National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-05-25
THE MOST HEALTHY CITY IN THE
UNION.

has outstripped all her sister communities
in the Union, and carried away the palm OF
the handsomest city in the country. An
examination of sanitary statistics shows
that she has also become the most healthy
city in the Union. When we consider the
condition and reputation of the city ten
years ago, with its fever and ague, almost
uninhabltable for several months in the
year, the change which has taken place is
all the more apparent and striking. The
result is, of course, in a great measure, due
to the immense improvements that have
been made-paved streets and avenues, the
filling up of the old canal. thorough sys-
tenn of drainage-all supplemented. Of
course. by the rigid enforcement of the ex-
cellent sanitary regulations of the Board of
Health. The advance made in this respect
has been really marvellous, as the follow
figures will show In 1870 the percent
age for each one thousand inhabitants
was about the same as that of other lead
ing American cities, viz. 1881. In 1871,
after the Board of Health had been in op-
Grafton short time, and the system of i'm
provements was in part perfected, we find
these figures reduced to BLOC. The board,
however, did not get into fair working
order until 1872, when we find the average
death-rate still further reduced to 1912. In
1888 it was still lower-16.02 /: and for the
six months ending March 81, 1874. IL has
touched the really extraordinary figures of
148S. 1t thus appears that notwithstand-
the prevalence Of epidemic smallpox during
the years 1872 and 1879, causing the death
Of 632 persons, viz, In 1872, 2S7 persons,
and in 1873, 34j persons, the death rate
was reduced from 81. 90 in 1871, to 1912 in
1872, and from 1s.42 in 1872, to 1902 in
1878. The total number of deaths in the
District during the six months ending
March 81, 1874, was 1,007, or 1888 per
cent. per each 1000 inhabitants, with an
estimated population of 14O, 1000. Judging
from past experience, the total death-rate
in the District during the year 1874, will
not be above 1900 per cent. per each /, 900
of the inhabitants.
An examination of the statistics of fifty
eight cities .of the United States, North,
South, East and West shows only three
with lower death-rate than Washington,
namely. Burlington, Vermont, Denver,
Colorado; and Jacksonville, in Florida.
The statistics of New York city, for 1873,
give q percentage of ss. rs or almost double
that Of Washington. In 1872, (the only
figures available, the death-rate in Phila-
delphis was (omitting the decimaD 90, in
Brooklin %, St. Louis 90 Chicago 81, Bal
timore IS, Boston 80 Cincinnati 20, New
Orleans 80. San Francisco II, Buffalo II,
Cleveland 10, Newark 81, Detroit 90, Al
bany 10, Milwaukee 81, Pittsburg 81, Prov
idence %, Rochester IS, Richmond %,
Memphis 40. New Haven %, Allegheny
%, Troy "a, Charleston 81, Worcester 30,
Lowell 49, Cambridge "a. St. Paul II, Fall
River 90. Hartford Is, Wilmington 30, Port
land 80, Dayton 10, Lawrence Mass. %,
Manchester 90 Quincy Qll., Is, &C., &c.
These figures conclusively show what
rapid progress we have made in sanitary
science during the last two or three years.
While nearly all the cities in the Union
have been either standing still or going
from bad to worse, Washington has been
shooting rapidly shead. until It would really
seem as If it was one of the most favored
points in the country so far as mortality
goes. 1t will take some years to get rid of
The bad reputation we acquired in the old
lnte bellum days but that we shall do so
there can be no doubt if only
he same active measures that have marked
he last few years are continued in the fu-
,ure. Congress and the whole country has
! direct interest in the sanitary condition of
for reasons which it would be
entirely superfuous to enumerate. 1t is to
De hoped that the Legislative Assembly
will sustain the Board of Health in every
way possible. and not hesitate to make lib
raj appropriations for the continuance of
is work The material and other interests
# Washington largely depend upon the
equation of the city in this respect at the
present time as well as in the immediate
uture.