DEPARTMENT OF METROPOLITAN POLICE, Sanitary Office, Washington, D. C., September 30, 1872. SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith my annual report for the year ended September 30, 1872, embracing, as will be seen, the number of nuisances reported and abated, the number of sick and destitute persons removed to hospitals and asylums, the condition of steam:boilers and slaughter-houses within the District; also the number and condition of steamboats and ferry-boats plying to and from the ports of Washington and Georgetown. Since my last annual report the health of the city has not improved; and I regret to state that many of our citizens have become victims of the prevailing disease, small-pox, which increased to an alarming extent during the summer months, and which still continues to germinate and diffuse its loathsome poisons among our people. Its spread has been attributed to many causes, but, to my mind, the filthy and overcrowded condition of tenement-houses, occupied by some of the poorer class of the population, is one of the principal reasons for its continuance. It is observed also, that malarial diseases have been prevailing in our midst to a considerable degree, and many of our citizens have been suffering from their influence. No doubt the numerous excavations for the construction of sewers, and the extensive transformation of streets, have added considerably toward engendering disease. But there is good reason to hope that, ere long, the noxious exhalations heretofore so prevalent in certain localities will disappear before the stupendous improve. ments now progressing, and which are destined to make our national capital not only the most salubrious, but the most magnificent city on this continent. Many bitter complaints have been made by individuals during the past summer of inaction on the part of those having charge of the removal of garbage from premises. In many instances the offal has been suffered to remain for several days, and even weeks, until it became so offensive as to necessitate its removal at the expense of the owners, and not infrequently has been cast into the streets and open lots to avoid its deleterious effects. Similar complaints have been made of scavengers neglecting to remove night-soil after having received due notification. As the law now stands, scavenger's fees are paid in advance of the work to be performed, and, consequently, the citizens are frequently either compelled to find out the scavenger and pay him, or have recourse to the health officers, before the nuisance on their premises can be abated. This state of things demonstrates the necessity for the enactment by our legislature of a new code of sanitary laws, and of again organizing the sanitary company attached to this department. In behalf of the public health, and in view of the possible approach of epidemics, I respectfully suggest the propriety of filling up the company to its full strength. It is well known to our citizens that uniformed sanitary officers of this department, acting under the orders of the board of police, and subject to its discipline, can accomplish more in the removal of nuisances than double the number acting independently of the authority of the board. It may be said that the sanitary company cannot afford scientific, medical, and other experts to perform the duties as sanitary officers, but it cannot be denied that they have satisfactorily performed the duties intrusted to them. Since the reduction in December last of the sanitary force to four active members, they have been principally employed in the removal of sick and destitute persons to hospitals and asylums, and the procuring of burial for deceased persons; and while laboring under many disadvantages, they have performed this unpleasant duty with promptitude and fidelity. In former reports I have suggested the necessity of providing a horse and light ambulance for these headquarters, to be used in the removal of sick and destitute persons to hospitals and asylums. Such a conveyance would save the District considerable expense, and facilitate the removal of suffering humanity. In this connection I have observed that, in conveying sick and injured persons from the streets to the station-houses, the officers are, of necessity, compelled to place the patients in hand-carts and other vehicles totally unsuited to the comfort of the patients and the emergency demanded on such occasions. It is therefore respectfully suggested that a stretcher, such as is used by the Army, be furnished each station-house for the speedy and more convenient removal of such cases. Before closing these remarks there is one subject to which I would call attention. Since my connection with the sanitary company of this department, it has been my lot on many occasions to have been called on to visit the bed-side of deceased inebriates, and to procure burial for them. Many of this class of poor deluded hun anity have been once ornaments of the best society and fulfilling various honorable occupations. But having been tempted by the fatal cup, and fallen under its terrible influence, they are disregarded and.cast off by their best friends, and finally the noblest attributes of man give way to the demon of intemperance and vice, ending in insanity or horrible death. This certainly is a terrible fact, but had we an inebriate institution for their reformation, and extend to them the hand of friendship in place of the jail or work-house, they would, in ninety out of one hundred cases, be restored to their families and friends. It is gratifying to see the philanthropic spirit manifested by our general and local governments in the erection within the city of magnificent institutions for educational and humane purposes; but could they have seen the haggard face of the wife of the depraved drunkard and hear her woful tale within her cheerless home in the presence of her deserted and suffering children, the evil complained of would be speedily removed. By the erection of a general hospital and asylum for the reception of inebriates, temporarily insane, and abandoned persons, many criminals now within the iron bars of our jails, charged with the most terrible crimes known to the law, would have never heard the terrible sentence pronounced against them. Respectfully submitted. A. C. RICHARDS, Major and Superintendent. CORNELIUS NOONAN, Lieutenant. Statistical record of nuisances for the year ended September 30, 1872. Number of nuisances reported at central office by officers.. Total..... Number of written notices served .. .. .. Number of nuisances abated on verbal notice by the officers Total... 3,097 121 3,218 548 2,670 3,218 Toe piangra for which written notices have been served may clamited as follows, viz: Kumber of Eithr and breaky p Number of yards in 1.ths condit Number of dwelling-boners witbont privier.. Number of dwelling-bosses with dilapidated provies Number of lots with stagnant water Number of leaky hydrants and street-washers Number of defective drains from premises Number of dangerons chimneys Number of dangerous wells... Number of dangerous excavations Number of dangerous cellar-doors. Number of dangerous trees Number of wide-walks in unsafe condition Number of wood-pile in unsafe condition. Number of crossings in dangerous condition Number of boilers and engines in unsafe condition Number of frame-buildings erected contrary to law Number of sidewalks obstructed Number of yards with standing and stagnant water. Total.. Number of nuisances abated during the year Number of nuisances abated by order of the department 11 1 10 3, 195 345 2,670 23 Those nuisances abated by order of the Department may be classified as follows, viz: Number of broken pumps, hydrants, and dangerous excavations reported to board of public works... 161 The number of sick and destitute persons taken to hospitals and asylums by the sanitary company during the year ended September 30, 1872, was as follows, viz: The nativity of persons sent to the hospitals and asylums is as fol lows, viz: United States. Ireland. Germany. England. France. 236 41 19 5 2 1 1 Poland.. Malta.... Miscellaneous duty performed by the sanitary company during the year is as follows, viz: Number of persons buried on orders given on governor.. 259 Number of friendless persons buried... Number of small-pox cases reported to the board of health. Number of helpless persons assisted.... Number of lost children restored to parents. 14 Number of inquests attended..... 17 Number of fires attended............. 20 Number of dead animals removed.. 1,660 Number of abandoned infants found by officers.. 23 Sixteen hundred pounds of unsound meat and a large quantity of other provisions were condemned and removed. |