Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1914-02-13
Report On The Sanitary Conditions
Or Rockville BY H. R. HALL. ASSISTANT
CHIEF Or The BUREAU Or SANITARY
ENGINEERING, DEPARTMENT Or HEALTH,
STATE Or MARYLAND, SUBMITTED To
MAYOR LEE OFFUTT.

MAYOR LEE OFFUTT.
AS result Of an outbreak Of typhoi'
fever, visited Rockville on February an,
8 to examine into conditions relating es
pecially to water supply and sewerage.
REPORT.
Rockville is an Incorporated communit!
with population of 1881. according to tn
u. S. Census of 1910. situated on the Me
tropolitan Branch of the B. and o. railroad
about is miles northwest Of Washington
1t is at an elevation of not less than 40(
feet above mean sea level. the higher por
tons of the town reaching elevation 460
geographically it is situated on the toI
of ridge separating the drainage areas
of the Potomac River and Rock Creek.
Montgomery street, the main street Of
the town, runs in generally east and west
direction and is approximately the divid-
ing line of the two principal drainage areas
At the westerly end of the town. the gen
eral slope of the ground is in a westerly
direction. draining toward Watts Branch
tributary Of the Potomac River. That
portion lying to the east of the area drain
ing toward Watts Branch and to the north
of MONTGOMERY street has its natural outlet
for drainage into what is known as Monkey
Run, small stream flowing in general
easterly direction to Rock Creek. All the
area to the south Of the main street, ex-
cept small portion at the west end slop-
ing toward Watts Branch. drains by means
of number of tributary valleys to Cabin
John Branch. which flows into the Poto-
mac River below Great Falls.
The town is unprovided with any modern
means of sewage disposal. common earth
closets being used for taking care of sew
age matters. There is no regulation re-
quirine the construction Of tight privy
vaults, and most of the receptacles permit
the deposit Of focal matter directly upon
the soil. In some instances more COM
plete means of sewage disposal have been
used byindividual property owners. usually
taking the form Of a septic tank and sub
surface drainage system. but by far the
greater number Of houses are provided with
the common type Of earth closet.
A public water supply has been in exist
ence since 1897
Drainage from the various houses in the
town is carried away by means of the street
cutters into natural bitches and thence to
the streams. Very few cutters are paved
except upon Montgomery street, so that in
some portions Of the town extremely Of
fensive conditions are undoubtedly created
in summer by the foul house drainage COL
lecting in stagnant pools where the slope Of
the bitches is not sufficient to carry the
water away. or their rough and uneven
character retards proper flow.
The difference in elevation between the
high and low parts Of the town gives
good slope to most of the streets, and in
most places the natural means of drainage
should carry away surface water without
causing it to collect in fiat parts of the
town. provided the cutters and bitches are
maintained smooth and even. The build
ings in the central portion Of the town.
especially along Montgomery street. are
constructed close together, and 1t seems
quite plain that with such closely built
up condition existing something more than
the old-fashioned methods Of disposing Of
sewage and household wastes should be
made use of in order to prevent objection
able Conditions from arising. On the lat
eral streets and the outlying districts. the
dwellings are situated on wide lots and are
more widely separated. However, even
such being the case, modern community,
and one anticipating future growth. is re-
tardin9 its own progress by neglect to keep
its growth in sanitary improvements apace
with its development along other lines and
an unsightly and odorous stream Of filthy
water flowing in its streets is not only a
menace to health but detriment to the
town.
A scavenger system is in operation.
man being paid $500 year to visit each
house once a month for six months during
the winter. and twice month for six
months during the remaining portion of the
year to remove night soil from the privies.
The material is said to be carried away
into the country and buried in the soil
The town also makes an attempt to keep
the various cutters and drainage bitches
clean and smooth, so that an unobstructed
flow Of water may be maintained in them.
and at such periods Of cleaning. linz is
usually sprinkled in the ditch.
In my examination of conditions of
drainage in various portions of the town
on February 2, it seemed that while in
many places no seriously Objectionable con-
ditions were then existing. although in
nearly all parts Of the town sink wastes
were in evidence in the street cutters, two
drainage bitches stood out above all others
as being possible Of creating considerable
nuisance when conditions are right.
On Monroe street. which runs south from
Montgomery street. is deep ditch which
drains portion Of the latter street be-
tween the Court House and a point just
east of the Baltimore road. The bottom
of the ditch was uneven. full Of stones Of
various sizes. and when examined con-
tanned stagnant pools Of dirty water, ap-
parently the discharge from sinks or bath
tubs. For several hundred feet the ditch
follows along the west side Of Monroe
street. dischareine finally into the head
waters of Cabin John Branch. and in the
summer is said to be extremely objection
able.
One other most noticeable nuisance which
came in contact with, so far as actual
drainage conditions are concerned. is the
stream known as Monkey Run. 1t has its
source near Montgomery street, to the west
Of the center Of the town. in closely built
up district and flows in generally easterly
direction through a contested negro settle