The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-07-08
SAL LAKE Death kArs .

The n atl0nal Board OF hTaICn
bulletin, issued on June 18th, has
been received. Besides the usual
statistics it contains mortuary tables
of the principal cities of the Union
for the five weeks from April 30th
to June Sd, both days inclusive. and
as in previous reports Salt Lake
holds a high and satisfactory posi-
ton as to health. Out Of 1S4 CITIES
and towns representing every sec
ton of the United States, $50 show
a much larger percentage of total
mortality than this city, forty-slx
of the $50 reporting more than
double the number of deaths per
thousand of population. There has
been no census of Salt Lake since
that of 1880; and ia making up the
table the population is estimated at
$4,000, which is very nearly correct.
OF course the number Of deaths are
correctly stated, being returned by
the city sexton. Our total annual
death rate per 1000, based upon
the figures for the five weeks
indicated, is 119, whereas many
run above 80, the majority being
above 20. The lowest percentage
was returned by Kingsbury, New
York, 81, and the highest by Cedar
Keys, Fla, 48.7. Of children under
5 years of age, while SO towns show
lower death rate than Salt Lake,
Ia were much higher. The lowest
percentage of children under years
is in favor of La Porte, Indiana, be-
ing 1.3, while st. Augustine, Flor
ida, shows a percentage Of 2S.1.
The rate in Salt Lake for the five
weeks was As, and of the 1S4 cities
reported 4S return percentage
double or more than that of our
own. The HERALD does not desire
to convey the impression that as
soon as one lands in Salt Lake he
becomes free from disease and can
defy death. In publishing this in
formation monthly from official
bulletins, as this journal has been |
doing lately, the purpose is
merely to counterfeit the libel |
Gus reports circulated by ma
liciously disposed persons and |
prints, to the effect that Salt Lake
is among the unhealthiest cities on
the continent. The official figures |
prove the contrary to be
true, for this city is actually among |
the healthiest in America. Its per-
centage of total mortality is far be-
low the average and infant mortal |
ity, which is persiStently asserted |
to be outrage Ously high here. is !
really extremely low when COM
pared with that of most American |
cities. If comparisons were made |
with places with populations equal |
to that of Salt Lake, this city would |
show itself to be almost at the head |
If the list in the matter Of "a low rate
If infant mortality. Besides, the |
fact should not be lost sight of that |
5he percentage of children to popu-
alton is greater here than in
any city of its size in the Union.
The HERALD proposes to give these
facts monthly for the
special enlightenment Of those peo-
pie who are determined to say moth !
.ng good of the place. AT the same
time the efforts of the authorities
md the public generally should be
earnestly directed towards not only
the death rate low, but
it still lower. The rate
will necessarily be increased during
he next three months, but it may
,e kept down if proper regard be
,aid to the simple and well-known
avs Of health, especially that in re-
ard to cleanliness.