davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-15

league. to execute them. to elect members Of
the association, to provide for funds and
authorize their disbursement and to make the
association an annual report OF its proceedings
You see that it has all the power to say what
shall be done. and how ii shall be done; il it
does not satisfy the members of the league,
they can elect new men at the end of the wear.
The work Of the council is distributed among
committees. each composed Of five Of its own
members as follows:
l. san tary committee to draw up sanitary
rules and regulations for the work Of the league,
to prepare information for pubkc use, aud to
draw up Instructions for the work Of local in
sPecton. This committee has control Of all
lectures or publications on sanitary matters
given In the name Of the league
z committee on statistics to compile the
reports and data collected by the league.
j. committee on printing and auditing.
g. committee on promotion, to report
methods OF promoting the objects Of the league
and Of informing and interesting the public
about its work.
2. committee on cooperation, to consult
with medical societies, the health officer and
other local authorities and to secure their ad-
vice and cooperation.
Then there are number Of committees to be
appointed from members of the league not
necessarily members OF the council, to which
committees are assigned certain matters of
general interest. for example:
i. 1t is considered desirable that full and ac-
SuAoto ihioru ation Win regard 10 possible
or probable sources of contamination
OF the general water supply of the
city shall be at all times available.
We have supply which is in most respects ex-
cellent. and which is little liable TO dangerous
contamination. But it becomes very muddy at
times, and, as You know, either settling re-
sources or large filter would be needed to
prevent this. But eternal vigilance is the price
of pure water supply. and we want 20 know
whether 1t is possible that the water might be
contaminated with the germs OF cholera or of ty
phoid under certain circumstances. TO obtain
this information the sanitary committee is au-
thorized by the council to appoint from men,
bers of the league special committee. whose
duty 1t shall be to confer with the officers in
charge Of the general water supply with re-
gard to the condition and needs OF that depart
ment, and to inquire and personally investigate
with regard to the existence OF POSSIBLE dan
gers of contamination of said supply, report
ing the results OF its Investigations from time
to time to the sanitary committee for pre-
sentation to the council.
g 1t is considered desirable that full and &C
curate information to the methods of sewage
disposal throughout the city, and as to the
needs OF different parts of the city for improve
ments in this respect shall be available for the
information Of tine council. and to secure this
the sanitary committee is authorized by the
council to appoint from members of the league
q special committee whose duty it shall be to
make inquiries into this matter, to confer with
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-15

of mortality in the District occurred entirely
among the colored population. the ratios being,
for the District-white, 1885; colored, IS. 25;
for Baltimore, white, 20.4l; colored, $500.
II We take the census year only and include
still births among the deaths. the death rate Of
the colored in the District was $50, or Just
about double that OF the whites. which was 1873
IF the city was in perfect sanitary condition
the death rates of the whites ought to be about
IL, and OF the colored not more than 26."
DEATH RATES IN DIFFERENT DISTRICTS.
DR.. Billings here explained series Of colored
maps, which were thrown on the screen by the
lantern and which showed by different densities
parts of the city. The District was divided in
the scheme on which the maps we're made into
twenty nine smaller districts. Spots where the
death rate was relatively very heavy were in
dictated by being made very dark, while local
tiles where the death rate was small were light
in color. One map showed the comparisons on
the basis Of the total death rate; another showed
the death rate for whites; another for white
| children; another for the colored popula-
ton; another for colored children. and
another, the death rate for -na,arlal diseases
1t was shown generally that the death rate was
greatest in the lower levels OF the city. The
map showing the death rate among white chill
dren had dark section in the central or
business portion of the city. There
was a marked contrast between what was iudi-
Gated on the map as district No. and district
No. 10. These districts and their conditions
were set forth by the lecturer follows:
Sanitary district No. z. Bounded by r street.
Virginia avenue, E, 18th and 3 streets north
west and the Potomac river. the height being
from tide water to sixty-three feet above.
Area $50 acres; actual building area Ill acres;
number of dwellings, 357; population 2,1O2;
whites 64s colored Asa number Of persons to
each acre of total acres 11.73; TO each dwelling
$50
along the river and back from it in small
frames and tenements. with an occasional home
Of modern construction. Improvements were
going on producing better class. Much va
cant ground and many old dumps existed in
this district.
The death rates in this district as compared
with the averages for the city, exclusive of still
births, we're as follows:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-15
TOO NEAR THE TOP.

"You see," the lecturer continued, shat
Washington was not the most unhealthy city on
the list but il is too the top to be altogether
satisfactory. We must remember, however.
that the death rate of a city Is like that Of a
family-it depends good deal on the kind Of
people in it. In some families they all die be-
fore they are sixty. in others the rule is
that they live to three score and ten unless they
are cut off bv some accident. Now, the death
rate OF colored people is greater than that of
white people, hence those cities that have a
large proportion of colored population have
higher death rates, ard Washington is one of
these cities. Let us then compare it with Balti-
more, city which has large colored popula-
ton; and TO get fair average let us take not
one year but eighteen wears, beginning with
1915. the first year for which we have reliable
death rates for Washington. You see by the
diagram before you and by the following table
that the death rate in Washington steadily di-
minished from 1875 to 1858. but that since that
time II has risen above tina: of Baltimore, and is
showing "a tendency to increase. Why ID this?
Deaths in 1000 of population:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-15
THE CITY'S HEALTH.
DR.. Billings Explains the Plan of the
Sanitary League.
A LEAGUE AGAINST DEATH.
The Chances of n Visitation of Cholera and
the Way to Insure Against It-How Lives
Might Annually BE Sayed-Districts in
Which the Death Rate Is Heavy.

The lecture hall Of the Columbian University
was well filed last night, despite the drenching
rain, with citizens who went there to hear DIR.
J. s Billings explain the objects and purposes
q. the Sanitary League of the District of Column
bia- ANY public speaker might well have been
pleased by the character OF the audience that
assembled. for it included many of the leading
professional and business men of the city and
city officials. There were a number of ladies
present.
DIR. Billings gave a most interesting talk,
setting forth not only the purposes and gen
eral plan OF the league. but giving much solid
information concerning the sanitary condition
and the death rate OF the city, which made any
argument as to the need of such work as the
league has in view unnecessary. He used to
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-15
TEE CHANCES OF CHOLERA.

Probably one of the ideas in the minds of
the men who originated this movement was
that it would be a wise thing to be prepared for
the appearance Of cholera in this country or in
this city. few cases of cholera have been
reported throughout the winter months in
Hamburg, in the south OF France and in Austro-
Hungary, and an epidemic has recently
CURED in an ASYLUM on a hill near Halle. which
is a great puzzle rs to its causes. Taking these
facts IN connection with the previous history of
cholera epidemics ii is at least even chance
that. as warm weather comes on, there will be
outbreaks of the disease in various parts of
western Europe and a corresponding liability
to the introduction of the disease in this
country. Perhaps there is not more than
one chance out of ten that this introduce
ton will happen. and il it does happen
there is not more than one chance out of fifty
that a case will occur here, but good business
men are accustomed to insure their property
when the chances much less than one in 500
against its destruction by fire. 1t is I'M
doubtedly wise to see that all precautions
taken to put the CITY IN the best possible condi-
tion to resist the spread OF cholera and to be
prepared for prompt and efficient action in case
of the occurrence of a case here, and this is one
of the objects of the leas ne. but it is not the
main one. 1t is not at all probable that a chol-
era outbreak. if il occurred in this city, would
cause many deaths as typhoid fever, diar-
rhual affections and diphtheria cause here
every year. and these are Just as preventable as
cholera if the public can only be properly in
structed about them.
Let rs now consider the questions: SIS there
any need for such league? Is there any
thing for it to do:''
In June. 1890. the District of Columbia had
230. 1872 inhabitants. and for the six years prior
to that date % IL out of each 1000 of its inhab
itants hal died every year. Was this death rate
greater than it should have been? Taking the
year ending June l, 1880, the death rates of
some of our large cities are shown by the table
before you.
The table TO which DR.. Billings referred was
as follows:
Death rates for certain cities for the census
year ending June /. 1885,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-15

Now is it not matter of considerable inter-
est to the residents in these different districts.
to the owners of real estate and to business
men end citizens generally, well to the
health authorities of the city, that the of
these great differences in death rates should be
determined as far as possible, in order that We
may see whether it is possible to do away with
some of these causes?
That is one Of the objects Of the Sanitary
League. You must remember that the causes
OF differences in death rates in different locali-
ties are many and various-that the districts
having high dea tn rates are not necessarily the
most unhealthy III their surroundings. for it
may depend on the character of the popula-
ton, on the number of infants, on the presence
Of a hospital, or the poverty of the inhabitants,
&c. These figures do not answer questions
to causes-they ask them. For example, are
the marked differences in the mortality of the
white and colored due to differences in the physi-
cal structure OF the two races. giving rise to
special liability to or special mortality from
certain forms of disease, or are they due to
food, habits and modes Of life, character and
place of residence? do not intend to discuss
these questions tonight only wish to show
you that their discussion may be one Of the OBJ
jects of the league.
These race differences exist among the whites
also. Thus in the native born whites of native
born parents in the District the average annual
death rate during the six years was below II
(l64S), while in those having one or both
parents Of foreign birth it was Is. SO per 1000.
WHAT WASHINGTON OUGHT TO BE.
In lecture to some OF the citizens Of Bal
timore the other evening 1 told them that the
death rate of their city ought not to be over 90
per 1000; that is, that it was over per !, 900
too high. But the death rate of Washington
ought to be less than that of Baltimore; it
ought to be one Of the healthiest cities in the
country, and yet its death rate is greater than
that Of Baltimore, it is 6 per 1000 too high for
US to be glad to call attention to it.
1t Is about per 200 too high for the whites
and 10 per 200 too high for the colored.
Some Of the unnecessary deaths are due to
polluted water. some to polluted soil, some
to more or less direct contagion, a few to bad
or contaminated food. All these are causes
which the Sanitary League proposes to look
into. But the chief causes of the excessive and
unnecessary deaths are not connected with
matters Of this kind. They are ignorance and
negligence on the part Of individual citizens.
or the white infants born. including still births,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-15

AN ALLEY IN TIE NORTHEAST.
Bass alley. between Maryland avenue and c,
Sd and 4Ih streets northeast. There is no sewer
age in this alley and the paving is in bad con-
dltion. Entrances very narrow and muddy.
Stops and other refuse thrown into the ailey.)
over one-quarter die each year. or the colorsd
to contagious diseases. Measles scarlet fever,
diphtheria and typhoid do not kill many in
fants-they die Of debility, Of bowel diseases,
Of lung troubles. from cold, neglect and starva-
ton.
Among the grown people intemperance and
other vices, improper food, insufficient cloth
ing, &C.. are responsible for a good many un-
necessary deaths, although they do not appear
a. causes in the mortality reports
This Is some OF the evidence, taken in con-
nection with the reports and recommendations
Of the health department, which causes the
council OF the league TO think that there may
be room for improvement in the sanitary con-
dtion OF certain parts OF or Of certain people In
Washington and that it Is worth while to look
into the matter little in detail
HOW THE WORK 10 TO BE DONE.
Now, how il the Sanitary League going to cot
about this work? What il it going to do2 /
can only answer tins in general terms, for we
do not knoW what its work may develop into in
the future. but can tell you how il u proposed
TO begin.
The business Of the league il to be managed
BY council composed Of officers, that u, the
president. two vice presidents, secretary and
treasurer. and Of twenty-one other members OF
the league-an Of whom are to be elected
annually BY the association. This council Il to
devise plans for promoting the objects Of the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-15

below the average. The death rate from pneu-
monia ard from accidents and injuries was also
high in this district.
Sanitary district No. 10-This district was
bounded by street. Vermont and Massachu-
sets avenues. 10th. and 18th streets north
west. the height above tide water varying from
"A to l01 feet.
Area. $50 acres; actual building area. SO
acres; number Of dwellings, l,456: population,
$40; whites. $751; colored. 1858; NUMBER of
persons to each Of total area, 81 10; to each
dwelling, $50.
With the exception Of few retail stores this
district was exclusively residential all houses
being Of the better class. 1t contains one
market.
The death rates in this siistrict as compared
with the average for the city, exclusive Of still
births. were as follows:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-15

which he said had been photographed by Mr..
Charles z. Fairman, president Of the Capital
Camera Club. An effort had been made, be re-
marked, to find some particularly bad spots to
photograph, but il was not very successful, and
he believed that was . cause for congratula-
ton.
SOME OF THE pIFFxRENcEs.
1t will be seen," continued the lecturer
referring again TO the maps, that there are
great differences in the death rates OF the differ
emit districts, not only for the aggregate popu-
htion. but for both white and colored. For
example: In district No. 10 the average annual
death rate was 1909, while in district No. z it
was 1888. In districts % and 70, which con-
stitute the suburban, rural and thinly settled
parts Of the District Excluding the death rates
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-15

The death rate am ong the whites. both for
the total and under five years of age. was the
highest in the District and for the colored it
was also very high. A considerable part of the
excessive death rate occurred among the chill
dren.
Maiarial fevers caused more than five times
the average proportion of deaths. Diarrhpal
diseases, consumption and typhoid fever each
caused more than the average number, while
the rate from diphtheria and Group was much
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-15

WASHINGTON DEATH RATE FROM TYPHOID FEVER
PER 10000 OF POPULATION.
for the government insane asylum and the
Soldiers Home) the death rates are. as might
be expected. comparatively low. The lowest
white death rate occurs in district 80, where it
is only .55. while the highest death rate
among the whites occurs in district Z. where it
is Ala This same district also shows the
next highest death rate among the colored,
namely, 1885 S, the absolutely highest being for
the colored in the 18th district, 1874. "a.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-15

The death rates in this district were very low
both for white and colored. In the aggregate
1t was the lowest rate Of any locality in the Dis
trics, namely 1883.
In each Of the causes specified the rates were
very much below the average.
DR.. Billings also showed in connection with
the maps seven alley and vacant lot views.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-15
POTOMAC RIVER BOATS.
.TEAMBoAr co. ..LIMIrEp. .

WASHINGTON -TEAMBoAT CO., "LIMITED -
w From eth st. ferry wharf
Steamer Wakefield on MONDAYS. WEDNESDAYS
and SATURDAYS at z a. a.. TOR Nomi Il creek. Va.
THURS AVS and SUNDAYS. (See schedule.
Steamer i. V. Arcowsmith on >USDAYS at O. m
for all landin-s. Leave Kinssle at ~ m on MON
DAYS for return landings TO Colonial Beach, thence
to Alex arrive at WASHINGTON n. IN. TUES
DAY. On WEDNESDAY at p. m for Alexandria
Colonial Beach and ali lower river landings. Leave
and arrive at Washington a. N. FRIDAY. (Ses
schedule) G. W. RIDLEY
mh9.t General Manager.
last FREIGHT LINE BETWEEN NEW YORK
PHILADELPHIA. BOSTON AND WASHINGTON
ARRANGEMENTS have been made by the Norfolk and
Washington Steamboat Company with the teamship
lines operating out of the named ports for iAsc
freight deliveries At WASHINGTON from New York and
Phlladelpha in (4 forty and Boston (4S forty.
eight hours JOHN CALLAHAN.
dlS-Sm General Superintendent
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-15

Let Us now take . period Of six Year,,
namely those ending June I. 1880. During
this time the death rate In the District Of CO.
lnmbia was 23.4. or one per 1000 higher than
that Of Baltimore, which was "a The excsss
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-15

"For your stomachs sake" eat the purest and
heasthiest food. Cudahys "ReX" Brand Extract Of
Beef is delicious and strengthe ming.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-15

VACANT LOT IN THE NORTHEAST.
The best way Of supplying the needs, but they
felt pretty sure that there was room for i'm
provement, and determined to try TO get to-
gether some definite and reliable information
on the subject and then what was best to be
done about II. They did not organize the
league for the purpose Of airing the real or
supposed grievances of any man or set OF men
or 70 criticise the work of any department OF
tne District government On the contrary
thef intention Is TO aid the health and other
departments in every possible way-to give
them the backing OF an enlightened and in.eIli-
gent public opinion in their requests for means
to do their work properly. To the best of my
knowledge and belief Washington has the best
system Of municipal government Of any city in
this country. There rs no other city where the
money OF the taxpayers goes directly TO the
payment Of proper municipal expenditures,
with as little loss from payment OF salaries and
commissions and for miscellaneous thieving o.
various kinds, as il does here. But the District
authorities need help, and, so far as their de-
msnds relate to the Improvement of the health
OF the District. it il the object Of the Sanitary
League to help them.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-15
Distric. of Columbia.
Years. Baltimore.

cannot answer this question tonight. but I
will give you one clue to the answer. Look at
this diagram and table of the typhoid fever
you will see that it decreased from 1875 to 1883
and after that increased.
DEATHS FROM TYPHOID FEvEk-wAsHINaroN.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-15

Gzsrs Su1rs ScounrD
AND PRRssxD 70. n
Co:t:: So. Rspta 25e vssss, So A!te3ns "A
oellvoeo6 1o1aphono call 1852. =
..so - - = Ath ~: M6 9sAst 49,.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-15
SUMNER RESORTS.

(rooD SUMMER BoARD.-..MoUNTAIN VIEW"
an old virginia homestead. the foot Of the Blue
nioss lear Luray. comfortably ftted NJ for summer
ooarders Home comforts and class board best
water me shade spacious grounds nne trout nshins
streams within half mile ice. milk aud plenty OF all
limos o. fruit beaches cherries. berries sc rst-s
low; ~ hour from Washington twice daily commit
nlcaaon with that city. This farm house.
out Tor regular summer boarders Boarders can b.
accommodated early in May and house viii open per
msnently June l. Best OF references gwen Send for
price and further desc1ipuon.
d. W. BLOssEk < co. Lursy. Psss CO.. Va
mhl5-lts
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-15

Dr. Billings pointed out the extremely high
coIored death rate. and especially the remark
able mortality recorded among colored children
and infants.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-15

away with certain causes Of disease and death
which can be dealt with by combined or public
agencies.
IL will give the people fair chance; but these
things alone will not greatly diminish the death
rate. They will not prevent the deaths among
the infants due to inherited disease. to neglect
whether deliberate or due to ignorance-to
starvation; they will not prevent the deaths
from consumption, nor those due to beer and
whisky, nor the infantlcides- Of which we have
too many-nor the homicides nor the suicides
SOME THINGS TO BE DONE
To lower our death rate to where 1t ought
to be, so that. as citizens Of Washington, we
may be proud to compare it with that Of other
cities. we must lessen especially the number Of
deaths among infants aud the number of deaths
from consumption. and to do this we have got
to induce tine classes among whom the greater
part of these deaths occur to change some what
their habits. We have got to reach the mothers
and housekeepers who will never attend lectures
by doctors nor. a rule. read the simplest in
structions in sanitary matters. The people to
whom am referring do not believe much in
the prevention of disease: they look at it a. our
ancestors did few hundred years ago-it ID