number Of
creeks and small rivers and wide marshes
is naturally as healthful as the hills Of
New England and the cool, dry uplands OF
the west. The people who live here. and
whose ancestors have dwelt here for two
centuries or so, defend the climate. and
certainly about the usual percentage Of
people attain ripe old age.
In Washington city for several years
there has been an unusual amount of ex-
cayation work. Whole city blocks have
been turned up to a great depth, putting in
foundations for colossal private and public
tunnels for steam railways. trenches for
wire conduits and the like. Some cases Of
sickness most surely be attributed to this.