Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-24
IN THE INTEREST OF HEALTH
CONDEMNATION OF INSANI-
TARY BUILDINGS.
Report of Board Having the Work
in Charge-Comment on
Bad Housekeeping.


Commissioners yesterday. considerable
was accomplished by the board for the
condemnation of insanitary buildings in
the District during the past fiscal year
toward wiping out dilapidated and in
sanitary structures.
The principal cause for the insanitary
conditions in this city, according to this
board. is bad housekeeping. They de-
clare that many tenants prefer to stand
In their back door and throw their ashes
and garbage and other refuse in the yard
rather than place them in the can for the
collectors. The yard soon becomes filed
by this practice, and at times during a
heavy rain the material deposited in the
yard is washed into the house.
The board explained that such condi-
tons are particularly noticeable in rows
of small houses or shacks, some of them
being as clean as soap and water will
make them, while others will be found to
be in the foulest possible condition. with
accumulation of various kinds of dirt,
trash and junk. kept for no other reason
than Discrimination to let go after once
coming into possession.
The board offered novel remedy for
the bad housekeeping. They think a
school where the ignorant and lazy can
be taught to properly care for themselves
and their homes would be of great benefit.
They declare that it would at least be OF
more benefit from a sociological point of
view than the literary and musical knowl-
edge obtained in connection with so-called
education that seems to produce. too fire.
quently. a general aversion for anything
resembling hard work.
Created by Special Act.
This board. which was created by a
special act of Congress May l. 1906. is
composed Of Capt. William Kelly. assist
ant engineer commissioner of the District;
DR.. William c. Woodward, health officer.
and Snowden Ashford. building inspector.
Roy Haynes Is the inspector.
There were 449 houses inspected, the re-
port states. of viii III 204 were demolished;
81 repaired and Isl pending. Of this to-
tai number It's were located in alleys and
2I4 on streets. The board had forty
seven meetings. There were 33s prelimi-
nary notices served. PIG notices of con-
demnation served and 1876 signs affixed to
the buildings. There was a total of 55S
tenants required to move and secure other
quarters through act on on the part Of the
board by reason of their homes being de-
moEshed. OF this rumber 355 were adults
and 203 were children.
OF the 2O4 houses demolished, 1870 have
been torn down directly by the owners
after service Of notices by the board. and
h'C, HcsItCl Ok REFUSAL owners
to remove after service of notices. were
demolished under direction of the board.
The report further stated: Special at
tention has been paid by the board to
dilapidated structures unprovided with
sewer and water connections with view
OF either removing or. If the premises
were worthy, connection with sewer and
water in order to eliminate the box
privies In the more thickly settled por-
tons of the city.
''Of the $50 tenants affected by the
demolition of buildings in the District of
Columbia all were colored. with three ex-
ceptfons. A small percentage of the ten
ants are going into the suburbs, but the
majority prefer to remain within the city.
Action Deferred in Cases.
"a few cases have required small
additional allowance Of time for the re-
moval on account of the poverty of the
tenants and their inability to accommo-
date them. Whenever 1t was found that
diligent efforts were being made to carry
out the orders of the board action was
deferred for a reasonable time If neces-
sary In order to permit this end to be
accomplished
1T has been considered wise to act
upon abandoned houses as we'll as those
occupied. because there seems to be no
limit to the willingness of people to oc-
cupy a house so long as there is more
or less roof and some apology for walls.
On several occasions houses have been
recorded as abandoned by the inspector.
and possibly a month or so later be ex-
amined and found occupied. Many aban-
doned houses were vacated originally be-
cause the owner preferred to have the
same idle rather than to connect with
sewer and water mains under the drain
age act. and disuse has rendered them
At subjects for condemnation.
The average vacant and abandoned
house Immediately becomes q public con-
venience station, and Is as much of a
menace to the health of the residents in
the vicinity as if 1t was occupied.
Two Distinct Types.
There are two distinct types of house
that require the attention of the board
One is the 'shanty' or shack and the
other is the more pretentious house that
has seen better days and degenerated into
the present condition either by over
crowded occupancy or disuse. and stands
today in state Of dilapidation and decay
The latter type is generally a one or two
story dwelling. and the destruction not
uncommonly results in the erection of
better house to take the place of that
destroyed"
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