Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-19
LAST YEAR 5 HEALTH.
1t Was Fairly Good in This City Ac-
cording to the Bureau Report.
BRIsTLlNG WITH SUGGESTIONS.
The Document Was Printed in United States
Census Style.
A NUMBER OF VALUABLE STATISTICS

The report of the Chief Clerk of the Bu-
reau of Health, W. F. McKelvy, gives
some interesting statistics, comparative and
otherwise. Clerk Gray distributed copies
yesterday. For instance the city is still
growing naturally in population as well as
by additions from the outside. Births for
the year 1888 being 6,103 and deaths 4, 1S9, a
gain from this source of 1913 The mar
riages were 2,215. which is a greater number
than for any other year except 1883, when
they were 1924, while births for that year
were but 5,5l3. In the matter OF replenishing.
the East End keeps up its row quite well.
As might be expected, the Southside, with
an army of manual workers, leads with a
birth rate OF 81. 81 per 1000, the East End
coming next with 1881, while in the old city
the rate is but 22.88, an average in all of
27.74 in 200. Over one-third of all the
marriages were OF Catholics, which imparts
fresh interest to the subject of parochial
schools. Over IA per cent of the marriages
were civil, the civil list exceeding those of
any other denomination except the Catholic
The marriage rate was 101 in the thousand
of population. The argument in favor of
monogamy was maintained by the birth of
$50 more boy babies than girl babies.
A HEAVY DEATH RATE.
The original registration act went into
effect July /, 1852, and since then the ceme-
terry population has been increased 101 ,S67,
nearly iye-elevenths of the present living
population Of the city, and in this computa-
ton several cemeteries are not included as
the Southside has been in the city but lit
tie over one-third of the time. Marriages
registered since July 1, 1852, aggregate g.
46S. They have not increased in proportion
to the growth Of population, being only
twice as many last year as in 1858, when the
city's population was less than one-fourth of
what it is now.
The highest death rate from infectious dis
eases was on the Southside, being 1906, to
T. 80 for the East End and 1877 for the old
city 1t isn't hard to understand why the
death roll from these causes should be
largest on the Southside, but as to the East
End the explanation might be harder to
reach. The old city contains about $4,000
inhabitants to the square mile, and above
one-n1nth of all the deaths in it were due to
infectious diseases. On the Southside,
which contains about Il, 800 inhabitants to
the square mile, nearly one-seventh OF the
mortality was caused by infectious diseases,
and the East End, with only about 4, 900 in
habitants to the square mile, comes good
second to the Southside.
The market value OF beef, pork, poultry,
game, oysters, vegetable, etc., confscated as
unfit for food, was S10,2O3 16. In addition
there were condemned and slaughtered 5s4
hogs, 81 head of cattle. 20 calves and "a
sheep by Meat and Milk Inspector Nc
Cutcheon.
NUIsANCES ABATED.
Causes of disease visited and abated as
nuisances by the sanitary police, All filthy
alleys, n filthy courts, 431 filthy cellars, 4S2
detective drains. 35 leaking drain pipes, 46
filthy cutters, 81 obstructed cutters, 223
garbage nuisances on streets, also, 191 on
vacant lots, 65 filthy houses, o infected
houses, damp houses, infected beds, 436
fertilizing heaps, 66 unclesn boxes on
streets, 56 piles of offal, 80 filthy slaughter
houses, ITO stables, 303 sewers obstructed, 98
filthy vacant lots, 220 cellars with water in
them, 16 cellars, leaking, 25 filthy water
courses "a water courses obstructed, 1881
filthy yards, 2,5S8 dead animals, LAO cases
of disease visited, cistern. q total of 8,365. |
Chief Brown was not altogether compli- |
mentary in his remarks regarding the time |
between date of delivery of |
manuscript to the printer and the return of |
a 43-page book-some seven months. 1t |
being customary to exchange reports be-
tween cities, Pittsburg is somewhat late in |
compliments this season, but per- |
haps typographical excellence will atone |
for the deficiency. Then the report is got |
ten up in silk-fnished muslin back with !
lettering of gold leaf, and most people will |
admit that perfection is a plant Of slow
growth.
Cupid was most active in November, and |
least so in March. according to the marriage |
record. The greatest number of births oc-
CURED in September and the smallest in |
April. The mortality was greatest in June |
and smallest in December.