Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-07-20
ed resolutions favoring tho repeal sf tho
purchasing clause of the sherman silver
law. The Little Rock Commercial League
did likewise.
Our Mor,asry statistics

To the Editor Of the Dsspaseh:
AZ The DISPATCH has 90 two occsslooS
within the last few days sli1ded 70 tne fscs tnas
tho population hefe was increased IN 1880 tcr
tho purpose Of lowering our death-rates doest -
seriously believe that we should count non-fees-
dents after death a. \ part OF our popu.ason
aud Increase our percentage OF monsnV nsv
by aud take no notice whatever Of them during
nfes
From recent interviews with our hotel proprfe.
tors, ssye two, these gcDtlsmen esumated tnas
they entertained last year AZ least forty thou-
sand nOu-resdents. / am sstsned thas gooo
many were entertained also ~ private resi-
dencca II IL was tho sad fate OF any OF tncm 10
have expired Immediately on reaching our city
they would have bocn estimated in our table
OF vital statistics AMI increased our percont-
ago OF mortality fully as much ~ II they bad
been born and raiset here, and whiie 'ney arc
subtracted no provision IL msdc for adding
n single one OF THIS large number 70 Us.
Does this condition tend ~ q fair exhibit OF tho
heslthfulness Of our sityt IL u not rather an
unfair and dishonest way OF publishing our cou-
dition TO tho world9 should We not be content
with stating the true mortality OF our own ciSl~
gems simply without seeking 10 increase tno
number by entering on our table OF mOftshty
strangers whom even accidents may compel ~
be sent hero FOR treatment, OK who as VISITORS to
oar city for even few hours may DO stricken
down. Does the fact that they die here mako
citizens ot them when they are never 20 regard
OF during lteg lt WAS only after mature de-
Liberation aui consultation with some OF our
leading physicians, tho Mayor, Committee on
ifaAhhs hhA Dhitu % h"AtAn, anu ~ ah ~ "
justice TO orr city, that on estimate for a float
ing population was made. / think that my
estimate OF 10000 or 10000 was CONSERVATIVE.
and after | weut ont o. oG.,. the consensus OK
opinion when requested ~ our phys,cians
WAS that it should not 10 changed. Tho
charge that 1 haye heard circulated to
the effect that my motive was simply TO
present my administration in moro
favorable light is "a unjust a. untrue. and could
have only -manA.ci from 2 mean, low, dcpravea
spirit. ! fail TO see why tao Marine Hospital
service, without knowing our reasons and conse-
qnently not Rppreciatlng them, should force us
a. take tho ranitoitly unjust estimate OF our
population by the Census Bureau when this
floating nonresident population plays such
an important fartur m pu3ii-bnR our excessive
rate OF mortality 20 tho world. We arc doing
ourselves q manifest Injustice by including nom
resi- tents IN our ratio Of mortality without esti-
mating for floating population. and n wo DO
not wish To estimate for one should striko
out all non-rosdents and refuse longer 20 base
our percentage OF mortality on thoul. This can
very easily be accomplished. la the ccrtincato
ot death tne space how long resident 10 'ho
city can be noted aud viii at ouce give tho
necessary information. Tho deaths Of bDth
residents and n0n-residents can Dc puo-
lished, but tho per cent. ot mortsily
hero fOrcos itself ON Va, How long shall va Do
obliged 10 stick 20 tho ficures given us by tho
Census BureauP II Richmond, a. we all know,
has a healthy growth ana increase OF population
yearly. shall we wais ten years before raising
or population, when I'm the mean time. by this
very increase Jf population. there Will probably
be- n corresponding increase Ia our mortality
| have always regarded this subject as OF para
mount interest 20 city. Let us deal Justly and
fairly by her and do not lot us permit miseading
ami unfair statements OF her sanitary condition
based on an estimate simply Of portion 9f our
population, 90 the exclusion OF q large proper
tiOu that swell her death-rato so enormously 80
t0 do us q manifest injustice, 30 forth 70 tho
world. We do not wis'. TO repsl people, bus ~
an honest statement Of our healthy condition
make them fcel that they ara safe in whiting
US. Let Us be fair aud Just In the estimate OK
our deatL-rate and We will have no cause 20
complain. II other things are attended To- OF tho
death-rate OF our city. L. L. brRArr0s.