Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-26
ACTION BY LOCAL
HEALTH OFFICER
investigates Station of Ferti-
Iizer Company.
STENcHES, DOORS, GASES
Substance of Report Made to Dis
trict Commissioners.
APPARENT VIOLATION OF Law
Rigid Sanitary Inspection Recon-
mended-Matter Referred to
Corporation Counsel.
Substance of Report Made to Dis.
trict Commissioners.
APPARENT VIOLATION OF Law

l Il ,
that company in the Police Court,
and even formal presentment be-
fore the grand jury. are among the
possibilities suggested in lengthy
| report submitted to Commissioner
| West today by Health Officer
Woodward. Investigation of the
transfer station of the fertilizer
company, at I'd street and New
Jersey avenue, was ordered by
Commissioner West June 20 last,
in response to complaints from res
idents of Southeast Washington,
and the task was assigned to
Health Officer Woodward. A corps
of health Office inspectors were put
on the case, and the result of their
findings was detailed in DR.. Wood
wards statement to Commissioner
West.
1t was stated in the report of the health
officer that the Washington Fertilizer Com
pany. which has the contract for collecting
all garbage In the District. was maintain
ing it's transfer station In such condition as
to cause noisome stenches odors and nox-
ious gases to generate" and the health Of
fceT said that he had not taken up the
| matter before because the superintendent
of the street cleaning department had been
definitely charged by the Commissioners
a emf N of fha mr.
the companys contract with the city In
addition to suggesting the line of legal
procedure to be followed Health Officer
Woodward recommended that he be author
lied to appoint three permanent inspectors.
at the expense of the fertilizer company.
to maintain constant supervision of the
workings of the companys collections. and
thus assure full compliance with the sani-
tary regulations.
The report was formally approved by
Commissioned West, and he recommended
to his colleagues that the papers In the
case be referred to the corporation counsel
with instructions that. the latter cooperate
with the health department.
Alleged Violation of Ordinance.
DR. woodward's report. which goes into
the subject in detail reads, in Its essential
points. as follows:
al The Washington Fertilizer Company
was, the Odd instant. operating Its garbage
transfer station in manner whereby mol
some stenches. odors and noxious gases
were generated. In violation of section 81
of an ordinance to revise. consolidate and
amend the ordinances of the board of
health. etc. etc.
SO The Washington Fertilizer Company
was. the date mentioned, putting upon and
along the line of the railroad. and along
the line of the street, garbage or other
nauseous substance within three hundred
600 feet of an inhabited dwelling and
Furthermore was causing and allowing
cars so loaded to remain or stand along
said railroad and street within three hum
dred 900 feet of an inhabited dwelling. IN
violation of section of the ordinance men,
toned.
g. THE Washington Fertilizer Company
was, on the date mentioned, maintaining
the transfer station described In an I'M
cleanly and unwholesome manner, even
taking into full consideration the nature
OF the work done at said station, In vio-
lation of section two 90 of the regulations
concerning the use and occupancy of build
ings and grounds. promulgated by the Com
missioners. April %. 1897. A notice from
the health officer must In this instance. as
in the others cited. precede prosecution.
Did Commissioners Designate StationP
t. II the Commissioners have never des-
igrated and approved the garbage transfer
station of the Washington Fertilizer Com
pany located in square 739. as a place for
the collection of garbage. said corporation
is maintaining said transfer station ap
parently In violation of section 8, article
xiv of the police regulations
The nuisance maintained by the Wash
ington Fertilizer Company at it's transfer
station on the Esd instant was due in part
to the further violation by said corpora
ton of section 0, article xiv. of the police
regulations, in that 1t was collecting gar
bage in wagon beds not watertfght, as
evident by the presence of considerable
stfNt NIar L al Of 1ap lyxy
beds on the fiat cars at the transfer sta
ton discharging their liquid contents
over the unprotected ground: and to
further violation of the section and ar
ticle above mentioned in collecting gar
bage in wagon beds not provided with
tight-htting covers, an inspection of the
wagon beds on the fat cars at the trans
fer station showing that they are not only
not provided with tight-htting covers but
that in MANY instances devices had been
added to the wagon beds which absolutely
prevent the covers from fitting tightly
THE Washington Fertilizer Company was
apparently further violating section o.
article xiv of the police regulations In that
It was not collecting and removing garbage
In accordance with the regulations of the
contract with the said District. The con-
tract requires all work done under 1t to be
done in such manner as In the opinion
OF said Commissioners not to create a NUS
ance or 10 be injurious to public health
and the very statute under which the con-
tract is made requires service to be rem
dered subject to the sanitary inspection
and approval OF said Commissioners 1t is
inconceivable that In the opinion of the
Commissioners the garbage transfer station
In the condition In which II was on the aft
ernoon of the 23d instant could be regarded
by the Commissioners as otherwise than q
nuisance or that II could have met with
their sanitary approval.
Public Nuisance.
IF the conditions at the garbage trans
fer station of the Washington Fertilizer
Company have recently been such as de-
scribed said conditions would undoubtedly
constitute a public nuisance. for the main
tenancs OF which those persons who are
responsible might be indicted by the grand
jury.
The transportation of garbage by the
Washington Fertilizer Company over the
public streets without permit from the
health officer is In violation OF section g..
article VIII. of the police regulations. This
violation of law cannot be regarded as re-
spensible for the conditions that exist at
the garbage transfer station.
The health officer has never before acted
against the Washington Fertilizer Com
pany for maintaining the transfer station
above referred TO because said trausfedO
station was maintained By satd corporation
In execution OF the contract with the Conn
missioners OF the District II Columbia. and