Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-13

ing and looser speech. A cursory examina-
ton Of some Of the markets and stores OF
sufficient basis for the well-guarded but
significant statement that their condition
has an important relation to the presence
Of diseases here. No data are furnished
markets and stores In this city as COM
pared with the markets and stores In other
places, and no facts are given tending to
show the relation existing between the
cleanliness Of markets and stores either
here or elsewhere, and the morbidity and
death rates. No information is furnished
to show that the substances with which
food is or Is liable to be soiled are poison
Gus either In the quantities in which they
appear upon food when offered for sale or
in any quantities whatsoever. No facts are
given to show that the bacteria, II any,
that appear upon the food as 1t Is onered
to the customer are Of disease producing
kinds
The total number of places in the Dis
trict where food is manufactured, or held
or exposed for sale is 1850, exclusive OF
eight markets, with 1893 stalls, of which
1885 are now occupied and 10 slaughter
houses. DR.. Woodward points out that he
visited all the markets, all the stores on
B street and Louisiana avenue between 9th
and 10th streets, and number of the
grocery and meat stores in the residential
sections of the city, some that might sup
naturally be expected to be among the
worst as he expressed It, In only a sin
gle instance, he stated, did he find cat on
meat bench or counter as was alleged by
Assistant Secretary Hays.
Describes His Visits.
The health officer describes his visits as
follows:
Some difficulty arose in determining what
should be accepted as representing, at the
particular time when the inspection was
made, fair and proper degree of clean
illness. The stores and stalls on Louisiana
avenue and the Northern Liberty and o
street markets, were visited during bust
ness hours, and 1t was represented that
because of the work being done they
could not reasonably be expected to be
found In a more cleanly condition than they
were. The Center market was visited on
FRIDAY afternoon, after selling had
ceased, and when a stall or implement was
round that was not clean it was usually
explained that 1t was the intention to
clean further before business began next
day, and similar excuse was offered when
like conditions were found at the local
stores Of one Of the western packing houses.
THE Western market the Georgetown
market, the Eastern market and the North
eastern market were seen before or at the
time when sales were beginning on Monday
morning, and such uncleanliness as was
criticised was explained on the ground that
market had kept open so late Saturday
night and had opened so early Monday
morning that no opportunity had been af-
1orded for fair cleaning up. The Riggs
market was visited Monday afternoon and
the uncleanly condition of some parts of it
was accounted for by the fact that dealers
who had been arranging their stands for
tuesdays market had not yet cleaned up.
Stores were visited at various hours and
similar conditions found and explanations
made"
Mr.. Mcfarland Concurs.
Upon receiving the health officers report
commissioner mcfarland, who has super
vision of the health department. made
the following statement, in which he joins
with DR.. Woodward in the expression of
desire for more inspectors for the health
department.
This report is in the line of the health
omcers special inquiry, begun last August,
as to conditions in all places where food is
made or sold, as the result Of which the
commissioners on January 3 recommended
the slaughter house bill. which has passed
the House, and on January Is ordered the
preparation Of the bill, which has since
been introduced, covering all other food es-
adjustments and also laundries and other
places.
I'm their annual estimates also the Com
missioners have asked for an increase in
the number of food inspectors There are
only three to cover all the food establish
ments Of the District of Columbia. About
the same time in October the health officer
reminded the three food inspectors once
more Of their duty, and took such other
steps 10 improve the inspection service as
were in his power.
Special Attention Given.
Special attention has been given by the
health officer in a personal inspection to
the statements communicated to him by the
assistant secretary of agriculture, upon
which, al my request, he has made full
report.
1.-THE recommendations Of the health off,
Ger, so far as action by the Commissioners
is concerned, beyond the suggestion of leg
fslation necessary, which has been already
asked of Congress, will be promptly acted
upon. The corporation counsel will be
asked to say whether the Commissioners
have any authority to require lavatory ac-
commodations. The case of the three food
inspectors will be taken up Immediately,
and the health officer will be asked for a
definite recommendation as to each one.
Justice will be done to them, but also to
the service. Provision will be made as
soon as practicable for additional trans
portation. Additional authority to regulate
these matters, additional food inspectors
and vigorous inspection will improve these
conditions"