Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-09
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star


Malaria was exceptionally prevalent
in washington during the season Of
1881. Several occu-
malaria NOT pants of the White
Laid to Flats. House Eve. MsTs siiessS
in some quarters that this was due to
the condition OF the Potomac Flats,
work on which had been begun for the
ence prevailed there. In The Star Of
August 2, 1881, Is an interview by .
Star reporter with Maj. Twiliing, Engi-
neer Commissioner Of the District. In
response to q direct question about
the hats, Maj. Twining said:
There Is nothing new about the
fiats at ell. No sewage lodges there
now. Col. Albert, for the United States
Government, has been dredging below
the bridge and dumping upon that part
OF the fats below the bridge. It IA
expected that this viii be made into an
island. We expect to have dumped
feet Of soil. This will demonstrate.
think, that the fats can be very easily
Since We dredged the channel or
canal through the swamp or marsh last
year, the sewage Is carried at low tide
out 10 deep water. Whatever deposit
there was on the fiats was carried on
by the food last February. This canal
Is only, . temporary expedient When
the United States Government indi-
Gates method to be followed in max
ing permanent improvements on the
river front, we will make some perma-
nent improvements at the mouth OF
this sewer in accordance with the gen.
anal alas TTsat4l AZ mill
useless to do anything"
no you think there is anything in
the stories about sickness at the White
House being caused by the proximity Of
the hats?" asked the reporter.
My impression Is that the sickness
at the Executive Mansion is caused by
imperfect drainage. have not ex-
amined the matter myself. 1t Is stated
that there Is an old brick surface sewer
under the mansion. If that is so, it
would account to q great extent for
any sickness there. Brick sewers are
not tight, you know. We place under
houses iron pipe or glazed sewers. !
believe the inspector of plumbing is
investigating the matter, under the d.
rection OF the health ofiicer. II the
malaria comes from the fats, it ought
to affect persons at the Riggs house
and ether places In that vicinity, but
there appears to be no unusual amount
of sickness in that neighborhood.
The Star reporter afterward inquired
of Health Ofacer Townshend II any
investigation was being made OF the
drainage at the White House. The
connections have been examined and
the investigation showed that the water
was carried on freely" said the doctor.
II have never heard about the brick
sewer. I viii see Maj. Twining. and
II there is anything IN 1t win investi-
gate the matter"
The malaria actually came in effect
from the fats, in the form Of germ
carrying mosquitoes, but sanitary SCI
ence had not advanced far enough then
to establish the fact.
"All requests made at the Jail for
permission to see Guiteau, or even
to enter the ro-
Uulteau seeks tunda. continue
Release ON Bail. TO os blandly re-
Star of August 3, 1881. The fact that
the military guard continues 70 be
maintained indicates that the authors
ties appFehend that there Is some
danger Of an attempt being made 10
capture the prisoner or of his escap-
ing II Is stated that there are organ
izatiens in this city. as well as Balti-
more and Philadelphia, whose mem
hers are ready to take the law into
their own hands II they can set hold
Of him. One of the anonymous cDm-
munieations received by District Attor-
ney Corkhill shortly after the at
tempted assassination notified him that
large number of young men Of Balti-
more had banded together for the pur-
pose OF Furnishing Guiteau.
District Attorney Corkhill visited
Guiteau ct the Jail yesterday afternoon
for the fiFse time since his return from
Cape May. Guiteau sent word 70 him
that he had an important c0nmunica-
tior to make when Col. C0rkhill
asked him what It was, he produced q
petition covering four % aRe pages,
asking TO be reIansed from I'll on
81 500 bail. Tbs paper, it Is stated
lays special stra@ upon the fact than
the President ID now on q fair way to
recovery and IL therefore should not
be deprived Of the privilege Of giving
hail This weuA indicate that Gutteau
Is well infornzsd about the Presidents
condition.