The Washington herald., 1907-10-03


! the District, yesterday submitted TO the
/ Commissioners his estimates OF expenses
/ for the fiscal year ended June 90, 1863
a total of SlSi550, as compared with an
appropriation Tor tie present year Of
a05.2S7
These estimates, says Dr. Woodward
/ are based on the suppOsitiJn that the de-
! partment is 10 be organized upon such
basis as TO enable It to discharge prop
/ erly the numerous, varied, and respon-
sible duties it is called upon TO perform.
| The proposed increase in the cost Of the
/ department he says. is very considerable,
| but for this no excuse is offered, as il
cannot be said TO exceed, and it is
doubtful il it even equals. the steady in
/ crease in the quantity, difficulty, and re-
/ sponsibiiity Of its work
Asks Increase in Force.
The following increases in the force Of
employees is recommended. Assistant
health officer, $.0)li chief medical in
| spector, $500; chief food Inspector.
| 5000; two inspectors, at H.400 each:
/ one assistant chemist, at H,S50, two
! clerks. at $3.50 each; one assistant
/ poundmaster. al $500, one chief in
/ spector OF dairies and dairy farms.
/ s., 900; FIVE inspectors Of dairies and dairy
/ farms. at $l,6g0 each, one bacteriolOgist,
/ al S2i00; one assistant bacteriOlOgist, at
/ 81, 500. and one skilled IabOrer. al S720
/ The following items are included. For
erection and maintenance of a pasteuriz-
/ ing plant, $500. erection and equipment
/ of a stable at the smallpox hospital.
/ s.. 600: purchase Of site for pound and
stable 10 be Immediately available, 5000,
/ enforcement Of act 70 prevent the spread
/ of contagious diseases in the District
/ S25 900, maintenance of the disinfecting
service, 5000, enforcement Of an act
I providing for the drainage Of lots IN the
/ District 5000; travelling expenses Of san
/ itary and food inspectors. health officer.
and assistant health officer, $500; main
/ tenance OF isolated wards In minor con-
/ tagious diseases at Garfield Memorial Hos
! |pitaI, 5000; maintenance Of similar
wards al Providence Hospital, &019,
maintenance Of public crematory, 5000;
enforcement Of act 10 cause the removal
/ Of weeds in the District $500, and for
/ contingent expenses, 5000
Public Baths a Necessity.
! While including no specific appropria-
/ ton for the purpose, Or. Woodward calls
/ the attention OF the Commissioners to
/ the necessity Of public baths throughout
the District.
! 1T is a disgrace" says he, that there
/ should be throughout the District during
| the greater part OF the year a large
number Of persons who are without
! proper facilities for keeping themselves
! clean. and that during the remainder OF
/ the year such bathing facilities as are
/ provided are not those that the majority
/ Of persons are willing 10 use"
/ Attention is called TO the importance
/ Of prompt action looking toward the
/ reclamation of the Anacostia Flats.
/ which. according 10 the health officer.
! constitute the gravest nuisance in the
/ District Of Columbia.
/ DIT. Woodward recommends also that
( appropriation be asked for the purpose
/ Of providing deep wells in proper l0ca-
/ tions, as such appropriations are neces-
/ sary 10 enable the Commissioners TO do
/ away with any shallow wells in outly-
1 ing sections where water mains are not
available.
Says Force Is OverwOrked.
/ Accompanying his estimates. DR.. Wood
ward submitted 70 the Commissioners a
/ letter, in which he says. in part:
THE work Of the department is serious
+ " hamcered AT the present time by the
I pressure under which il must be done.
/ Men working under pressure and over
| time are in no condition to do their best
/ work, however willing and Intelligent
/ they may be. And when, as in the case
/ in the health department. there is but
/ little prospect Of promotion, the quality
[ OF work suffers even further Unless.
/ therefore, II is found possible 10 increase
substantially the working capacity Of the
/ department by increased salaries, by 10
/ creased force. and increase Of facilities,
/ care should be taken that there be no in
/ crease in the duties imposed upon the de-
/ partment; and Il may be suggested even
/ that action should be taken looking To-
/ ward the CUrtailment Of existing duties d"