Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-12
LACK Of SANITATION
IN MARKETS ALLEGED
Methods Of Handling Foodstu6s Are
Criticised by Dr. I. J.
Battle.
Piney Branch Association Orders In
vestigation by Committee-other
Matters Discussed at Meeting.

A/dCA VI SaaltaTy pE6CauLlCn8 inc
handling Of foodstuns at the Wash
ington markets will be made tho sub
ject Of a special investigation and re-
port by the Piney Branch Citizens'
Association. Other associations Of
citizens will be urged to take UP tho
matter and bring pressure to bear on
the Commissioners Of the District with
a view to correcting the tnsanitary
conditions alleged to exist.
DIR. L. J. Battle, chairman Of the COM
mittee on public health Of the asso-
citation, was instructed to have his
committee make a report to the associa-
ton. The action came following an
address by the physician. in which he
attacked the methods in vogue at the
local markets. and condemned those
responsible for them.
The members Of the association were
Of the opinion that II the citizens
associations took a hand in the inves-
Itigation and pressed their views, the
District officials would have to cor
rect them.
DR.. Battles Comments.
TN the local markets." said DR..
Battle, you will find in midsummer
meats and other perishable products
lying out on the counters unscreened.
unprotected from the flies. unprotect-
ed from the dust and from the hands
of people who may have a disease.
You can see bread and cakes thrown
out Unfortunately on counters and
shelves where any one could handle it.
Just outside of the Center Market
there stand at 7th and B streets north
west two dead horse wagons only
few feet away from the unscreened
CO. h. hly
the Washington public is laid out.
Under these wagons I have seen drip
pings as large as that table Undicat-
ing table about eight feet in
diameter) and the whole pool was COW
cred with flies. These flies swarm in
| these drippings and then go over to
the market, where they rest on the
meats and other products which the
Washington public buys. I tell you
that the conditions are frightful.
Recommends Agitation.
citizens associations throughout the
District and then the Commissioners
would make their men more careful
about the sanitation in these markets.
ct have gone through the market, too.
and, standing near a butter stand, I
saw two women come along and SAM
pie butter with their thumb nails.
| Then a man came along and took a
dirty. greasy match from his pocket.
stuck 1t into the butter. tasted 1t and
then replaced the match in his pock-
ct. Another man used a toothpick.
You do not know what disease they
| might have been suffering with or
have come into contact"
Plea for School Janitors.
Efforts are to be made by the associa-
| ton to take action on the question Of
increased pay and better working con-
| ditions for the janitors of public
schools in the District before the an
| nual estimates go in. Following the
reading of a letter from W. P. Cannon.
secretary of the janitors' organization.
the association instructed its commit
tee on public schools to take action.
President J. A. Chamberlain of the as
ISOLATION was appointed a special men,
Der of the committee because of his
knowledge of the conditions under
| which the janitors worked. The COM
| mittee was Instructed to take action
and refer 1t to the Commissioners be-
fore the annual estimates go to the
Secretary of the Treasury.
| President Chamberlain lauded the
school janitors and said that a finer
| body of men could not be found, which
should be, he said. because they must
deal with the children Of the District.
Action Not justified.
| A letter from the District Commits
sioners in reply to one from the associ-
alton was read. in which the Commits
sioners said they did not consider
themselves justified in placing the
overhead electric wires underground at