Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-11-02
MURPHY ORDERS
SEWER PIT PROBE
-18 Pupils of Webb, Pierce
and Kingman Schools
Stricken With Diphtheria.

An immediate investigation into con-
ditions surrounding an open sewer cut
in the street diagonally opposite the
Webb School at Fifteenth and RoSedale
streets northeast was ordered today by
DR.. Joseph A. Murphy. chief medical
inspector of the public schools.
Eighteen cases of diphtheria have
been discovered among pupils OF the
Webb. Pierce and Kingsman Schools.
all of which are within radius OF
three blocks of the sewer operations
The last two cases we're two pupils IN
the Webb Building.
The complaints of several residents
of the vicinity of the Webb School,
including the parents of some pupils,
were placed before Robert L. Haycock,
assistant superintendent in charge OF
elementary schools, shortly before noon
and Mr.. Haycock, considering the con-
ditions described by the compliments
to constitute an emergency" prompt
ly telephoned Dr.. Murphy. Mr., Hay
cock also will ask Miss Adelaide Davis,
supervising principal of the sixth di-
vision, to make a complete report on
her findings concerning the pit.
According to complaints of residents
of the adjoining streets, which were
presented to Mr. Haycock this morn
sidewalk and undermining portion of
the AUDITING houses froa> yards and
the treebox area, was opened after the
middle of September in the course OF
operations which were to install larger
sewer pipes. An opening large enough
ito nut a. horse in" was cut through
the brick and concrete main, and OPP
erations were stopped three weeks ago.
During that period, the complainants
say, nothing has been done to seal the
gaping hole in the street, and only
few loose boards have been placed
across the opening in the pipe.
During the heavy rains about TWO
weeks ago. they say, water backed up IN
the pipe, flowed out OF the opening an1
completely filled the gaping PIT Win
sewage. The pit is nearly 20 feet long,
10 feet deep and 10 feet wide. The eX-
posed sewer main with the board COW
ering over its hole can be seen III the
bottom of the pit while the earth Whlcn
was dug from the pit was piled up IN
the vehicular war of the street so that
it completely blocked the gutter. The
earth packed tightly by the feet OF play
ing children and rains, acted as Gam
which held back in still pool rain wa
ter ana seine of the overflow from the
sewer in q black, foul-smelling pool OF
water
A pit three times as large as the one
Immediately across from the Webb
School. which has been open for the
same length of time, blocks the street
at Fifteenth and G streets northeast.
Operations on this cut have not been
suspended, but a small force OF men
was kept on the job and today they
mere plastering the final coat of cement
upon the exterior of the main in prep
aration for the refilling of the hole. The
earth taken from this pit, however, was
stacked in a pile that reached a level
above the tops of the flrSt-story win
dows in adjoining houses. 1t was piled
in the cutters and, like that at the
smaller pit a block down the street,
damned up the surface water.
In his telephone conversation with
Mr.. HANCOCK at noon today, DR.. Murphy
said he did not believe the sewer pits,
even though open, would constitute
source of diphtheria germs, but he de-
clared that such a condition as Mr.
Haycock described from the complaints
of residents might. under certain condt-s
tons, be a dangerous breeder Of other
germ diseases. He promised Mr.. Hay
cock that he would notify the SANTA
ton Office and make an immediate in
Spection.