Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1918-07-11
SANITARY PROBE WORK DIEES|AS RESULT OF FALL
Progress Includes Hailing TO Court
These Who Have Not Tapped Sew
ers Begins Tonight In Police Court.
Other Rresults Accomplished.

!
Other Rresults Accomplished.
Standing out prominently in tbs
probe now on locking into the sani-
tary affairs OF Alexandria are the fol
lowing facts:
Nearly 200 property owners who
have failed to tap sewers that ahut
their property have been cited to ap-
pear in the Police Court before JUS
tice Thompson beginning at o'clock
tonight to answer their delinquency.
This hearing will be continued from
night to night until all de!inquents
have been summoned and their cases
investigated.
Alexandria Water Company has
been ordered to put in filtration
plant by the State Corporation Com
mission.
Conference of physicians Of city
held last night at Alexandria Hospital
with DR.. l.. L. Lumsden, of the United
States Public Health Service, and
question of putting city into a sani-
tary condition thoroughly discussed
by all present and views exchanged
on the best manner of putting the city
IN sanitary condition.
Mayor Fisher has written to State
Health Commissioner Dr.. L. G. Will
liams in which ne, among other things,
says he will do anything his official
powers allow, and also will assist in
any proper way to meet conditions,
adding that he assumes what is nee
essary will be done.
This sums up the situation as to the
developments up to date.
Dr. l.. L. Lumsden toiay resumed
his investigation into the cause or
causes of typhoid fever existing here.
1t is expected that he will soon be
able to make his report. The others
mere assisting in the probe being made
are also speeding up their work.
Before the completion of his re-
port, will come the question of sys-
sematic cleanup OF the city. The tap
ping of sewers, however. is one Of the
chief things. Doubtless considerable
attention will be directed to the fly
proposition, and may end with ger-
eral crusade Of "swatting the fy"
4 similar campaign was inaugurated
lere several years ago under the aus
Dices of the local health department.
Every property owners in the city
whose property abuts sewers and who
have not yet made the necessary con-
nections, even though they have paid
the city the tax assessment for tap
ping same, is to be cited into the
Police Cour. Each case, of course,
will be tried separately. More thar
two years ago the law became opera
tive.
The following letter written by
Mayor Fisher to Dr.. Z. 6. Williams,
state health commissioner of Rich
mond, Va, explains i5seif:
"My dear doctor am in receipt
Of your letter Of the Sth inst. in re-
gard to typhoid fever conditions in
this city, and in reply will say do
not see just what more can be done
than those charged with conditions are
trying to do, neither do see how an
additional health officer would serve
our purposes in q greater degree than
It present. We have health officer, a
deputy health officer and etc.
.'You have also kindly assisted with
advice and services. The national au-
.horiSies are to assist. If 7 read the
papers correct. some of or physicians
do rot consider conditions alarming
In these matters do not place my
opinion against those of Yourself and
Others better informed than myself.
although l have thought the city was
unnecessarily given wrong status
I really do not accept the proposition
that Alexandria is less clean than
Washington or other cities of Vir-
ginia.
| have no money at my order to dis
pense for these or other purposes.
The City Council met Tuesday night
and its members are as we'll Informed
as myself. l do not know that any
legislation was attempted. Of course.
| | will do anything my official powers
allow, and will also assist in any
proper way 10 meet conditions, how
ever, | assume what is necessary will
be done.
sT shall be pleased 10 hear from you
again.
"Fery respectfully.
Thomas .A. Fisher.
Mayor"