Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-10
"CIean Food Crusade" War;
rants Asked for Vendors.
FRUIT KEPT IN STABLES
Filthy Conditions Under Which Of
tenders Live and Keep Stock.
EIGHTEEN TO BE ARRESTED
Poultry-Store Keeper and a Lunch
room Proprietor Are Accused
by Inspectors.

Officials of the health department will
apply at the Police Court some time this
afternoon or tomorrow for warrants for
the arrest of eighteen Greek fruit and
vegetable venders on charges of failing to
comply with health and sanitation laws.
The chief complaint against this class of
merchants is that they store their wares
in their homes, which are generally in st
bles. cellars or other insanitary places.
Yesterday being Sunday. a day when
these merchants do not work, Inspectors
Stoy and Bales of the health department
followed up the crusade on fruit venders.
With the exception of one place the in
spectors have recommended warrants for
the occupants of every place visited by
them.
Fruit Kept in Stables.
The majority Of the places were located
in stables In the rear of some house In
every such case the first floor of the sta
BILE is used for keeping the horses and
wagons and such pushcarts as are used
and the fruit. On the second floor the
three or four partners. just as the case
may be. sleep, cook and live.
In several instances one of the men had
wife living in the room. In other cases
fruit and vegetables were kept on the
second floor or the living floor as well as
on the stable floor.
In one or two places the pushcarts con-
tanning the fruits and vegetables were In
horse stalls. Some of these stables have
running water and sewer connections.
The majority have not.
One place visited and considered es-
peclally insanitary and unfit for the etor-
ing of foods is in the cellar of an old
rickety house in Jackson alley northwest.
The structure is damp and infested with
flies. There is only one room, and, ac-
cordlng to the inspectors, two men live
and cook in 1t and keep all their wares
IN II. The latter were found uncovered
yesterday and exposed to the atmosphere
and flies and other insects.
That these conditions existed was
brought to the attention of the public
and the health department several weeks
ago by The Star. A reporter for The
Star, accompanied by a health inspector,
made a tour OF visits. Although condi-
tions were unfavorable for learning The
worst conditions under which food was
stored. sufficient evidence was collected
to furnish the health department a good
working basis.
Difficult to Find Homes.
A great difficulty is in finding where
push cart men live. They are registered
with the assessor. Addresses given are
"
1t was with considerable difficulty and
only by the use of rare tact that the in
spectors were able to get on the inside
of so many places as they did yesterday.
A warrant is also to be asked for the
arrest of the manager of a lunchroom on
K street northwest, and the proprietor of
a poultry store on Louisiana avenue near
the Center Market. In the lunchroom the
inspectors say they found conditions dirty
and insanitary.
The dining tables had grease on them
and the floors and ceilings were in need
of cleaning. In the poultry store the in
spectors declare they found poultry ex-
posed for sale with no provision for pro-
tecting them from flies and other in
sectS
Inspector Mothershead visited a score
Of grocery stores in the northwest Sec
ton of the city yesterday. Fair condi-
tions were found. Warnings were given
in one or two instances. No warrants
were recommended.