Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-21

with matters affecting the health and
comfort Of its employees and the security
Of its public records.
There is ancient history bearing on the
governments carelessness as to the safe
ty and sanitation Of its quarters. The
board of health of the District OF Co.
lumbia in 1s7f-the first year of the tenn
porary commission government OF the DIS
trict-severely arraigned the national au-
thority for Its neglect along the lines In
dictated. The report, signed by Chris c.
Cox. president of the board. In a para
graph devoted to a consideration OF the
condition of public buildings. said:
The sanitary condition Of our public
buildings cannot be omitted (from this
reporO in view Of the evils to be cor
rected. No more fragrant sources OF de-
Perforated health exist than the faulty
structures In which the government bust
ness Is being transacted from year to
year. Ornamental and attractive as they
may be to the curious lingerers In the
metropolis, in their interior architectural
that conduces to health and comfort"
The board Of health was especially
severe in its criticism OF conditions In
the Treasury and the old pension bureau.
aside from the liability to fire in these
two structures" the report said, land the
inevitable destruction thereby Of most
valuable records. dating from the founda-
ton of the government, and the conse-
quent immense pecuniary as we'll as his
toric loss to the country, they are in
many respects wholly unsuited for the
purpose to which they are applied. In
addition to overheated halls and apart
ments there exists deplorable absence
Of all suitable means OF ventilation. The
rooms are crowded with clerks and en-
ployes much beyond their capacity. These.
for an average of six hours per day,
breath an atmosphere saturated with
carbonic acid, produced by their own
respiration. rendered still more deleteri-
Gus by q corresponding amount of effete
animal exhalation from the surface of
their bodies. The chief means of VEN
tilation consists Of open windows, thus
occasioning draughts of air to which
those in the vicinity become cruelty ex-
posed. The topmost story in the Treas
ury would be simply a barbarous den for
cattle. and would inevitably, IL thus APP
propriated. be favored by a diurnal call
from the president Of the Society for the
Prevention OF Cruelty to Animals"
1t was said that "a not unfrequent
consequence is that in the summer term
a number Of employees are every day
borne out in a fainting condition.
The bureau of engraving and printing
was condemned as overcrowded and un-
derventilated, the inmates being favored
with q less number Of cubic feet of air
in which to respire than Is assigned to
emizrants on shipboard." The board also
denounced the rented quarters Of the gov
eminent
In concluding its condemnation Of the
governments treatment OF its employees,
the ancient report said:
Suffice 1t. that from the Capitol. in
which the Congress OF the nation annual
ing for the immolation OF clerks. there
Is too little attention paid to the condi-
lions Of heating. ventilation and pure
air, so essential to the sound health of
their occupants. The time has come
when the attention of government
should be directed to these fragrant evils
in order to their speedy and thorough
correction"
There have been some remarkable
changes. Splendid buildings have been
constructed and old ones in some ways
modernised, but the governments build
ing program has not been ample to keep
pace with the growth OF its business. and
it's rented quarters are more numerous
In 1911 than they were in 1874.
by the present earnest investigation may
be -emedied more promptly and thor
oughly than were those OF 1874.