Morning journal and courier., 1884-01-29
TuesdaY. January %, 1884.
The Mayors Mesaaqe.

YEAR, THE SAME TERMS By MAIL
 Tuesday, January 29. 1884.
 The Mayors Message. I
 [ooNrNUED FROM SECOND PAeE,] of the Winchester Arms company will be de. livered direct to their magazine and avoid all cartip0 am happy to say that the fire marshal is giving his personal attention to all buildings during their construction to see that the building laws are compiled with, ana is also determinf to enforce the recent law in regard to fire escapes. for which he is en- titled to the thanks of the people.
 LAMP DEPARTMENT.
 The report of the Committee on Lamps states that the com mittee held 20 meetings and considered 53 petitions, g of which were granted making the whole number of lamps in the city l, Al. of which number 964 are gas and ATT naptha. As many of the old lamps were set at unequal distances. and SO located as to cause the light to be obstructec by trees and otherwise, the committee caused IO6 to be taken up and reset in a manner to afford better light and present an improved appeararce Light company for lighting and keeping the lamps in repair has been renewed at a cost of $26 per lamp, the price last year being $50 The contract with the New Jersey Globe Light company for naptha lamps at $26 each does not expire under two years, which IS to be regretted, as it could probably be made at a much lower figure at the present time.
 The replacing of street signs inside the lamps restores lost art that will be duly ap- preciated, especially at night. I would sug- gest. however, that if hereafter the number If the street was added it would prove of +till greater convenience.
 During the year there has been much dis cussion of the question of lighting the city, or at least it's more public thoroughfares, with electricity, many being urgent to have 1t done. There can be no doubt that 1t would be great improvement and means Of pro section. which I would like to see carried out if our finances would admit, but when we look at the increased expense and consider our present rate of taxation, l hardly feel justified in making the recommendation at present. I have no doubt but that new dis coveries and appliances will soon cheapen the cost of generating this new light and bring it within the pale of public use. The expenses of the department for the year, including the lighting of the public buildings, was $45. 4Sl.71: amount asked for 1884. $49 ,195 amount allowed for 1884, $46,250.
 BOARD OF HEALTH.
 In all the departments of city govern ment there is not one of more importance, when properly managed, than the board of health, nor one that, in the performance of luty, should reoeiv better support. Tax es may become burden and general lawless 1ess a calamity injurious to our growth, but rhe health of our city is of more consequence han all other interests. If from want Of proper care we earn the reputation of being city that breeds contagion, and allows the ,erms of infectious disease to spread over TUT borders, causing death rate alarming to strangers, we cannot expect to prosper. The merchant and manufacturer will not come 1ere to locate their business nor the man ot leisure to reside. Customers that would Itherwise come to trade will give us a wide berth; in fact it would prove our ruin For hese reasons I would recommend at all times ! proper regard and respect for such recom- mendations as the guardians of our pubic health may suggest. From the report of the health officer we learn that the year has passed without any epidemic of disease. al houeh there has been somewhat greater amount of sickness among children than for some years before. Judging of the health of he city, however, by it's mortality, it has not been an unhealthy year. The total number if deaths were 1870. Estimating the popu- ation Of New Haven at 75,O00, it gives 'eath rate of IS 26 per 1000. This is some hing less than the previous year, and better han the average annual death rate for the ast fifteen years which has been 19 per 1000. This lessened death rate is the more remarkable in growing city, in which the anitary conditions. peculiar to dense popula ion, are rapidly increasing, and there are reasons for believing that the good health of he city is not an accidental condition but is he legitimate result of the practical applica rion of a growing intelligence in the public mind about the laws of health.
 The frequent consideration of questions affecting the public health by the board en- trusted with it's care has not been without of feet No aggressive work has been done by he board to change materially the insalubri- ous conditions which are known to exist in he city, es it's powers are too restricted to 4cbieve much in that way. The report sug- ests that there gre urgent demands, how aver for such work, the accomplishment of which awaits the action of your honorable body, and submits the folio wing for your consideration:
 First-The abolition of hog pens within he present city limits, except such as are -ee6ed in connection with the licensed slaughter houses
 oecond-rhe abolition of privy vaults and cesspools upon severed streets, or, if that Is oo fast progress, then at least an ordinance forbjddipg the construction of any new ones m severed streets.
 Third-An ordinance by which all plans for connection with sewers shall be submit ed to the board of health some other proper department and receive it's approval, ieeming it one of the most important steps that can be taken for the further safety of the public health.
 Fourth-The appointment of a committee to consider and report to the Council what 'egisation is necessary to protect the health pf the residents in tenement houses.
 The health officer predicts with confidence hat judicious action in any or all these di -eetions would be followed by correspond ing positive improvement to the public health.
 The clerk of the board reports that during he year the sanitary inspectors have made 10. 354 inspections of houses, 4,099 of cess ,ools and 8, IFS of privy vaults, and found 276 cellars and 988 vaults in bad condition, 2. 143 inside sinks not properly trapped, 241 pig styes, 2 387 hen coops and 849 stables. There have been 92O permits issued for clean ing vaalts and cesspooIs and S49 complaints were made to the board The expense for 1883 was $5, 920 32 :; amount asked for 1884, $S,50o; amount allowed, $7,40O.
 DERBY RAILROAD.
 The last annual report of the New Haven nd Derby railroad company showed that it's arnings for the financial year ending Sep ember 30, 1883, were $165. 597 60, while it's operating expenses were $9O. O91 92, leaving m excess of earnings of $75, 5O5- 68. Of this um $50, ,S76 O3 was required for the pay uent of taxes and interest, while $41 ,OOO Fas expended for buildings, cars, machinery nd permanent improvements. The road is 'ow in better condition than at any previ 'us time In It's history. A large proportion it's woodwork in it's roadway has 'een replaced by embankments, and be steel rails contracted for since ts annual meeting will, when aid in the coming spring, give it a steel rack for it's entire length. Its present in- ebtedness to the city ia as follows:
 For loans made in 1874. 75OOO % Ior coupon interest paid guaranteed
 mortgage bonds ... .......... 21O 80 26 Waking a total of $2s5 s9O 25 From which are to be deducted damages
 awarded in May, 1872, for widening
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