The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-07-27
THE HIGH DEATH RATE.
rxronr FROM TINE COMMITTEE ON
HExLTH AND sANITATIoS.
A Resolution Recommending h En-
ployment Of = Sanitary Engineer and
o General Hygienist.

called meeting OF the Board OF d..
ycctors OF the Chamber OF Commerce
was held yesterday evening at G o'clock.
prescnt-Hon. George j.. Christian
resident: S. II. Halves, nrst ~vice-presi-
d.,t. Messrs. T.. l.. Alfriend, j. l.. An
trim. @. II. Baughman. l.. ID. Crei shaw,
IT, ". p. Freeman. j. b. Mosby. J. IL.
oicoit. J. T. Tucker. Jr., c. ID. Wing
Geld and A. r. Yarbrough. directors.
The object Of the meeting being to
consider the report Of the committee on
health and sanitation, UPON the recon-
~endation TO be made by the Chamber
fs.atiye to the health OF the city. Mr..
THOMAS j. Alfriend. chairman, presented
he following:
Richmond. Va. July %. 1898.
Your committee on health aud SANTA
t,ou respectfully submits that "A reso-
igi0n OF the Chamber calling the at
fentIon Of the City Council Of Richmond
10 The high death rate Of the city. and
pettl0uing that the causes Of such NOR
taUfy Dee thoroughly investigated and
removed. was recently presented 10 the
Honorable Common Council and referred
nv that branch Of the City Council 10
as committee on health, coupled with a
re1gcst that the Chamber Of Commerce
nresfGt to SAID committee a plan for
accomplishing the objects set forth in
Che resolution Of the Chamber. And his
request OF the Honorable Common COun-
cI having been referred 10 your COM
mit'ce on health and sanitation. IL begs
10 remind the Chamber that some eigh-
teen months n carefully prepared re-
port with definite suggestions relative
90 the means Of improving the health
fllness Of Richmond was made after
much study Of the subjects involved by
a large and active committee, composed
not only Of your committee on health
and sanitation, and OF representatives Of
the Richmond Academy Of Medicine and
Surgery. but also of the health commit
tee OF the City Council and the Board
Of Health Of the City OF Richmond. This
report. with the exception OF so much
as relates 10 the water supply, was adopted
and was duly presented 10 the City Coun-
eli. As no satisfactory results have en-
sued from the efforts OF this committee,
composed as IL was, IL is not probable
that better work in this field can now
be accomplished by the personal efforts
Of our own physicians and citizens.
Therefore. believing that men who
steadily devote attention 70 certain sub
jects acquire with reference 20 them the
highest degree Of proficiency. and that
the influence OF distinguished authorities
would be acknowledged, and the recon-
mendations emanating from them would
Doe accepted and adopted, while the coun-
sells Of others are ~disrcgarded, your COM
mittee IS OF the opinion that sanitary
experts Of high standing should be en-
pi0yed 10 make a study of all the con.
ditiOns influencing the public health Of
Richmond. and thereafter to furnish a
report containing suggestions as to the
best means 10 be adopted to lower the
death rate n increase the healthful-
ness Of our city. We. therefore, offer
she following for adoption by the Cham
Der.
Resolved, That the Chamber Of Com
merce, being requested by the City Coun-
cl 10 submit a plan for the remova OF
the causes OF the high death rate Of the
city, earnestly recommends the employ
ment OF a sanitary engineer and Of a gem
eral hygienist. both Of the highest ma
tional reputation. 10 study all the con-
influencing the healthfulness OF
Richmond. and 10 make such sugges-
and offer such plans 10 the City
Council as they may believe Will best inn
prove the public health.
Upon motion OF Mr.. Antrim the re-
port was unanimously adopted.
The secretary then laid before the
board "A communication from the New
York Board Of Trade and Transporta-
ton. asking the Chamber If IL would
send delegates 20 a convention Of com
mercial bodies I'm Washington, d. c.,
on or about September LIST, next, II it
decided 20 call such convention, 10
take action upon the financial and bust
ness situation. Upon motion OF Mr.. j.
i. Tucker, Jr, II was decided to send
delegates n the convention be held.
the chair was authorized to appoint
.uch delegates.
a communication from the Worlds
Columbian Water Congress was read
md referred 10 the committee on out
ward trade. after which the meeting ad.