The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-15
THE CONMITTEE FROM THE CHAM
BER CRIIIOIsE ms REPORT.
And Think That Their RecomIu N dations
to the Council About the Guys Health
Have not Received Proper Attention.

l.. Il. Morris. ]. b, Mosby, r. Carter
Scott, II. L. Staples r. l.. Traylor, j. r.
Tucker. Jr.. c. d. Wingfeld, J. II. Whit
ty. and A. r. Yarbrough. directors. In
the absence OF Judge Christian Mr.. ). IL.
HAYES occupied the chair.
Under the head of reports of standing
committees. Messrs. Thomas l.. Alfriend
(chairman r. ii. BisseIl. II. II. Levy,
Charles VI. Shields, and John r. West. OF
the Committee on Health and Sanitation,
submitted the following report, which was
adopted, and copies Of which were order
ed to be sent 10 the Board Of Aldermen
and 10 the Common Council Of the city
Of Richmond.
Your committee begs leave to report
that during the past summer the secre-
tary Of the Chamber Of Commerce laid
before them the following extracts from
the minutes of the city Council OF the
meeting held June 18th last:
1.-THE preambles and resolutions adopted
by your body relating 20 the removal Of
the causes of the high death rate Of the
city of Richmond, and submitted 60
the Common Council, nave been referred
10 the Committee on Health and the
Board Of Health and the motion by
which reference was made included re-
quest that the Chamber Of Commerce
submit a plan 20 said committee and
board. Very respectfully (signeD, b. r.
August city Clerk" The city Council
having taken this action after he presi-
dent Of this chamber had appeared before
them and presented the preambles and
resolutions adopted by this chamber re-
lating 10 the removal Of the high death
rate Of the city Of Richmond.
1w. Expr.t.
In ,og,,orer 20 fHf- rapuacf fran the
City Council, your committee. on the 2jth
Of June last. presented a report recon-
meuding that two or more experts Of
national reputation be brought 10 this
city 10 look into the subject thoroughly
and report what IL necessary ought 70
be done TO remedy the trouble. and the
Chamber adopted the committees report
and instructed them 10 present the same
before joint meeting Of the Committee
on Health Of the City Council and the
Board Of Health of the city Of Richmond.
Your committee complied with this I'm
struction Of the Chamber and on the
10Th Of August last reported that they
had presented their report TO the Com
mttee on Health and Board Of Health,
and that the Committee on Health had
passed "A res olution requesting their chair
man. Mr. Reeve, TO prepare a paper in
10 be sent TO the Chamber Of Commerce
and the different physicians Of the city
of Richmond
A copy Of this report Of Chairman
Reeve accompanies this report Of your
committee. At the time Chairman Reeve
read his paper the members Of your COM
mittee who were present were satisfied
that his calculations were all wrong, but
the matter was one Of 50 much import
ance that they determined before answer
ing same U consult experts who were i'm
the habit Of dealing with such matters
and get their views
Your committee were also Of the opin-
ion that III dealing with "a matter inyolv-
Ing 10 50 great an extent the good OF this
city that the Committee on Health of the
City Councii would not undertake 10
dispose Of /. by the simple presentation
20 them of this paper of their chairman
but that ;hey would report their action
TO the City Council and that as soon as
the City Council and Board Of Aldermen
had acted upon it. the Chamber of Com
merce would have been advised OF such
action. but II these two bodies have acted
upon Chairman Reeves paper your COM
mlttee have not been so advised.
yhe g - The Report?
Your committee have now waited for
several months 90 ascertain what IF any
disposition the city Council propose 10
make OF Chairman Reeves report. and
IN view of the grave Importance OF THIS
matter and for fear that their silence
might be misconstrued, they have deter
mined to submit their reply al once. In
manug this report your committee beg
leave to saw that they have the highest
respect for Chairman Reeve, and that
any criticism they may make upon his
paper in this report is made In the most
respectful way. and without intending any
discourtesy.
Your committee have laid Chairman
Reeves paper before several experts and
and i'm every instance they
have given the same opinion-that -
that his calculations were all wrong ana
based upon incorrect premises. We could
ii necessary, produce the written opinions
of several OF these gentlemen, but do not
think IL necessary at this time TO quote
more than one.
H. however. the Committee on Health |
of the CITY Council has any doubts about |
the opinions Of the gentlemen we have !
consulted and will name any professor OF |
connected with any of the !
COLLEGES i'm this or any other State, your !
committee will be very glad. to submit |
Chairman Reeves paper TO him ana ac-
cept his opinion.
The expert whose letter we refer 20 |
above is a gentleman Of national reputa- /
tion and is an actuary Of a well known /
Life Insurance Company, and he writes I
as follows: Il have kept on my desk |
your communication and the paper read /
by the chairman OF your City Committee .
or Board OF Health. hoping TO find time |
to Investigate IL and answer al length. /
Let me call your attention 10 the tables /
at the bottom Of page No 2 and the top |
of page No. g. The population divided /
by the deaths does not give the average, /
IL gives ratio of population To deaths, !
that is. out Of S5.62 Of population one death /
occurred or out Of $500, one hundred |
deaths occurred. if you Will take IT. Paul, /
Mimi as an example. Whereas in Ricn- /
mond. Va, the ratio Is 3S.56 or, out Of 4
$3.50 one hundred have died. TO call this /
ratio the average age is absurd HIS \
premises being so incorrect his article is /
The errors which / have IN
iicated must be patent 10 every intelligent /
man as soon as he examines the tables I
which / have mentioned. I am sorry not \
10 be able 10 give more time 10 t."
Na,'ne 80 p'tnl vice.
Your committee beg leave 10 acSnowl-
edge their very great Indebtedness TO Or.
Walter Wyman. Supervising Surgeon-Gen-
eral Marine Hospital Service, for having
forwarded 10 us the extract OF sanitary
reports for last year and for having sent
us weekly, since August last. the alb
stracts from which the weekly and
monthly reDorts OF mortality in the /