Evening star., 1909-07-15
To VISIT ALL HOUSES AN ODD RUSSIAN SECT
Health Officer Woodward Mookanes From Russia Seek
Plans Rigid Inspection. Shelter on Pacific Coast.
FIGHT FOR CLEANL MESS DRIVEN FROM CAUCASA
Departments District Sought to Escape Military Service
Will Cooperate. Like the Quakers
employees ASSIGNED TO DUTY PRACTICE PECULIAR RITES
Work Expected to Be an Aid
Crusade Aeains tians"-Ceremony Of
and Mice Featur Of Services
Health Officer Woodward
Plans Rigid Inspection.
FIGHT FOR CLEANLINESS
Other Departments of the District
Will Cooperate.
EMPLOYEES ASSIGNED TO DUTY
Work Expected to Be an Aid in
the Crusade Against Rats
and Mice.

One of the most important steps. in the
opinion OF Health Officer Woodward. for
improving the sanitary conditions of the
National Capital will be taken in a few
days. when two inspectors will begin a
house-to-house inspection TO include every
house in the District
The cleanliness crusade will be most
thorough and every feature Of every house
relating to the health OF the occupants
will be considered In case conditions are
not found sanitary in every way steps
Will at once be inaugurated TO have them
remeded For that purpose every de-
partment of the District government that
works for better sanitary conditions
health, plumbing. building and street
cleaning. chief1y-vil1 be asked TO aid, and
many laws will be invoked.
Duties of the inspectors.
When an inspector visits a house he will
see that the yard is clean and free from
debris that breeds disease; he will note
what disposition is made of garbage, not
ing if it is placed in tight cans and kept
in way that is the most sanitary: he
will inspect the plumbing TO see that 1t Is
not leaky and that there are no pipes,
sinks or basins that are not in good work.
ing condition, and he Will take into ac-
count the general COn0ltl0n OF the mouse
as 10 its cleanliness or uncleaniness. If
ii is found TO be not all that is desired the
inspector will at once take steps to have
correction made
Should q yard he found filed with filth
the inspector will serve notice on the
householder to clean ii up. The inspector
assigned to the territory in which the un-
clean yard is found will be notified and
II will be his duty to make frequent in
spections to determine that it has been
made sanitary to procure a warrant
for the householder in case the order of
the health department is not obeyed.
Connections With Sewers.
The inspector might find that the drain
age of the cellar of the yard is not
good: that the house does not have con-
nections with public sewer, although
one is nearby. In such cases the plumb
Ing department will be notified, because
II has supervision over such matters. and
the serving of a proper notice regarding
sewer and water main connection will be
vigorously enforced until proper SANTA
ton in the home on that score is in
sured
II is also expected that the inspectors
will find houses that are practically tum-
bling down and unfit for human habita-
ton. The building department will be no.
tilted and the condemnation of the struc-
ture will probably follow.
The inspection, it is believed, will mean
a saving to the District, for the inspectors
will see whether the water faucets or
bathroom fixtures are leaky. Should 1t be
found that a faucet in house where
meter has not yet been installed cannot
be shut off tight the water department
will receive due notice from the health
inspectors and that department will take
the proper steps TO cut of the waste OF
water.
Crusade Against Rats and Mice.
This house-to-house inspection, Health
Officer Woodward believes. will play an
important part in the crusade against
rats and mice which he has determined
TO wage. for one of the things the in
spectors will watch carefully will be the
disposition of garbage and the storage
OF periShable produce such fruits and
vegetables. 1t is recognized that gar
bage pals are breeding place for flies
and succor TO rats, unless properly
covered, and in working through the
street cleaning department to have the
garbage of every home in the National
Capital disposed of in sanitary man
ner the health department officials be-
heve they are making great fight
against flies and rats. These two perils
are recognized by health officials, and
this point of attack is believed TO be one
of the most vital.
The work is to begin in a few days and
the first inspections will be in the locali
ties where the death rate is the highest
Ii is believed that the sanitary conditions
of the homes in those sections need at
tention the most.
Up to year ago nothing in the way of
house-to-house inspections was attempted
by the health department, because all the
inspectors were kept busy Investigating
complaints. Congress provided two new
inspectors A year ago and after their
appointment the work of investigating
complaints was lightened- for some of the
employees and a little attention was given
to house-to-house inspections.
At the last session Congress made pro-
vision for TWO more sanitary inspectors.
and their appointment has made possible
the assignment of two experienced in
spectors TO the house-to-house eXamna-
tions.
Comment by Mr.. Macfarland.
Commissioner Macfarland who has su-
pervision of the health department says
that, Congress having somewhat increased
the force of inspectors, as the Commits
sioners had been asking for some time
should be done in order to make original
work possible. the department had been
able last summer to make original in
spectionS of lunchrooms and other places
particularly needing it, and that the ad-
ditional force provided would enable the
department 10 make some house-to- house
inspections this summer in the most in
sanitary neghborhoods.
Before last July he adds. "the force
of inspectors was so limited that the de-
partment could only attend to complaints
and was not able TO do original inspection
work. The Commissioners have recon-
mended strongly TO Congress from year
10 year that provision should be made
for house-to-house inspections by Increas s.
gratifying that such work done last year
Should he increased this wear