Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-01

ough and at the stores Of n. Harrison
proved destructive. the damage to the resi-
dence amounting to $4,000. while at the
deaths at fires during the year. At IRE
In boarding house at 724 10Th street q
woman was burned to death, while boy
was 80 badly burned at 98S F street that
death resulted. Mrs. Ramey was SO badly
burned at No. 1907 Delaware avenue that
she subsequently died, while Mr.. Lully
died from suffocation at No. 1108 New Jer-
sey avenue. At the patent office there was
an explosion of ether In the photograph
gallery, and three men were burned and q
iaoy was seriously injured. At fire In
mouse No. 921 18th street southeast the ex-
plosion OF a gasoline stove resulted In
also a disastrous fire at Riley's wharf,
where thirteen horses were burned to
death.
During the year the department was In
creased by two new companies, one steam
fire engine company located on Maryland
avenue northeast between 18th and 14th
streets, and chemical engine company on
14th street, Mount Pleasant.
Inc last Congress made appropriation for
a truck company, to be located near New
Jersey avenue and M street. This house is
about finished and the truck ordered, but
as Congress failed to appropriate for the
payment of salaries to firemen, the COM
pany will probably not be organized until
this necessary money is provided.
Cnler Engineer Paris has estimated for
Two new engine companies this year, one
Tor Anacostia and another to be located at
North Capitol street and Florida avenue
and steam engine to take the place of
chemical engine No. at Mount Pleasant
He has also asked for the purchase of
property at Brightwood, where he wants
10 locate the chemical engine mentioned.
The Health Department.
The health of the District for the year
compared favorably with former years.
To
The total deaths from all causes was 5,S21
This number was AZ less than last year and
$40 less than the year before last. During
the extremely cold weather at the begin
ming OF the year the health of the city was
very good. In the early springtime the in
nuenza made its appearance, and after re-
manning five or six weeks departed. having
carried off 81 victims. These We're mostly
elderly people. Following this was a low
death rate. The contagious diseases were
remarkably In allegiance. Typhoid fever
1el to almost zero: The summer diar-
rhoeas, which usually appear in the last
OF May or first of June, did not begin until
the first Of July. They caused 372 deaths,
as compared with $40 in the preceding
summer. The summer was quite healthy,
with Few malarial diseases, comparatively,
until September, when the mortality from
typhoid fever increased to a noticeable de-
gree: In September this fever reached its
maximum, causing So deaths when IT
gradually receded to minimum limits. Both
dlphtheria and scarlet fever were less vir-
ulent than in the several previous years.
The loss from diphtheria was % per cent,
or ct deaths out of 241 cases. as against an
annual average loss of 80 per cent. Scarlet
fever appeared in very mild form. There
were 40 cases thereof reported, with IL
deaths, thus giving rate of mortality of
about per cent.
The constitutional diseases during the
year prevailed only to an average extent
ne mortality from consumption and kin
dred ailments presented a decreasing ten
dency. Heart and kidney troubles came up
to the full average, with a growing ten.
uency, showing now the use of ice water
Ice milk and ice drinks, together with the
wild rush in business life, get in their
WORK, IN shortening the average longevity
OF the human race.
The number of persons who died was
1881, of whom 3, 29S were white and 2.523
were colored. Estimating the population of
the District at 275,50O this gives an annual
death rate of 21.15 The usual differences
between the living power of the white and
colored races is shown in the rate of each,
that OF the white being 7.6 and of the col
ored 2S.7 OF all who died 1853 were un-
der five years old, and 1,469 were infants
under twelve months of age, while 11S7
We're elderly people, over sixty years old.
Early In the year the health authorities
directed their attention to the systematic
inspection Of the probable sources of con-
tagion. Hence, the close examination into
the milk and water and food supplies. as
well as the pollution of the soil by the in
considerate disposition OF disea se-breefiinp
matters, was inaugurated.
Regulations as to diaries, dairy products
and milk delivery have been put into effect
I've operation By these the diaries and
dairymen have been placed under close
surveillance. and the physical and sanitary
condition of the animals supplying milk are
under the certification of veterinary sur
geons comprehensive report on the
morbfic and infectious nature of milk was
publication ha
ton OF the health department, and the
necessary legislation to improve the water
supply and to prevent soil pollution in all
parts of the District will be sought for AZ
the hands of Congress. BY these effective
measures material lessening of sickness
and death in this community is confidently
looked for, and the entry into the new year
Is made with hopeful anticipations, arising
from improved sanitary surroundings and
comparative freedom from fear of disease.
The District Courts.
The year 1895 in the Supreme Court of the
District and the Court of Appeals was an
important one, both because of
the amount Of business done and Of the i'm
portance of 1t. Then, too, some of the most
cases ever before the District
courts were disposed of during the year.
Alter escaping punishment for thirteen
years, Capt. Henry w. Howgate at one
time disbursing officer of the United States
signal Office. and an army officer was con-
victed last June on two indictments chareinp
him with forgery and Justification of his
His first trial, February last. on
two different indictments, resulted in a YER
dict OF not guilty. Capt. Howgate is now
serving in the Albany penitentiary the SEN.
tence of eight years imposed upon him by
Judge McComas. -Four men, James L. Trav-
ers, John Harris, Thomas ]. Taylor and Jo-
Seph "A. Beam, were convicted of murder
Travers and Beam were hanged last .JuIv.
Taylors sentence was committed to life i'm.
prisonment and Harris is to hang the 3lst
CT next month. Last spring the long-pend-
ing Potomac Hats case was heard by the
Court in General Term, the case being de-
c:ded in favor of the United States this fall.