The Washington herald., 1906-11-28
Inspectors Brand Police Cells
Miserable and InSanitary.
HANDS TIED, SAYS SYLVESTER
superintendent Admits that Cells
Are Infected with Typhoid Fever
Germs, and that Patrolmen Have
Contracted ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Aid
of Business Mems Association.


sented to the Seventh precinct, to whom
it was awarded by the board Of public in
lspection, tomorrow. While complimenting
the personnel of the force, Samuel W.
Curriden. of the Board of Trade. and
Charles Linken, OF the Business Mems As
sociatiOn, severely condemn the housing
afforded the members. In memorandum
on this subject they said:
AS to the personnel, we found through
out the force such a uniformly high-grade
Of manhood -clean-handed, and clear
Drained, duty-ioving and duty-doing men
that we were more than ever proud Of
this very important branch Of the mu-
nicipal government on the other hand
we were surprised and grieved at the mis-
cradle housing that is provided for the
larger number Of these men. and at the
disgraceful quarters provided in the old
time station houses for the keeping Of
prisoners"
Cells LamentnbIy Crowded.
In No. / station house, that, because
Of its central location. should have at
least twenty modern cells, we found eight
cells or vaults of bricks. In these as
many as Jhtrty-eight prisoners. dTuHks.
and other offenders had been kept the
previous Saturday night, and this, We are
| told, was not an unusual occurrence at
this place.
The odors Of the place were horrible,
ven after all possible scrubbing and
other efforts AT sanitation. But with the
0ld-time and defective plumbing, with in
u 50 #aH. H..aHH .rH.. .ra.. ~. 4
porous brick, scruDbing and brushing,
while helpful fall lamentably in making
the place less than disgTaceful. In the
station referred TO these bad conditions
have existed for many years. and the
relatively small appropriation required
for the larger number Of cells ard those
OF modern design, with sanitary plumbing
and ventilation, has been denied.
All the energy Of the appropriations
getting powers OF the District govern
ment should be concentrated in the effort
20 obtain a cure for these disgraceful
conditions.
Mai. Sylvester Explains.
Improvements in the police stations Of
the District, and the approval of the
Commissioners plan to use electrical mo-
tors I'm propelling railroad trains into and
out Of the Union Station. were the chief
topics discussed at the meeting Of the
board Of directors Of the Business Mems
Association last night in Guide Hall
At the request Of Charles Linkins, one
Of the committee that inspected the po-
lice department, Maj Richard Sylvester
was called on fof statement relative TO
the condition Of the stations. Mai. Syl-
vester read the statement reported 10
him by the committee Of irspectiOn, max
ing some verbal comments.
Mai Sylvester explained that a few
years ago water had accumulated in the
basement OF the No. l station. and had
stood there several months. The police
had resorted to d syphon and trap, but
10 this day the drainage WAS imperfect
As consequence, the building was
damp II was III suited 20 the incarcera-
ton of prisoners and for the dormitories
of the men on reserve. who must sleep IN
the building.
Infected with Typhoid Germs.
Mai. Sylvester said that several cases
of typhoid fever had been contracted by
the men Of that station; others had been
/ sd from rheumatism, due as he believed,
to the condition Of the building.
He described the old form OF cells, say
/ ing they were unfit for the Incarceration
/ Of prisoners over night or until they could
be taken to- the Police Court for trial
Major Sylvester referred to the efforts
made by the department TO stop disorder
on Seventh street He said IL had been
/ necessary TO take as many as thirty-five
/ prisoners I'm one night 70 the First pre-
ciuct. where the accommodations were
/ Inadequate. He also referred 10 the ar
rests made at the time Of the inaugura-
ton. and al other times when the city was
/ full Of strangers lie said at such periods
/ IL was necessary TO crowd all the station
/ houses with prisoners. and that they had
TO he herded Ike sheep. three or four TO
the cell. and sometimes had TO be pro-
vided with cots in the corridors.
/ As a remedy he suggested the tearing
/ out Of the old corridors with the super
annuated cells, and the introduction OF
/ steel cages, like those in use at the Tenth
precinct
Major Sylvester stated that he had been
/ informed the Commissioners would this
year recommend TO Congress the change
suggested, and he asked the Business
Mems Association to cooperate with the
dePar ment in getting the necessary
appropriation