The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-23

Statistics such as these are detrimental
to the progress Of any city, and they are
dangerous.
Aldermen have not the time to make
these investigations and must rely for
their guidance upon the figures furnished
by the health officer.
of the tax-paying population (whites) Is
not sufficient to insure the prosperity OF
the city, it becomes their bounden DUTY
to find the cause thereof and apply rem
edy.
IT, instead Of the 24OO0 white popula-
ton given by the health officer the real
number, 20211, had been placed before
them, our aldermen, who generally are
business men, would doubtless have con-
sidered the actual rate of taxation too
great a burden, and some means would
have been devised for its reduction I'm
1890 the city's expenses were SasS OSl. 80. or
q rate of taxation of over $500 for every
white inhabitant, while the per capita or
the United States was about $zl.W only
A reduction of the taxes would at once
have given an impetus to business in Sa-
Vannah, and caused an increase in her
population by attracting people desiring
to invest capital in business or In real
estate.
II is no theory to state that the increas-
ing or the reduction of figures relative to
population leads to better results in vital
statistics than in commercial or any other
transaction" Here il has been an effi-
Gent cause in the reputation of the great
er half of our population (the separation
of the negro mortality tables. 1t has lead
to giving the death rate per tnousand
among the whites such figures as HOO
1877 II S. As, results when nave never
been obtained even in the healthiest dis
tricts of England. where pubic sanitary
works regularly carried out for the past
fifty years have wrought remarkable
Improvement upon the public health. In
Westmoreland, the rate of mortality which
in the decade between 1841 and 1850, was -
per thousand has been brought to DO on
the decade between 1881 and lS9O-the low
est in England Had the mortality fig
ures for both whites and blacks been plac-
ed before council every month, the great
necessity for thorough and permanent
sanitary Improvements would have been
more manifest, and we might perhaps now
boast of a perfect system of sewerage and
rejoice that the thousands OF priyy vaults
and cess-pools had been abolished, all the
garbage inoinerated, and the proper
means devised to reduce the rate of NOR
tally among the poor white and the negro
population below that of other cities.
The mortuary records of Savannah are
incomplete and will so remain until heavy
penalties shall be imposed upon all per-
sons removing bodies or having them re-
moved from the city without a permit
from the health officer. The mortality ta-
bles, made by DR.. Duncan in the seven
ties indicated the interments made in all
the cemeteries; now they do not. The
mayors report only referred TO interments
made In Laurel Grove cemetery. The pub
lie is left in the dark relative to interments
and the new colored burial place. The
registration OF births Is a farce, or, In the
words of the health officer, Missionary
Work" AS long as our sanitary com
mission will allow any old momma to act
the midwife" whenever she can find a
subject" and physicians and midwives
are not compelled to report births and a
fine imposed upon parents who fail to noti-
fy the health officer, there Is no hope OF
changing the existing conditions of affairs
The record Of marriages Is the only one
that is kept accurately In this state, the
law requiring all persons TO procure a
license, but, for some unaccountable rea-
son IL has never been given place in our
vital statistic tables.
II is greatly to be hoped that the prac-
tice or policy which has prevailed in many
facts relative to hygienic conditions, and
to the existence of epidemic diseases viii
soon come to an end, for IL has never
given good results and never can. our
people ought to be provided with. reliable
Statistics. Enough could be spared from
board Of health C5iS527OO In 1880. sac. 77s 90
In 1891, s3i $500 IN 1892, $50. $500 Ia 1893
$40 $1,000 In 1884 $30,SG8.00 IA 1850 10 have
our census taken once every year. This
should be done In December or January
when our permanent population is al
home. and II the city were divided into
ten or twelve districts, our police. acting
under the directions Of an expert, could
perform the work IN a most satisfactory
manner and at a minimum Of cost.
fgesidos giving a complete and accurate
enumeration Of our population, this cen.
fus would also furnish much information
not afinIun BILE nf present VIZ. The num-
her 0f houses and vaults w the whole city
ana BY district the material of which