Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-13

cost of the improvement and we would
then have eliminated the malignant in
sanitary conditions.
THE most imperative demand for the i'm
provement of these flats is based upon
their insanitary effect on the entire city,
and particularly on persons living and
working in their immediate vicinity, and
as to these insanitary conditions there is
no question. Quoting from the 1897 re
port of the surgeon general of the navy,
in speaking of the condition of the Wash
ington navy yard, he says:
e 1t is undoubtedly true that the health
of the ward cannot be secured unless the
Anacostia fats be reclaimed At St Eliza
beth Hospital, just opposite the navy yard
the morbdity from malaria has very large
ly increased in the last few years.
'In the report for the year 1899 we quote:
Attention is again called to the condition
of the mud flats off the yard. and this
condition will remain a menace to the
health of the yard as long as measures are
not instituted for diverting the sewerage
from the Eastern branch entirely and de-
livering it into the Potomac river The
reclamation of the flats and wallng in both
sides Of the channel, as has been pro
pos ID. would tend to improve matters.
Extracts From Other Reports.
In the report for the year 1900 we quote:
The influence of the flats of the Anacostia
river occupies The most important place in
the consideration of the health of this yard
WHICH LOT some years HOW has Deen d cell
ter of malarial infection in the naval serv-
Ice and the Marine Corps. Men placed on
duty in this yard afterward sent to
other shore stations to ships, where they
from time to time have returns of the fe-
yer resulting from infection at~this place.
Undoubtedly the interests of the service
and of the city, demand the expenditure of
money, however great 1t may be, neces-
sary to remove such an extensive cause of
sickness and distress.
I'm the report for the year 1901 we quote:
The flats of the Anacostia river con-
tinue to exert a strong influence on the
health of this yard, as during the year 1909,
from an average complement of ITO persons,
there were 80 admitted to the sick list with
malarial trouble. This does not include a
temperance of the disease, but simply rep
resents those infected during the year.
This factor is, however, still sufficiently
great to occupy the most prominent place
in considering the health of the yard and
the influence is sufficiently strong to attract
attention to this yard as center. of infec-
ton for the naval service, as men who have
been under instruction here when trans
ferred to ships and other stations. are for
long time liable to Temperatures of the
disease
From a recent report of the board of
visitors of the Government Hospital for the
Insane we quote: This board would also
most urgently request that the attention of
Congress be called to the deplorable condi-
!
ton of that stream with the Potomac river,
to the railroad bridge of the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company. Bordering the hospital
grounds on the west they are a constant
menace to the health of the institution and
fertile soil for the development of the spe-
cific germs of malaria. These fats per-
haps half mile in width, the water COW
ering them is very shallow. leaving them
almost exposed at low tide, and during the
summer season they become covered with
rank growth of weeds and water moss.
which decays as autumn comes on. The
accomplishing organic matter, the sluggish
water and the soft mud bottom make
combination of conditions especially favor
able to the production and dissemination of
the malarial poison, and the hospital in
mates have been in large degree sufferers
thereby. -" We believe it to be within
the power of Congress to remedy this con-
ditiOn in large part by deepening and wild
ening the channel of the Anacostia river and
by hling up the flats well above high tide.
The reclaimed land would also be of great
value for truck gardening. and would go
far toward recompensing the government
! for the outlay. In the interest of the health
! of this hospital and of the entire eastern
portion of the District We hope Congress
can be prevailed upon TO make the neces-
! sary appropriations to begin the improve
ment.'
! Results in Benefit
! at is worthy of note that since portion
| of the fats bordering on the grounds of the
/
been partly filled already the physician
! in charge of this hospital has made men
ton of the fact that these conditions have
| been largely benefited and that malaria in
! his institution has been on the decrease We
: could occupy considerable space by quoting
| from annual reports of recent date of the
surgeon general of the navy and all insti-
! tutions bordering the Anacostia river,
| but We are DESTROYS of showing that these
| conditions have prevailed for years and we
| should not tolerate further delay.
| THE records of the board of education
| will show that the attendance records for
! the scholars residing in the eastern section
| of the District of Columbia will bear wit
| ness to the fact that from 80 to~S0 per cent
| OF the absences on account of sickness are
due to malarial causes, and no doubt these
same conditions will prevail in the south
| western and northwestern sections Of the
! District of Columbia.
| There many who have condemned
| these filthy Demonstrating flats. In the
summer they are covered with dense
growth of eel grass and wild rice, which is
~