Evening star., 1943-04-12
964 D. {. Properties
Without Water or
Sewer Connections
Health Office Directed
To Order installations
On 1877 Of Premises
By JOHN T. LUTER.

Dy Jok1N Il LIZ
There are 964 premises In the Dis
trict which have no sewer and water
connections and depend on box-type
outhouses as means of sewage dis
posal. Engineer Commissioner
Charles Kutz reported today to the
Public Health Subcommittee of the
House District Committee.
Approximately 80 per cent of these
box-type outhouses are located in
the Northeast and Southeast sec
tions Of the District, east of Ana
costa River, Commissioner Kutz
said.
The report revealed that the Dis
trict Health Office has ordered that
l87 of the 964 properties be
connected to sewers and water
mains, which are available Com
missioner Kutz pointed out, how
ever. that these orders cannot be
enforced if the War Production
Board refuses to allow priorities for
necessary plumbing materials.
Most of the remaining TT prop
critics probably cannot be connected
with sewers and water mains until
after the war, Commissioner Kutz
said. He pointed out that while
priorities for sewer extension are
usually easy to obtain, the WPB
probably would not grant authority
to install the necessary 1853 miles
OF additional water mains, without
which construction of sewers would
be "a futile gesture"
Mr.. Kutz recommended that a
comprehensive clubhouse elimination
program be considered as a post
war activity.
He suggested that more imme-
dlate solution to the clubhouse prob
lem would be replacement OF all
box-type outhouses with the more
sanitary pit-type outhouses ap-
proved by the United States Public
Health Service. These would cost
only $65 each, he said.
The District will attempt to Sc
cure an allotment for this purpose
from fund which may be made
available to the USPHS, he re-
ported.
The report pointed out, however,
that doubt exists as to whether the
District can force property owners
to abandon outhouses. constructed
under permits issued by the District,
and erect new ones at their own
expense. There also is doubt as
to whether public funds could be
spent for work on private property,
it was said.
Commissioner Kitzs report divided
the TT properties not ordered con-
nected to sewer and water facilities
into seven classes.
In 1876 cases no prior street grading
would be necessary and sewers and
water mains could be installed If
critical materials were made avail
able by the WPB, he said. Total
cost of these installations including
street repaving, was estimated at
1928, 1876
Commissioner Kutz reported that
the 1876 cases in Glass have been
referred to the District health officer
who will request priorities from WPB
If he deems the installations neces-
sary. If the WPB approves, the
Commissioners will extend public
sewer and water mains and the
owners of the 1876 properties will be
ordered by the Commissioners to
connect with them.
Mr.. Kutzs report also listed 264
properties in Class 2, declaring these
can be equipped with sewers If streets
are first regarded. Total cost OF
these installations would be S787,274
Mr.. Kutz recommended that these
installations should not be attempted
because funds for street grading are
limited and use OF existing sewer
and water facilities would be lost
temporarily. He said, however, that
a study is being made to determine
which OF the installations in Glass z
should be undertaken.
! Mr.. Kutz listed 2l0 premises as
requiring street condemnation and
dedication, as we'll as grading. before
sewer and water facilities could be
installed. Total cost of these in
stallations would be s1,3O9,355. he
estimated. He recommended that
this work not be done at present
because OF limited funds.
Commissioner Kutz said that reg
ulatlons governing outhouses are
being prepared and will be SUBJ
mltted to the Commissioners soon.
He defended the Commissioners as
having been aware OF the problem,
calling attention to the fact that
3l78 boxltype outhouses existed in
the District in January, 1929, while
only 964 exist at present.