New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-01-01
HEALTH OF WASHINGTON.
THE DEATH-RATE INCREASED BY PUBLIC |
WORKS.

WORKS.
HUMAN LIFE SACRIFICED To THE GREED OF thin
DISTRICT EING-A COMPARISON OF WASHINGTON
WITH PARIS AND L0NDoN-EIGHT HUNDRED
DEATHS DUE TO RING OPERATIONS.
FROM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT THE TRIBUSEl
WASHINGTON, Dec. 30.-The people OF the
United States are well the disastrous results
OF the shocking msrule OF the District OF Columbia
from financial point Of view and the annual report OF
the Board Of Health just published in connection Win
former annual reports from the same source ana
with thu vital statistics OF the of 1850 1860, and
1870, do any longer admit OF doubt that the so
called sanitary works. among which the paving OF sree
artificial Natersupply waterclosets, and sewerage ara
prominent and which in all other cities have decreased
the deathate have had contrary effect under the DC
pressing Influences prevailing in this District.
The District OF Columbia is mainly the City OF wash
n-ton, with Georgetown appendage In DOih
places the buried In gayeyardi, by the
which the mortality always easily ascertanablc'
though OF death and age and sex of It's victims
we're uncertain We therefore accept the old records OF
mortality which do not conflict with tho results OF the
Investigations Of the Board OF Health, but look to the
successive statements OF the present Board Ct Health for
the OF the Deaths only rejecting their conclusions
when they contradict each other or ignore their own
records
The Of 1850 gives population OF ,6S7 per-
Sous, with death rate OF 80 per thousand that OF
1860 gyos population OF 1890 with death rate OF
17lo per thousand; that Of 1870 gives population Of
13l 200, with death OF 1870 por thousand. Dur
ing all this time Washington ranked healthy place
par eIceicace. great abundance of building lots in
most favorable situations made and still makes IL easy
to avoid the settlement OF tire unhealthy spots in the
vicinity OF the marsly banks Of the Potomac River at
tina West End and OF the wide prcdd fats the Eastern
Branch Oh AnacOsta River, ga the very center OF which
the District Jail h,s lately been erected at an eNpeno %
rGOOOJO t. the United states. While tho moving Of the
Capital was agtated these natural advantages were
pia ell effectively bY the residents OF Washington as
trump against tine ambitious plans OF st. Louis
The ea loans, "impIOt cments," and debts dawned
upon this community in the Spring OF 1871 u was io
lowed up during the OF 1871 1872, and 1873 by
boss She 1uer" under the gise OF Ihe Board OF PUP
lie Works. and during he seasons OF 1874 aud 1870 by
The pres District Commissioners, In conjunction Win
the BOARD of Audit The Bolrd Of Health created "ith
o.. District Government in February, ls7i. made ample
pr, pnlaos during the whole year of 1871 aud began
systcfn of detailed vital statistics on Jad l. 1872. The
results incorporated IN four annual PORTS made ON
81 vbout nov 30 1872. 1873. 1874, and 1879 For ia,
sake Of bcyy We condue ourselves TO the total death
rate aud tD proportion Of d.ats caused b. zymoic dis
cases. the bulk of which, excepting smallpox. D. directly
traccalio 60 uilsIndtc cAhaiatiOns of the ground
The first report gives for period Of -four months end
ing Apal 30. 1872, 7Ji Il. aths, OF which ~ were
csus.d by smallpox and 100 by other lymoic causes
Tlr Secretary states tp I70 OF port OF l-72l that 1T
o. the total mortality OF tut District daring the un,
si.ecincd and ON tHa1As are dc To the dndrf-
thcIs Of the District FOR their cordial and efficient co
operation" The second report s''cs too no period ii''"
Say ], 1S12. 80 sept %, 1873 a. m0ntut 3,l'2 deaths,
ol which 5HJ cal,eu Dos .d ppk and ~ b., other
NmOtc di.,iscs. OF this total, tarr f'H within Co.
pci,d from Iay 10 s,rt 90 l552 give muu,hs, ll@'
dr.ih,, rt which 49, duc o. smallpox aHJ H. 90
other lsmIj. disease. And Oh, record Di ODE 3,it 800"
..p. 80 I.1,. sept 80. 1875 shows tot'i 'i ''.
d...t ol which J4l aolr du, 90 small pos aut 300 to
other empt. diseases. Ipe -ui tpos au .lHi'iui,
hiI urA rlu u. 1900, having aitIearl 100 - mouths
Ii.0I ,f-ul. of which 90 died ot tho disease. a. rei
,HtIu.ItI.,'.D t.,ins I.',ci fa.a a n.Os, cN,ss
..., .I.I uf,.pu.
Trn t.ut r.'rf gives f', number ~ d atI- fnr OBJ.
Jrar fu. sept. 3p. t-1i. as 1Gis of which CO.'S vt'
Il. tt. .1Ifiir d.i.. ITO GOA. .h i.p.rt Iisf pIh
Do I.i .l.- tlr .,l pYrI. of d,i. ipf '.. },.i ,Hd
nr ..p. $685. l4f'.as t,'' 't i,u tlc iar.r uunie eff
I.Iu, .I. ., ti 2, .p.. .-,-rs .lI, t MANLY ai p",
,.HiID, ,i nI I,,t.- during tuc ,eiI Ana I'r tY.
I,.Yt ur Ba..d of n,ptH. strangely enough. a..t
,rtt, iu. Ir,Ipalp. ..u.n., Boo t.. report e' fn.i
d... "II,I. ruf d.ai. ior .u,u UI..s-r. .H l.
D..-, a..rJ. a.u.Ir ...l u.r ', 90. .,arH..i. auI
......... ..a.l.l. ...a ..t...HH t l.r ''.UI'
Jpl....l,.t ...i.e ni D.oU.... u. .il.. uU.'"I.U
Cocoon il. t.ru.l 0t.H. tl ..ts