Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-19
Fate of Lunchrooms Has Had San
itary Effect.
PLACES RECENTLY SCRUBBED
Sirups Manufactured Under Condi-
tions frequently Found Objection
able-Screens Lacking and
Worse Sometimes

IOnchr0OmS, nOlelS, STOCeIieS, putSiioi
shops. market stalls, soda fountains and
all other places In the city where food of
any character rs manufactured purveyed
or served. be subjected to rigid investiga-
ton, Inspector j. S. Gallagher spent the
entire afternoon yesterday in an official
tour of inspection of soda fountains.
The territory covered by Gallagher lay
in the lower central section of the city. In
all nineteen places were examined.
These inspections will probably result in
soda fountains for not properly complying
with the health regulations. Several 9TH
ers were given warning to clean up.
Recently Put in Order
Throughout the entire city. however, it
was evident that the soda fountain owners
had become particularly busy. Many
places bore evidence, most pronounced
that general house cleaning had taken
place within the past several days.
This recent scrubbing and furnishing
was apparent in at least two-thirds of the
places visited. One owner significantly re-
marked to Star reporter during the in
spection tour that the lunchroom public
ity was sufficient. In several establish
ments additional assistants had been en-
Two fountains-one visited at the begin
ming of the tour and the other the last
fountain inspected for the day-were pro-
nounced by the health inspector to be
model places. Nothing was found lacking
in facilities to keep glasses, sirup jars,
ice cream ladies and other apparatus
clean. Each establishment was rated eX-
cellent. Minute inspection indicated that
the cleanliness was not confined to recent
date.
In direct contrast two places were found
in filthy and particularly insanitary
condition. In one of these places the first
thing which met the eye of Inspector CAL
lagher was the greasy, sticky condition
of the counter, which bore decided evil
dence of the necessity of copious
amount of water, scrubbing brush and
the best dirt exterminator in existence.
Refuse in Box.
Behind the counter there was lot of
refuse dumped promiscuously in box,
large portion of which appeared to have
been there more than twenty-four hours.
An examination of the ice cream ladies
revealed dirt upon them so thick that only
a portion of it could be scraped off at the
first effort.
Glasses used at the fountain were found
lying on shelf near an open window, ex-
posed to dust of the street, which came
into the establishment at the slightest
wind puff. An inspection of the fountain
itself showed bad condition of the sirup
jars. which. judging from their appear
ance. had not been cleaned for months.
The examination developed an appalling
state of affairs in the place. according to
the inspector. The immediate prosecution
of the proprietors will be recommended.
In the second place mentioned it was
found that the sirup jars were in a dirty
condition. and the fountain proper badly
in need of a general cleaning up. 1t was
disclosed. also, that the room where the
sirups were made was located in a d.ngy
Second-story room, where the floor was
Uttered with old papers and box packing.
Half the receptacles containing the con-
centrated fruit juices were lying about on
boxes or shelves uncorked and exposed
to bugs, flies, dirt and the dust from the
street.
The windows of this room were un-
equipped with screens. Flies hung about
the place by the hundreds.
notice was served on the proprietor to
place screens in the windows soon as
possible. The other conditions of the
establishment will be reported to the
health officer. 1t Is believed that prose-
Cution will be recommended.
Glass-Washing Method
At a large majority of places visited
the inspectors found fault with arrange
nlents for washing glasses. The objec-
ton lay in the large amount of dirt and
grease which accumulates on the inside
after comparatively short usage and the
difficulty and time consumed in taking it
apart to clean it,
The inspection showed that in almost
every instance where these cleansers are
used there is an accumulation of dirt on
the inside. 1t was recommended to the
several proprietors that they either daily
clean the device or remove them and en-
nI.1x- l,6r ft1n6 of cI,;r
glasses.
The soda fountain of a large depart
ment store was inspected and found to
be in excellent condition. At the time Of
the inspection the counters were crowded
with customers. The manner i'm which
the soda was handled by the employees of
the place was closely scrutiniZed. Clean
hness predominates there, it was discov-
ere1
The only suggestion offered by the in
spectors was that running water be kept
In tiIs rinsing tanks beneath the counter
proper 1t was found that the fountain
clerks filled these tanks with water and
dropped a quantity of cleansing powder
IN them, which they used to wash as
many as fifty or sixty soiled glasses be-
fore emptying the tanks.
In the sirup manufacturing and charg-
ing rooms. things were found cleanly and
orderly. This section of the department
stores business is carried on on an eX-
tensive scale. There was disposition on
tic part OF t!lc OWneES TO comply Wtn
the slightest requirement of the health
regulations
Warnings Are Given.
Four places visited We're given notices
TO discontinue minor violations of the
regulations. consisting principally of ad-
vice to screen the rooms where the srur
is manufactured and TO clean stairways
and refuse boxes.
One place was found to have a dilapi-
dated sewer trap within several feet OF
the door of the room where the ice cream
and the sirups were manufactured. The
trap bore evidence of being cleansed
daily. but 1t was ordered to be repaired
and cemented. The danger of germs from
this trap. IL 1t Is kept clean. ii was stated
Is reduced to minimum by an auto
matte closing apparatus.
I'm another establishment the fountain
and the facilities for rinsing the uset
glasses were found in excellent condi
tion. A further inspection of the room:
located in the cellar where the sirup: