Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-03-15

ton for this period has been: for the whites.
z. 162 per thousand; for tine cOiored, GAG per
thousand. The mean annual death-rate from
all causes during the same period was: for the
whites. lisp; for the cOlored, 35 312 per cent
The percentage of deaths from consumption to
the whole number Of deaths was l67, being
little higher than the same percentage in the
state of Massachusetts for the five years 18Th IS
in which it was 10 5.
Striking as these figures are they become
still more striking when we examine the map
CT the district upon which are marked the pre-
else localities in which these deaths occurrad.
This great mortality from consumption. greater
relatively than in Massac husetts, is seen to be
concentrated to comparatively limited portions
OF the city. forming sort of Band which cor
responds almost precisely with the low parts
wnere Few year.. ago were marshes only.
IL Is very trIe that low sites and bad drainage
aSnlngton; it is on these sites that the poorer
classes live-and poverty. filth, want of veEti-
| latOn which is totally given uD to save fuel
and other things connected with poverty and
race. have each their share as causes but prob
ao!y damp soil is the chief factor.
with regard to the sewers. the maps show an
increased percentage Of deaths. and especially
from deaths from such diseases as typhoid fever
and diphtheria south Of the avenue, where the
large brick sewers are. as stated above. little
more than elongated cesspoOls.
The vicinity of the river 'front.' with its
| marshes opposite also. is distinctly indicated As
being an unhealthy locality. 1t is here that the
influence OF iiiaiaria-that is, the specific cause
ofmtefmittent teveT-s most apparent. although
at times. and especially in the fall this influence
is felt in almost every part Of the city. 1t is
rarely fatal-tr at least is rarely reported as such
-SlXty-eight cases only OF death from this
cause being reported in the year ending JNne
30, 1880. but K complexities many other diseases
often indeed. when its presence iSnCt suspected.
In his last annual report Of which we have
seen only newspaper abstract. the health Off
Ger OF the District rather appears to ridicule the
idea that Washington is an unhealthy or ma
iarous city. and gives figures to SHOW that four
cities show higher death rates from Zymotic dis
| eases, etc. etc. THIS view of the case will prob
ably meet with the cordial approval of the
Washington hotel and clearinghouse keepers
but it is to be hoped that ii viii not induce Con-
gress to think that there is no special need for
Improvement.
There are many localities in Washington
which are marked by unhealthy, localities where
no prudent man would live who could afford to
live elsewhere: and there is every reason to
believe tnat these localities could bemade much
more healthy than they are 10y proper drainage
and sewerage. There seems to be too great
tendency in the legislation proposed to Congress
to cOnfine the work wholly to the river front
From sanitary point of view this will be mis-
take. In this article We have considered the
subject from sanitary point of view only, and
It may DE stated as general conclusion that
Tor sanitary reasons it is highly desirable that
some action should be speedily taken to secure
better drainage, sewerage and water front. than
Washington now possesses. The healthfulness
OF our capital city is not matter of mere local
interest only, and the wrath of some persons in
the District at what they seem to consider i'm
pertinent intrusion in the shape of criticism and
advice is simply foolish.
Washington belongs to the nation. and the
nation must assume the responsibility and to a
great extent bear the expense of making it
what II ought to be. What this implies and the
relations of engineering and financial sides of
the problem. to the sanitary aspect as sketched
above, will be discussed in succeeding articles.