Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-07
ASKS A BIG INCREASE
Health Officers Estimates
$88, 652 Above Last Year.
SALARIES LARGEST ITEMS
Additional Clerks and Inspectors
Needed Under New Laws.
NO MONEY TO MOVE WEEDS
Establishment Of a Psychological
Laboratory and Public Baths
Urged in Report.
NO MONEY TO MOVE WEEDS

Or. W. C.. Woodward. health ohicer OF
the District. 1 nhis annual estimates sub
mitted to the Commissioners today asks
for a total appropriation of $2O2.0O5 to
maintain his department during the next
fiscal year. This sum is an increase OF
$SS $50 over the amount appropriated by
Congress for the present fiscal year.
The most important increase asked by
him In connection with salaries Is the
creation OF a new ONCE to be known as
assistant health oncer. who shall De a
physician and. who shall act as health
officer in the absence Of the latter. Dr.
Woodward proposes to pay this omciai
5000 a year. He wants three additiohal
clerks at 81 400 >each. two ADDITIONAL
clerks at $500 each, q chief food inspector
at $4,000. which Is a new ONCE and TWO
additional sanitary and food inspectors
at s.. 400 cath. two assistant sanitary IN
spectors at 81. 400 each. to assist IN the IN
He has recommended that the salary OF
DR.. r. L. Lynch. the chief chemist. De IN
creased from 81 800 to $500 also tnat an
assistant chemist be appointed ana knas
s72O IN asked with which to hire skilled
iaborer to work in the laboratory OF the
health department. the empioymeue VI
bacteriologist at &2,4OO and an assistant
hacterioio4ist at 81 600. He also wants an
assistant poundmaster. 70 Wnom he pio-
poses to pay salary OF $SoV.
Increase to Fight Contagion.
For the enforcement OF the provisions
of an act to prevent the spread OF con-
taRious diseases in the District. which IN
cludes the maintenance OF the Smallpox
Hospital and quarantine station. the sum
Of $4,000 is asked. This Is an increase Oh
5000 over the amount appropriated TOT
The nresant fiscal year. The Gum OF $IO.
90 Il asked for the maintenance of the
Sisinfectinx service. which is an increase
Of 5000. ~
a PSYCHOLOGICAL laboratory the sum VI
Sc. 600 is asked. He considers such lab
oratory as highly essential to the protec-
ton Of health and contends that every
up-topdate health office should nave one.
II is extremely important In the analyz-
ing Of samples OF milk
For his own travelling expenses the
health officer asks for an appropriation
Of IS. 600, which is 5000 more than Con-
eress allotted for that purpose during
the present year For the maintenance OF
an additional wagon for the pound service
the sum Of $1,000 Is asked.
To enforce an act Of Congress to cause
the removal of weeds from the city
the sum Of 5000 Is asked. This law mas
been in force for several years. but Con-
gress has never made a appropriation
with which the health officer can en-
force II. To erect a stable on the grounds
of the smallpox hospital the sum OF $o.oO
is asked.
The Anacostia Flats.
DR.. Woodward invited attention in his
estimates to the importance Of prompt
action looking toward the reclamation OF
the Anacostia flats. These hats. he con-
tends. constitute what Is now the gravest
nuisance existing in the District. In con-
nection with lettering the health condi-
tons he recommended that an appropria-
ton be asked for the purpose OF provid-
ing deep wells in various sections Of the
city for the use OF the community. All
shallow wells should be abandoned. he
says. No appropriation was mentioned
by him for these purposes in his esti-
mates.
He concluded his report with the fol-
lowing recommendations and suggestions:
attention Ia invited to the desirability
OF improving B street southeast. SO as to
convert 1t into a proper driveway to at
ford ready access to the smallpox hospi-
tai. the quarantine station. the public
crematory and disinfecting plant. The
Washington Asylum Hospital would also
be served by the Improvement OF this
street. but with these institutions the
health officer has, of course, no direct
concern.
Need for Public Baths.
attention is invited to the urgent ne
cessity for the establishment throughout
the community of public baths. 1t is q
disgrace to the District that there should
be throughout the District during the
greater part OF the year a large number
OF people who are without proper facili-
ties for keeping themselves clean, and
that during the remainder OF the year
such bathing facilities as are provided
are not those that the majority Of the
people are willing to USE
ut Is recommended that provision b.
made for the collection and disposal OF
stable manure at public expense, or at
least through a public service available
for the use Of stable owners at their own
election and their own expense Stable
manure. next to night soil, Is probably
the most dangerous OF our city wastes
and adds greatly to our discomfort. at
ording. as 1t does. a breeding place for
house flies. The growth of the city has.
however. driven available places for de-
post and disposal farther and farther
from the stable. and diminished the num-
Der Of people ready and willing to dis
pose Of It. SO that 1t Is now difficult at
times to procure its prompt removal. For
these reasons. the establishment of a pub
lie service Is recommended.