Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-01


practically stamped out the practice or
promiscuous drug selling.
The general death rate for the District for
| the year ended June 80, according to the
| annual report of the health officer, issued
several weeks ago, was 1920 per thousand,
| which is somewhat better than the hgures
! for the preceding year. This Improvement
/ is due, according to DR.. Woodward, TO
diminution Of the death rate of whites,
| which fell from 1905 to 1v16. The death
rate for the colored population rose from
1892 to 2S.S1. The death rate among col
! ored people living in alleys was 29.39, ana
| this record was made the basis of strong
arguments for the opening, extending, wild
| ening and generally improving the alleys
of the District. Two committees with this
| object in view were appointed, the nrst con-
sistng of the superintendent of police, the
| district surveyor and the secretary TO the
| board of charities. They were directed 10
| recommend the conversion of alleys ana
courts into minor Streets and during the
year they recommended four to be con-
verified. The other committee included the
assistant engineer commissioner, the health
| officer and the building inspector. and their
| attention was directed toward lnsanltary
| and dilapidated buildings. They condemned
| more than $50 buildings.
During the past year smallpox prevailed
| to an unusual extent. In all. e1ghty-three
| cases were reported and ten deaths re-
suited.
An appropriation was obtained by the
1
construction of hospital for the care and
| treatment of INDECENT persons suffering
| from tuberculosis. Plans for this hospital
have been completed and the work OF con-
Struction will be commenced In FEBRUARY
1t is expected to cost 100000. AS another
step toward the elimination of tuberculo-
sis In the District, the Commissioners on
May 3 promulgated regulations designed 10
prevent the spread of that disease in build
ings under the control of the District of Co
lumbia. With the same end IN view. the
Commissioners transmitted to congress
the draft of proposed bill, which PROVIDES
for the compulsory registration of all tuber-
culosis cases in the District and the free
examination of Sputum.
There was a marked increase in the num-
Der of births during the last twelve months.
there having been total of 6.4l3. VI TINS
number 4, 40 were white infants, ana 2,2'o
colored The extent Of illegitimacy among
colored infants as revealed by the birth re-
ports was startling, representing Z4OI per
cent.
On April "a the Commissioners promulgat-
ed regulations designed to procure the bet
ter protection from contamination OF 1000
exposed for sale, of utensiles used In lunch
rooms and bar rooms
Several weeks ago the Commissioners for
warded to Congress the draft OF a Dill
which proposed to control and regulate the
slaughter and sale of cattle in the District
Another bill was forwarded to govern the
milk and dairy business.
ditions in the District, the Commissioners
on April 4 last promulgated resolutions
governing the maintenance OF STAPLES. Oh
May % they promulgated regulations cover
ing the maintenance and operations or par
Der shops in the District. whole week In
August was devoted by householders to the
removal of refuse from cellars and back
yards.
ployment agencies in the District was
put into effect by the Commissioners
Twenty-six employment agents had peen
in business up to that time, and elghteen
applied for licences to operate under the
new law. Eleven were granted licenses
In their annual report to congress the
Commissioners again called attention 10
the necessity Of furnishing an additional
water supply by the construction of another
conduit from Great Falls to the city.
1ae appropriation for Rock Creek Park
for the year was $4,000 and was expended
generally in the maintenance OF the park
considerable work was done in cutting
paths through the woods and clearing out
underbrush A number Of new bride paths
were established.
At the last session of Congress the Com
missioners approved a bill TO acquire about
100 acres additional land for the park on
the line of Massachusetts avenue extended,
at cost of about 900, but the Dill dld
not become a law. The Commissioners also
prepared and submitted a bill to Congress
to acquire the valley of Piney branch from
10Th street to the park limits, and this Dill,
too, failed of passage.
In their last report to Congress the Com
missioners again urged the desirability OF
legislation to preserve 10Th street as
residence street and limiting the height
of buildings along that thoroughfare. they
also again proposed changing the name OF
10Th street to Executive avenue.
Prominent among the new buildings I'M
der the District supervision within the
last year are the new Police Court, which
will be ready for occupancy In few
weeks; the Home of the Aged and 1nfirm.
! at Blue Plains, d. c.; the Industrial Home
School, at Blue Plains D. c.; the harbor
precinct station house and house of the
fire boat Freight; the Blow School, the
Cardoza School, Anthony Hyde School, and
No. IS engine house.
The personnel of the District service un-
derwent several important changes. I.
Fred Alvey, assistant assessor, died and
/ Louis c. Wilson, secretary to Commissioner
Griffin Coleman, superintendent of repairs.
died, and John Storey. an inspector In the
building inspectors office, was promoted to
succeed him. DR.. Percy Smith was APP
pointed superintendent of the Home for
the Aged and Inhrm, George Wallace was
appointed water registrar; Roy Hanes, ap-
pointed inspector for the, board of con-
demnation of insanitary buildings; DR..
William Fowler was appointed chief of the
contag ous disease department of the health
office; Julian Hargrove was appointed in
spector of cements and asphalts, to sue
coed A. W.. Dow, and Capt. John Kelly of
!
army succeeded Capt. Chester Harding as
assistant engineer commissioner.
There was much activity in building OPP
erations in the District. The estimated
value of the buildings constructed during
the year, not including the United States
or District government buildings, was $11,-
| 7S9, POI. However large this sum seems 1t
| marked a decrease of 100000, compared
with the previous year. There were S.2)S
permits issued 1,434 of which were for
dwellings.
The Commissioners, recognizing the fact
! that the building regulations were in need
of revision in order to meet modern cOndi-
tons, appointed a committee of ten promi-
nent citizens representing the various
trades and professions for that purpose.
The plumbing board of the District under
went a change. Its membership was re-
duced from five to three members. More
than $1,000 inspections of plumbing were
made during the twelve months an increase
| of more than 1000 over the previous year.
| An appropriation of $4,000 was obtained
| by the Commissioners to install new plumb
ing in local school buildings.
The system of new street names adopted
! for that portion of the District lying beyond
| the old city limits has been in force for
| some time.
The Commissioners recommend an appro-
priation of $4,000 for the purpose of en-
ploying special counsel to probe the ques-
! ton of titles to land embraced in the terri
! tory known as the AnacOStia flats