St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-06-13

to the lowest point consistent with the
necessary working expenses of the de-
partment. A reduction of 20 per cent.
has been made in the rates for sprink-
ling, and in view of the great abund-
ance of water, especially this year, it is
to be hoped that the way is clear for a
still further reduction in the rates to
general consumers.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
The general health of the city has
been exceptionally good. Favored with
a pure and bracing climate and blessed
with capable and yigilant department
OF health, the city has enjoyed an al
most total immunity from the ravages
OF contagious diseases, while epidemics
have been unknown. The excellent
workings of the health department can
not be too highly commended, the splen-
did sanitary condition of the city being
in great measure due to the great skill
Health DIR. Talbot Jones and his sue
cessOr, DIR. Hoyt. According to the re-
port of the former, find the death rate
for 1887 to have been 1918, which is
lower rate than that of twenty-Seven OF
the largest cities in the United States.
In this connection your attention IS
called to the necessity of more
efficient method for the disposal of gar
bage and waste matter, and to the rec
OmmendatiOn in the report for the eS-
Enlistment of a crematory for the dis
pOsal of such refuse. This method has
been tried with success in other cities,
and l submit the subject for your con-
sideratiOn.
BUILDING INSPECTOR.
As an index Of the remarkable devel-
Opment OF the material interests of the
city, l need On-y direct your attention
to the able report of the Inspector of
Buildings. In scarcely any other
branch of the municipal government
have the results been so phenomenal
and gratifying. The extent of both pub
lie and private Improvements is indeed
i'll this report furnish substantial ma
terial for study and reflection.
There was expended in the conStruc-
ton of buildings in 1886 the sum of
50, 753, AS, and in 1887 the grand total
amounted to S12.939,3l4; and in view of
the present increased activity, | need
scarcely call your attention to the great
Importance of this branch of the city
government.
The conduct of the department has
been admirable, and it is entirely self
sustaining.
In this connection your attention is
called to the recommendation of the
Inspector of Buildings for the pressing
demand for additional assistance in his
department. The immense impetus
given to building operations and the
widespread activity, have made the
force entirely inadequate. and | trust
this subject will receive your early and
favorable consideration.
CITY I.OPITAL.
AS compared with preceding years |
find gratifying improvement in the
condition of the city and county hos
pital, due in great measure to the in
telligent and able management and
the exertions of the City Physician and
his assistants. Heretofore the principal
drawback has consisted in the absence
of proper facilities for the reception and
care of patients and invalids, the rooms
being small. crowded and inadequate to
accommodate not more than One-half
applying for admission. A remedy for
this is now under way in the cOnstruc-
ton of a new annex to the hospital, to
cost $4,000, the benefits arising there
from being incalculable.
In conducting the hospital there was
expended last year the sum of S15.642, or
S4.75 per week for each patient. In
conjunction with this department the
Board of Control have done admirable
work in taking care of the poor, and
Notwithstanding the severe winter of
1SS7-SS, there was comparatively little
suffering.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
During 1887 the city, with two excep-
lions, was free from great and disastrous
fires. This in great measure has
been due to the high state of efficiency
and good discipline of the de-
partment. The total loss by
was on buildings, and Sl53,329 on con-
tents, being 100000 less than in 1856.
The total insurance IN excess of loss
was g. AS, ITO. The Chief of the Fire
Department has submitted number of
Communications, for the consideration
of which l refer you to the very COM
plete and able report of the Chief En-
gineer and Board of Fire Commissioners.
The most serious obstacle encountered
in cOntending with fires is the network
of telegraph, telephone and electric
wires, which have become so numerous as
to form an impenetrable barrier against
the work of the department, especially
in the erection of ladders, which is at
tended with great difficulty and danger,
to say nothing of the frequent delays.
The necessity, in my opinion, of placing
the wires underground, is urgent, and [
trust this subject will receive your early
attention. Especially does this apply
to the clOsely-built districts, where the
wires should be underground and the
erection of poles prohibited. The re-
port also recommends that the water
4I,N tNr,cI RI cft.rn lNn
creased to not less than twelve inches
in diameter, and that hydrants be placed
at every block in the district bounded
by Seventh, Third, Broadway and Wa
basha streets. The Chief Engineer also
recommends the purchase of stand
pipe for service in high blocks and mer-
camille fires, the purchase of new appar-
atus and the location of two new COM
panies; all of which is submitted.
BOARD OF EDUCATION.
The Importance of our public school
system is not to be Over-eStimated, and
in this branch of our municipal govern
ment | am pleased to report most graft
fying progress. The report of the
Board of Education is replete with val
liable and interesting information, and
l think its peruSal will demonstrate that
in the matter of a progressive and en-
lightened system of free education st.
Paul ranks second to no city in the
country.
During the year 2,465pu were en-
rolled. with an average daily attendance
of S,25l. The total value of school prop
erty, Dec 81, 1887, was s1,7l2,0G0. In
the language of the report, the aim of
the Board has been Ito provide not only
for the accommodation of the children
of our city, but also for their
health, comfort and happiness
while under their CHARGE" and to this
end the latest and most approved appli-
ances known to sanitary science have
been introduced. The schools are now
equipped with superior system of
heating, ventilation, and (fire-prOoD dry
closets. The schools are heated by
steam which is regulated by the most