Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-12
REPORT BY CHEMIST
DESCRIBES CONDITION OF BUILD
INos UNDER DISTRICT CONTROL.
Reference to tuberculosis at Third
Precinct Police Statiou-At
Other Structures


District chemist. regarding inspections Of
buildings under District control with spe-
ciai reference to conditions that might fa-
vor the spread OF tuberculosis. submitted
to the Commissioners today. eight men Of
the third precinct who occupied cots In the
dormitory there died OF pulmonary tuber-
cuiosis within the last fifteen years and one
Is now on the pension list. having con-
tracted the disease.
All OF the policemen referred to, Mr..
Lynch states. were said to have been In APP
parent good health when assigned to the
third precinct. and there 10 no doubt In his
mind he says. that the dormitories at tho
station are exceptionally unhealthy, and
that all the officers now doing duty there
should be subjected to a special physical ex.
animation. and that their sputa be examined
for evidence Of tuberculosis.
Basement Of District Building.
BY inspection Of the District building.
which Is used for the Offices of a majority
Of the departments of the local govern.
ment. Mr.. Lynch found that the basement
floor IL permeated at all times with often.
sive odors arising from an adjoining alley
and that the rooms on the west side are
poorly lighted and ventilated The base
ment Is used by the disbursing officer, char.
ties bureau. part OF the tax office and part
of the water department. Mr.. Lynch says IL
60 numerous changes. .-
THE District building. on the whole"
Mr.. Lynch explains, ais In a fairly good
sanitary condition, the chief objection being
Inadequate space for offices, which results
In overcrowding. The building Is fairly well
lighted and ventilated. However. several
windows should be cut IN rooms on the
west side of the building. The practice of
sweeping corridors should be eliminated
until after Office hours. The dust which
arises is not only disagresabls,- but I'M
healthy.
Leaky Pipes and Bad Plumbing.
Mr.. Lynch directs attention in his report
to many instances of leaky spigots, pipes
and bad plumbing in the various buildings
he inspected. This condition, he says. does
not mean merely great waste of water.
but creates unhealthy conditions in build
ings. With few exceptions all the dormi-
tories of the police and fire stations are OF
ample size to insure an abundance OF air
space. and are capable Of being well venti-
lated and lighted LAS rule he adds,
these buildings show that those in charge
are unremitting in their efforts to secure
cleanliness and healthfulness, but in some
instances they are sadly handicapped by
old and unsuitable buildings"
"All engine houses" Mr.. Lynch goes on to
say, SHOULD be furnished with suitable
heating apparatus, whereby an abundance
of hot water may be available at all times
for bath purposes. 1t Is not reasonable to
expect men who have been exposed to the
rigors Of winter night. while In the per-
formance of duty, and chilled to the bone
by wind and wet clothing, to seek on their
return to the engine house to remove the
dirt and CRIME incident to their work by
bath in a tub filled with water OF freezing
temperature. Such conditions are inhuman
and certainly insanitary. and tend to pro-
duce in the lung tissue just those changes
which afford excellent medium for the
growth and multiplication of the bacillus of
tuberculosis. Drying cages for the drying
stalled in each engine house.
"All these buildings" he continues.
Should be thoroughly screened. as the pres
ence of manure heaps and horses attract
flies In great numbers. and no building
could be considered sanitary when infested
by these pests whose bodies are excellent
carriers of contagion."
Fifth Precinct Satisfactory.
OF the twelve police stations and the har-
Dor precinct station inspected by Mr.. Lynch.
the only-one which was found to be in
healthy condition and for which ii was I'M
necessary to recommend any changes was
the fifth precinct station. in Southeast
Washington. The first, third, second.
fourth and sixth are old stations; and many
alterations, especially the demolishing OF
the present cells and the installation OF
new and more sanitary ones. are recon-
mended. An appropriation has Been asked
by the Commissioners In their estimates
for making the improvements. as well as
for the remedying of a number of other
conditions mentioned by Mr.. Lynch.
The building at present used by the har-
Dor precinct Is criticised by Mr.. Lynch. He
says this is old. tumbled-together'
ing; Is poorly lighted and ventilated; Is
damp and permeated with foul odors aris-'
ing from the river, which at that point is
practically an open sewer.
THE men detailed at the harbor station"
he states. ARE on duty thirteen hours daily
and have no place to Slept ~
AS result Of the existing conditions Mr..
Lynch recommends to the Commissioners
that the harbor station be torn down and y
new building be erected nearby.
The report will be considered by the Com
missloners with view of adopting such
suggestions made by Mr.. Lynch as they
deem advisable.