New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-03-14
MORTALITY IN NEW-YOBK.

During few months past attention has been
more than once called to tho condition OF inl-
nicipal affairs, but reform is made impossible by
the same resistance which has stopped reform
all through history, namely, public endurance
A pcstlence, whenever ono comes, VIII DO more
than any array Of figures toward enforcing what
is plain already concerning the sanitary condi-
ton of the city, just as the not compelled
thought upon what had long been matter oil
knowledge; vet we present herewith some data
of the mortality. though less complete than we
could wish. The total number Of deaths III
New York-meaning Manhattan Island only
during tho last ten years was %, 40, an aver
age per year of 22,5il, and per week OF 4l4.0o.
The year of greatest mortality WAS 1851. when
the deaths were 26, 953; the least mortality was
in 1856, being 0,IO2. In 1868 it was %, l96.
In the Summer of 1853 the average weekly NOR
lality was, in June, S67.T; in july ana
August, 636.e 80 each. Last year in June the
weekly average was 390.ii; in July, 590; III
August 1888. OF children under one gear OF
age, IS, 4s6 have died in ten years-a yearly
average off. 54s, and weekly OF l007O. Inc
smallest number was ), 40, in 1862; the largest
1851. in 1854, when cholera iniauium prevailed
Last year. it was 6,llS. In the Summer oil
1858. l34.75 died weekly in June, 2r9.33 III
.July. and 2s0.s in August. In 1863, 100 died
weekly in June, 2i3ll in July, and 2!o.o6 in
August. In 1854, $50 deaths took place in July
from cholera inlantum alone and 5H in August;
in 1863, 5i6 in July, and 69i in August. In
1850, out Of 81 .27i deaths in the United States
under one year Of age,-6;Os7 were in New-Yo
alone. In The State Of Massachusetts, there
were in 1860 77l0 deaths Of children under
five years Of age and u, 30i in all; in this
State, 1890 under FIVE, and 46,s5l in oil;
while, in the whole United States, 16S, 2s5 died
under five years Of age. 1t must be remembered
that, although Massachusetts has but one-third
the population Of New-York, yet her population
is the most densely packed of any State, and is
engaged in sedentary and unhealthy pursuits.
These grim figures effectively speak for them
selves. II is true that our rate of mortality
has not advanced pari pas,u with the increase
Of population, but ought it to do sol And this
only proves that if We are badly off now we
have been so before. 1t is alleged, too, and
probably with some justice, that numbers Of
those who die amorsg the floating population,
and in no wise belong to the city, are charged to
its mortality record; but this illustrates the per-
lection TO which the system of leaving things
undone is carried III NewYork.
1t is inevitable that the death rate Of o crowded
city will exceed that Of the country, and that
the heat of Summer will raise il above that Of
tho rest of the year. But what care IL New
York taking of the public health ? Mr.. Thos.
N. Carr, Superintendent Of Sanitary Inspection,
in letter TO the Mayor in December, published
in THB TRIBUNE at the tine, declared (what has
long been eyident) that there is no commensu-
rate Sanitary Department, and furthermore that
two thousand lives are annually sacrificed for
want Of il; the Committee of the Citizens Asso-
citation estimate the number at ten thousand.
No one needs to be told that the same Ring
which picks our pockets completes the work by
numbering us and our children. Shall We speak
Of the pecunary bearngi In London and
Paris, as well a. in other European cities, street
cleaning is but one branch Of sanitary work
here it is the only one proposed, and then it is
not carried out. Edinburgh pays $4,000 a.
year for street cleaning; in London, the sales of
dirt and rubbish balance the expenses New.
York paid $685. 900 during the first half Of No
venber last, which il of tho rate Of nearly
S676, 900 o year. Mr.. Carr gays that prom-
nent contractor offered, under bonds, to remove
the dirt free of charge; would not, then,
$4,000 be very sufficient estimate Of the
rghtful expense1
But for the present waive II that and con-
slider tho mortality among crEsren. When we
remember that at least one-for Ia Of the popula-
ton Of this city do not zee q second birthday;
that 1856 children died weekly last Summer from
cholera infantnm alone; that 1e0 children under
one year Of age die every week in Sumner, and
Jos every week during the whole year, does not
New-York seem the Tartarus of children
Would II not be better 10 be born 10 poverty in
the country than to competence In the city 7
Or is it even worth while here 10 be born at all,
the chances being so slenderl Children of
wealthy parents have the country within reach,
beside their moro tolerablo city life; but how
with the ninety and nine who scarcely find
swaddling-clothos or shroud
The great avenues, where the filth can be
but superficial, have show Of cleaning; the
by-ways where poverty and misery dwell are
not touched and they arc wholly or partly I'M
paved; there are slaughter-houses along tho