New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-02-13
finds CONDITIONS
r
At station POOR
Health Boards Asked to Improve
Situation at Depot

A scathing criticism of the sani-
tarv conditions at the New Britain
passenger depot, especially the lava
tories. was contained in a letter from
George K. Macauley to the health de-
partment which was read at the
monthly Meeting of the board yester-
day afternoon. In this letter, written
under the date of February IL, Mr..
MacauIey not only called attention to
conditions as they are said to exist
and ask that remedies be made forth
with, but also threatened to bring the
matter to the attention of the state
THE local department does not take
the proper steps.
Claims Depot Insanitary.
While the board considered Mr..
Macauleys complaint and thought
that it was doubtless justified, his
letter came in for considerable ad-
Verse criticism. y' The members felt
Ithat inasmroh as this is the first
EstimA Mr.: Macauley has had occasion
he might have couched his note in
more friendly tones and desisted from
the implied threats. The letter fol-
lows:
IT had occasion yesterday to- make
an inspection of the New York, New
I Haven &s Hartford railroad Walton
in New Britain in company with two
| other geHtlemen interested in health
sconditionsHh the city oANew Bfftain.
and I mustt say that We found the
| favatories in that buildinsssn d very
| bad condition, especially theAtpen' s
| lavatory. I have known inslAEc6s il
| this city where a health Inspector
/ who travels around lodged a COM
| plaint with the board of health with
/ reference to a backyard which is
| somewhat unkempt and yet as a. mat
| ters of health, it is not detrim entail,
/ being out in the open air, but the
conditions existing in the passenger
/ station are filthy by com parisQn. If
: this matter is not taken up imme
diately by the city board of health, I
viii be obliged to confer with the
| state board of health about it. Please
| give this matter YOUR prompt atten-
| ton" -
! In connection with the controversy
| DR.. r. +. Reeks, q member of the
| health department., related a series of
| episodes in line with attempted i'm
| proven ents at the depot. He said
| that the health board has previously
| called the attention of the railroad
autho critics to conditions at the lava
! tory and was at one time informed
! that inasmuch as this was more of
a public comfort station than it was
q railroad establishment the city
| ought to pay for its maintenance.
| The railroad even went so far as to
/ count those who used the premises
I and found that five civilians to every
| single railroad patron used the ac-
! omm o dations. Eventually, however,
repairs were promised but have not
materialized except in the line of
{ fresh paint and a few minor i'm -
i provements. The board voted to re
I ply to Mr. Macauley's letter and also
| go further with the railroad toward
getting repairs made and installing a
! more sanitary system at the depot
Other matters of a routine nature
| were discussed at the board meet
| ing. reports of the activities of the
inspectors and other employees were
| received and superintendent H T..
| Moore was delegated to go to Hart
ford on Friday to attend a meeting
Of other health workers at which
| plans for cooperation to insure more
sanitary conditions at the army can
tonments will be considered.