The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-07-14
OUR HIGH DEATH RATE.
THE Authorities WANT TO MAKE
Il BETTER SHOWING.
A Meeting OF tho Council Health Com
mittee and . Committee From tho
Chamber of Commerce.

lar monthly meeting In the Council Cham
Der last evering. There were present
Captain f. =. Reeve. chairman, and
Messrs. r. T. Davis, George b. Davis,
King, Vaughan. and Moore. Invitations
were also issued to the following gentle
men to be present and take part in the
deliberations as to the death rate of the
city of Richmond:
Besides the members OF the Council
Committee were present Mayor Elyson.
President DickersOn, OF the Board of
Aldermen; Messrs. Thomas l.. Alfriend.
Il. II. Bissel and DR.. II. II. Levy. from
the Chamber Of Commerce. and DR.. W. I.
Onpcrhimer ard DR.. Il. ID. Garcin, OF
the Board Of Health.
Captain Reeve read The resolutions sent
to the Council ~ the Chamber of Com
merce, requesting that body ~ ascer-
tain the causes Of the high death rate in
this city, and remove the same II posi-
BILE.
Mr.. Alfriend. chairman OF the Com
mlttee on Health and Sanitation Of the
Chamber Of Commerce, stated that his
committee was 4 comparatively new one,
some IL its members having only recently
been appointed. The subject before the
meeting was not familiar 10 some OF
It's members. who had therefore not yet
matured a report, but he expected to be
able at the next meeting Of the Council
Committee to submit report. He re-
ferred TO the report Of the Committee on
Shockoe Creek made to the Board OF
Aldermen, wherein the transfer of $500
from the fund for improving Shockoe
Creek 10 the Committee on Grounds and
Buildings is recommended. He asked the
Committee on Health TO use its influence
10 prevent this transfer. which would be
only a step backwards. In his opn-
ION the fund should be rather enlarged
instead OF being decreased.
Mr. II. T. Davis thought the members
from the Chamber Of Commerce had
been invited to be present to be in
formed by Dr. Oppenhimer how the bust
ness OF the department was being trans
acted.
Captain Reeve said his committee I'M
derstood that the method Of keeping
record Of the death rate did the city an
injustice. lie was not posted as TO the
question Of improving Shockoe Creek
but he had heard that the Chesapeake
and Ohio railway would undertake 10
keep the creek I'm good order. In his
opinion the first thing 10 be done was to
ascertain whether the method OF ascer-
tanning the death rate WAS just Tor the
interests Of the city or not.
Mr.. Davis explained that about a year
ago similar resolutions had been pre-
scented from the Chamber Of Commerce.
Several subcommittee were appointed
! 10 investigate various causes Some
thought that the water supply had pos
sibly something to DO with II. and an
elaborate report was submitted on that
question TO the CHAMBER Of Commerce,
but that body in its final report did not
consider the water question.
Captain Reeve read n letter from
Judge George i. Christian. who ex-
pressed his regrets not to be able to be
present. He explained that the Cham
Der Of Commerce had it's quarterly meet
| ing al the same time. over which he had
| 10 preside. He added that the committee
| Of the Chamber attending the meeting
| OF the Council Committee was in pos
session Of all the facts in question.
Mr.. King thought Il seemed unreason-
able that the death rate should be what
! II had been reported. The first thing 10
| look into was therefore 10 ascertain what
! the death rate actually was and how its
record was being kept
| Mr.. Alfrleud o. planned his position. and
assured the committee that he and his
| colleagues had not come 20 find fault
with the manner i'm which the books had
| been kept. but that they were OILY de-
! sirous u have the causes Of the high death
tate removed II possible.
| Mr. DickersCn said the Council Commit
! tee and the Board 81 Health should
! consider the paper submitted 10 them.
while the committee Of the Chamber OF
| Commerce should submit a plan. and
| both matters c)ild then be discussed by
| both committees
| Mr. Bissel explained the action Of the
| Chamber Of Commerce on the report Of
| the committee on water OF which he
was chairman at that time. This report
! was not adopted ny the Chamber, and
| therefore could not be submitted 10 the
| city Council. ether questions considered
| at that time were tho mills and meat
supply, drainage. Shockoe creek. Bacons
! Quarter branch. etc.
The report Of the United States Ma
rine Hospital Bureau which IS made up
| from the official reports Of the various
| cities in the Union. FOR the year 1891. Mr..
| Blssell explained showed Richmond 10
| be the fourth unhealthiest city in the
| United States. while IN the report Of
1892 her position was improved two
| points
The report Of the Chamber Of Com
merce last year advocated the extension
OF the sanitary jurisdiction Of the city
for two miles. which was now the same
one as twenty years ago.
Mr.. r. r. Davis thought the Council
| Committee was perfectly satisfied with
the manner I'm which the records Of the
health department were kept. and he
| therefore moved TO lay the whole matter
on the table until the next meeting, when
the committee Of the Chamber could sub
nit a report for discussion.
Mr.. King offered as a substitute that a
Subcommittee Of two be appointed Ia
examine the manner I'm which the records
were kept. and he suggested that Messrs
! Reeve and Vaughan should serve on that
committee After some further discus
sion. however. the substitute was with
drawn and the motion Of Mr.. Davis
| adOpetd.
The visitors then retired and the Coun-
ell Committee disposed Of the usual
amount OF routine business. approved a
number Of bills, and the payroll Of the
department for the past two weeks.
Put the Sailor In Jail.