New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-06-21
LETTERS From TIE PEOPLE.
STATISTICS OF DEATHS FROM DRUNKENNESS


STATISTICS OF DEATHS FROM DRUNKENNESS.
To the Edttor Of The Tribune.
SIR: | am not in the habit OF noticing the
extrayagant statements OF public speakers; but oo-
served recently in journals report OF some remarks
made by the Rev. Mr. Booe, which call for examination
in order to test the accuracy OF statistics The reverend
gentlemen SAYS that the rum ecrs murder annually IN
the United States 10000 persons In addition to this no
tells us the murdered victims OF the franc average
one in every ten minutes which would be $500 more
presume the former set ars those killed by drunken
ness and the latter those murdered In ARRAYS
riots &C. traced directly or indirectly 20 noxication
II is certainly a very formidable exhibition OF numbers
but is it truel In assaing the pcrn.cious habit Of
drunkenness let be correct in our data, or we may
not only violate truth but fall ueo contempt through
our reclessness BY the recent Census the total mum
Der OF deaths the United States for the year ending
June 80, 1870, was 1920 of which 26)6ij were males
and 2] 500 females. The l225GO persons VINO die ac
cording TO Mr.. BOOle, FROM incompetence would be
within slight fraction of one-quarter OF the whole. A
such causes as cholera nfautun measles, scarlet fever
whooping cough dphthera. hydrophoDi, Group teeth
ing cyanoss cancers old age and certain namcess and
peculiar diseases coming from age, Sex and condition
of the atmosphere can scarcely be attributed To
alcoholic liquor, that would leave only 3GI.3jl
deaths OF which TO find our alcoholic
deaths which assume the pTOpOfllon VI ouc-
third. Analysing the statement in another way we
are met by more difficulty II the in ten minutes
refers only violent DEATHS we discover 'aat an OF
that kind occurring during the year lnen'iShed, ia
Guiding lightning strokes mining accidents, *, was
z'iV, Ort- drHnkenness killed more than 100 per
tnntum over those killed 40 all OF deaths in tho
United States during the only year IN Whlch We nave
nv dafa We ind tat llOg1j males and 12551
t,Is AGA udcr % wears Of age Certainly. persons
of such comp ratively tender years could not nave 20
strnved Themselves through drunkenness. Those who
a al IA
must be left out Of the calculation, forH person sur
yvc TO that his death may scarcely DC Iha 70 te
crcdit of alcohol This would reduce tine number from
W"ch iuA Nlotain al hos who ore KILLED at the
rate f one ia ten minutes, II would make the Number OF
deaths through drunkenness Ouo TO every 40 persons
But every one knows thdt the drunklrdS ana hard
drinkers are greatly In among the male p0pula
ion The male tOpcTs beat the female SIX 10 one.
That would make the deaths from drunkenness among
those dying from 20 " IS C0JO out OF Sslol males ANA
1000 III i95ll lelldes' o. ~ IOun ~" W
Df tir former and One-clghtn or the latcf III - as
founding but is II true In LOOKING over the list OF per-
sons died during the past year. Oi WhO Nc Elbows
WlIauy person So mt two-thrd' OF the males VINO
died over 20 aul uui J aud Oneechth OF the females
el through in"hpeic' or, taAlhE t9oSe Oh al aSes,
tnat one IT, Two and tWOhhs who dicd lost tner life
through exclusive OF alcohol Mr.. Boule does not
gain ytnng Tor the cause by sucb RECKLESS as'e
The truth is bad enough without stretching 1t 10 Us e1-
IRENE thinUc5s. NRADGi-lHD.
Feio- YOrk, me 3, 1873.
NEW PAPERS AND RlILRoAD-GUGDEs AS TEXT BOOKS.
20 TIE I'd tor Of The Tribune.
SIR: mu.. express to you the gratilica-
tion of many teachers IT the taEuA by TIE IB-
IKE in educational matters. = il encouraging to sec
the daily papers standing by tba BEST Interests OF the
uconle on the subject Of e4ucluJn. THE TRIBUNE has
furnished many "a valuable lesson for "o instruction
in n; schoo, room the past term. These oral lessons
are supposed to supply the def cucy Of boOk-kno"l
edge. Every intelligent tea her can appreciate this on
the matter o. geograpy the books fail to mpart fresh
qcorraphical knOw;cic3 IN many respects. They
M a. "A "a sphere "A plane
f,ee Tnay present pictures Of portion or the whole OF
te eartls errface as It was. We compel our child on
to stray seven or eight years over the surface o.
the ,artl AID when required to mud and WISH
York, they 10 not know whether. to reach y
i,y baliuon railroad, steamboat. such
For glowing picture OF the carth's surface OF to-day
We must 20 elsewhere. Tue textbooks fail US. Inc
would he strange to see newspapers and railroad guides
I'm the CLASSROOM Much time aud labor are spent in eX
be eaptnS motions winch few men can understand All
of this ndistinct picture fades quickly from the mind
real practical aud geographical knowledge
can be impaired familiar talk using guides the
artificial globe and the daily newspaper, than can be
lined m one months study OF the books. Education
means growth and Development II repels the idea OF
| "crimming." True education has some regard 10 the
philosophy OF being Itis not based upon serie
| OF books 1t Is to be hoped that our, new Board o.
Education will take-th into account whom remOdelins
the course OF study for our boys and girls j. ". b.
| MOITtsdHtd, ". L., June IA, loi3
| now TO SAVE MILLION.
! To The EditOr OF The Tribune.
SIR: True to the instincts of its illustrioui
and immortal founder, see that your paper Is, US All
sure IL will be- the fearless advocate of all genuine
REFORM Many will agree with that IL IA to be re
greted that the Board OF Education did not adop
! The sensible reforms suggested in your very ab'
journal Those IDEAS are truly democratic, and In pee
feet accord with the normal function OF public educa
ton Most OF the members OF the present Board arr
doubtless good men, but they nOyices, aud II
danger OF being mised by the two corrupt an,
designing politicians who have unfortunately imposed
themselves upon the Mayor for tue most sacred and
| responsible trusts. The Board save at least
quarter Of million OF dollars year by adopting TN
suggestion OF only one principal 10 "a school, instead o
three present organized and the system be far NOR
harmonious and eibcieut In the small schools especially
tits well known 10 the inflated that the prncpalship
| are virtual sineCurcsmps. Our people ara ALREADY
groauing under the burdens OF excessive taxation,
although they pay their money chetrfuly for the sup
port OF schools they ought not 10 bo required 90 supper
loo many costly bupernumeraries just 10 crafty tb
| politicians Again, Onehaif OF the small gramma
| schools. many OF them mere skeleton organizations
ought 10 be closed. Tier curp0ral5 guard or schOl
ars could be readily absorbed by the larger schools
their immediate vicinity, greatly 10 the relief Of the tax
| MAYER aud 10 tho manifest good Of the wlOe system
Lei the Board adopt and fahulY carry these SUI
cestlons aud JIry viii at least 81 OJJOO0 tue lire
year mo deBpCibe Itr ia these umesl, while tho
TEN OF public education WIll reach far torOug
aud successfully that great OF people Tor Wuita
was DIES gned than II has over done before. lLIVl,
GsW I0gk, yaas ~, Isld