Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-07
MEETING OF CITIZENS
East Washington Association
Considers Report.
CONDITION OF THE U. S. JAIL
Workhouse and Smallpox Hospital Re-
ceive Attention.
|RECLAIMING ANACosTIA FLATS
Exceptions Taken to Remark Attrib-
uted to Chaplain Of the Senate.
Other Matters.

Charles NJ. Emmons. chairman Of the
committee on public health Of the East
Washington Citizens Association, sub
mitted an interesting report to the asso-
citation at a meeting last evening in Don
nelly's Hall. The report covered the con-
dtions at the Jail, workhouse and smallpox
hospital, and also had some bearing on the
question of retaining the Anacostia flats.
1t was read and discussed, the associa ton
extending the author a vote of thanks for
his efforts.
Another question of interest to the asso-
citation was raised by Mr.. NJ. I. Weller.
He disputed statement attributed to DR..
Edward Everett Hale, chaplain Of the
United States Senate, respecting the popu-
1ation of the southeast section. Mr.. F. G.
Coldren brought before the association a
request that steps be taken for the estab-
lshment of two more public comfort sta
tons in this city. He suggested that one
be constructed on the ground at the south
west corner of the Interior Department
and one at 18th street and Pennsylvania
avenue. His suggestion was referred to the
proper committee.
No Modern Conveniences.
The report Of DR.. Emmons was read by
the secretary as follows:
building, strong in structure, but containing
no modern conveniences. the entire insetu-
ton being insanitary and the prisoners idle.
1t has 272 cells for males and AZ cells for
females, the size Of each being feet by 8
feet and feet inches from floor to CELL
ing In each Of these cells I found two
prisoners. The influence which men have
upon each other penned up together all day
In a little hole like that is very harmful
and this influence becomes exceedingly
harmful II young fellow who is in for
some slight first offense Is placed in the
same cell with some old and hardened GRIM
inal If this influence is harmful in case
of the men 1t is much more SO in the case
of the women. Any decent woman wants
privacy; she does not want to spend TWEEN
tythree and half hours of the day in the
presence Of another person, no matter who
1t is There is sad medley of classes at
the jail, some awaiting trial, some serving
sentence and some awaiting transportation
to the penitentiary. There Is no means for
the separation of those suffering from tu-
berculoss, and the hospital ward, so-called,
Is a small room on the top floor of the
building, poorly ventilated and containing
ancient plumbing.
1.-The cells are insanitary and contain no
modern conveniences Of any sort, and the
refuse is cleaned out only once a day. The
prisoners are compelled to eat in their cells,
and this attracts rats, a number of which
1 saw scampering along the corridors.
There should be new jail, large and mod
ern in its equipments. and 1t should be To-
Gated where there is plenty of room 80 that
the prisoners could have the necessary
fresh air and exercise which the common
humanity of this enlightened age demands.
The present population Of the jail Is about
double it's capacity, and I would recon-
mend that this association petition the
judges of the Police Court to send all cases
possible to the workhouse instead Of to the
Jail. That would meet the present urgent
necessity for a decided decrease in the jail
population.
lin connection with this report I desire
published in The Evening Star which
quoted Justice Stafford as being in favor
of the establishment Of modern and we'll
equipped reformatory in the District Of Co.
lumbia, which should be Of such a char
acter as to make it a model for the whole
country.
ION the same day." the report continues,
II visited the District workhouse and there
found the sanitary conditions somewhat
better than at the Jail, this condition being
largely due to two wings being recently
erected. When 1t is known that the Dis
trict government will be compelled to ex-
pend about $4,000 annually for some time
to come it seems to me it would be the part
Of wisdom to place this institution away
from it's present environment, where land
would be plentiful and where the offenders
of our local regula lions could be placed at
labor without the disgrace of the striped
suit which is now made necessary by the
working of this class Of unfortunates in
our streets.
As to Anacostia Flats.
'The Anacostia flats are still with US. and
during the past year they have been the
cause OF much of the sickness in this Sec
ton. The work of retaining these flats
should be pushed. and many Of the hills
adjacent thereto could well be graded and
furnish convenient filling, especially that
known az Poplar Hill near the eastern gas
80 oil sv,% Ia
southeast section in which people Of the
poorer classes are compelled to live are as
yet ungraded, unpaved and poorly lighted:
This condition is one that should demand
immediate attention
1.-THE smallpox hospital building, which Is
practically new, is located almost on the
very edge Of the marsh, and in considera-
ton of the patients who are compelled to
seek treatment at that institution and the
taxpayers Of this section, who have long
protested against this location, 1t, too,
should be removed. The sewer Of this
hospital, in my judgment. should be ex-
tended at once to the channel, thus making
it Impossible for flies and insects to carry
.contagion to our citizens
Discussion of the report was in order, and
most of the members expressed themselves
as being opposed to the expenditure of any
more money upon the structures in ques-
ton. They favored the erection of new
buildings, and a resolution embodyng their
views was adopted. During the discussion
pox in the District Jail by saying it had
been taken to the prisoner by flies from
the sewer leading from the smallpox hos
pitaI to the prison.
Takes Exception to Alleged Criticism.
Mr.. Weller read a dispatch which pur-
ported to give the substance of remarks
made by DIR. Hale, in Boston, a few days
ago. The address was delivered at the
convention of the Free Religious Associa-
ton of America. Mr.. Weller took exception
to the remark by Dr. Hale in which he re-
ferred to the southeast section of this city
as follows:
THE southeast is populated by negroes
whose death rate is p in 1000, while the
northwest is for gentlemen, the death rate
being Il.
Mr.. Weller said he was anxious to know
how DR.. Hale arrived at his conclusion. He
made an investigation and found that DR..
Hale resides in the third police precinct,