The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-11-10
PUBIC HEALTH.

From tables prepared by the Health De,
partment Of the city It 10 shown that the
death rate of Wheeling is q 81 to one
thousand persons living. This low rate ri
morality Is accounted for by the compar.
alive freedom OF the city from epidemic
and endemic diseases, the list from 1882 to
tho present, including hut one vlsilatiODt
Asiaiic cholera, 10 lSS2-3, WHICH proved
fatal 10 about thrse per cent. OF the thsn
iuhsbltanls, and four subsequent vista
tions OF scarlet fever and diphtheria, none
OF " Mich ASSUMED formidable proportions
Other causes given are the charac er OF the
soil on which The city is built, which is q
Tough, yellog clay underlaid with lime.
stone, sandstone and goal measures; its
freedom from syauips, and morassesi the
excellent natural drainage OF the city,
which enables it to be cleaned by every
il, easH raip, aud the charges wrought in
tile atmosphere by the burning IN the city
residences and manufactures OF large
quantities OF bi,uminous coal, containing
iiore or isss sulphur, yhish is claimed 70
be a preventive against pulmonary dis.
eases. The tables referred TO above show
that but one death In Ave hundred and
fitty has occurred from consumption dur.
ipg the period covered, within the city.
E,hnographical divisions show that
about five.eighths Of the population are
Hngliol, tue descendants OF sarly settiera
and emigrants, mostly IRON Pennsyl vania,
Mary:.-:s,a and Virginia. " the remain:
der about one.tourtn are Germans. and
next in point OF numbers are the Irish,
and these, with lew Scotch, WEIGH,
French and the mixed bloods, constitute
the remainder OF the white population.
There are about nine hundred negroes In
the city, VI whom shout three tfths have
traces 81 Caucasian blood, aud their dis.
eaSe according to the health reports, are
Characteristic OF the genealogical cross
predomihating.
The population Is as q rule active, tenn.
psrate and industrious, and the trades and
manufactures Of the city are generally Of
A heaIthful character, with the possible
exception OF nail making, 10 which, With.
In the city limits, 0 large number Of per-
sons are employed. and which has been
claimed to be hurtfp! to some classes Of
operatives employed 10 1t.
Vaccination Is compulsory whenever the
Health Department so directs, the Board
having "authority to order the yacciua.
ton Of all persons within the city who
NAV not have been vRccinated."
The city Is moderately supplied with
water from the Ohio river, which Is car.
Red by force ppmps from point In the
river opposite the upper portion Of the
city into basin or reservoir 276 ieet above
|ihe he'd OF the river on one Of the hills
overlooking tho city. The reservoir Is cut
down to the depth Of nine feet through a
limestone stratum, which forms iis walls
and also Its pavement, and has capacity
Of ISL $50 gallons. FFom the reservoir the
wa,ef Ii sent ont alopg the streets and
alleys at an average depth Of four feet be-
low the surface 10 iron pipes, varying from
three 10 twenty inches In diameter. Sew
erave Is deficient and imperfect, and the
sewers constructed on the lover and more
level grades are open atyarious points Of
Intersection for the reception Of gutter and
surface drainage. u.
The public Institutions for the rcllet O.
the sick are the Wheeling Hospital. undel
the lection Of the Sisters Of 81. Joseph
aud the pest house, . small institution
under city government, and intended To-
the reception and care OF smallpox pa
tieniB. .,I.s n 1iaaa y
| l. ~ TIE CRY GOVERNMENT 3 = bo
LOT Wheeling, under the charters Of 1850