Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-01-01

announced to be the intention of Mr.. Bar
Der to erect handsome residence on this
site In addition to the erection OF resi-
dences. a number of buildings designed for
business purposes were built, SO that the
close of the year witnesses increased &C.
commodations at the capital OF the nation
not only for the growing population. but
for the expanding interests of the city.
CHURCHES.
In church circles the year has not been
without occurrences indicating prosperity
and a commendable degree of activity. This
Is specially tine case In the one feature of
the erection of new edifices or the i'm
provement of structures already In exist
Ell ce. The corner stones of church edif1ces
were laid as follows: Colored Swedenbor-
gian. s.. Anthony's Catholic Church, Grace
Lutheran Church and Trinity M. e.
Church. Plans have been adopted for a
Hebrew Congregation, and the congrega-
lions Of the Mt Pleasant Congregational
Church. Ninth Street Christian Church and
the North Carolina Avenue M. P. Church
have decided to erect new buildings. The
rev church edif1ces of the New Sweden
borgian Church and Erworrh NJ. E. Church
were dedicated. The building of Grace p.
E. Church. Silver Spring. was destroyed
by fire and the corner stone of a new edi-
flee has been laid.
Rev. DR.. Henry Y Satterlee having been
elected bishop of the new diocese of Wash
irgton and having been consecrated in New
York city, entered upon the discharge OF
his duties He chose st. Mark Church as
the pro-cathe 1rsl church and Rev. DIR.
Devrics was instituted as rector Of that
church. Cardinal Satoili. the papal delegate
to the Catholic Church in this country.
was recalled by the pope and Mgr. Marti-
Belli was sent in his place. Rev. William
Tayloe Snyder became rector of the Church
of the Incarnation, Rev. Paul A. Mcneil
was installed pastor of Concordia Lu-
heran Church. Rev. George S. Duncan as
pastor of the lexington Presbyterian
Church and Rev John c. Bowers a. pastor
of st. Marks Lutheran Church Calls were
extended by the congregation of All Souls
Unitarian Church to Rev. E. Bradford
copal Church to Rev Richard p Williams
Rev. Mr.. Williams has accepted and VIII
enter upon his duties as rector in Febru-
airy.
THE CITY'S HEALTH.
The health of the city during the calen-
dar year 1896 has been favorable as COM
pared with the several preceding years.
There were 5,s34 deaths, estimating the few
last days of December. This represents an
annual death rate of ao7 for the total pop
ulation, while the average rate for the Dis
trict of Columbia is 235
the last winter and early spring months
passed with no marked outbreak of disease
Typhoid fever, which had expanded into
dimensions approaching epidemic in the
preceding fall months. suddenly declined
to almost zero. During this time there
were bat several fatal cases, and this con-
dition continued until the last autumn
months. There was then a return of this
malady, which caused about eighty deaths
again declining as before. The grip again
PAID It's yearly visit, this time appearing in
the spring months Of April and May, COM
ing suddenly and as suddenly departing
causing fifty-three fatal cases.
The diseases of children under five years
OF age. embracing the summer maiadies of
cholera infantum, diarrhoea and entero
colitls and kindred affections were less in
yirulence than for number of years The
deaths in this class were but 291 while in
the previous year they numbered 46S.
During the last fiscal year 2.0.4 children
uncer hVe years of age died out of a total
mortality of all ages of 5.904 OF these,
1.a24 were under one year old, mostly under
SIX months of age. The figures show that
about one-third of all who died in the Dis
triet OF Columbia are young children under
five years of age. and one-four:n are in
fants under year old. Many of these die
OF maraSmus Tor decay and hamilton and
conSenital debility. The large mortality of
this class is attracting the immediate and
careful attention of scientists, in order if
possible, to ascertain if the cause thereof
is on account of insanitary surroundings
or from the use of improper food. or both
combined, and to afford a remedy
During the same time there were 70j
oeaths from consumption. of which 1886
We're white persons and $40 colored The
death rate for the whites from this MALAY
was La. end of the colored 4.21 and for
the whole population &c counting thu. IN
habtants of the District of Columbia a I
1870 whites $500 colored, and 275, 800 in
all. These statistics show that about II
per cent of all who die are carried away by
this dread disease.
Diphtheria prevailed to some extent dur
ing the year, but In comparatively mild
FORM According to the last reports there
were jig cases thereof, of whom &c died.
Ih1s shows mortality of fraction over
IS per cent. The average rate Of mortality
heretofore. both in this city and elsewhere
throughout the cor try, has been about :2,3
per cent of all cases. 1t is claimed by those
In practical exploiting of anti-toxin that
this reduction in the death rate is due to
the use of this remedy. and that In time,
when all prejudice Is overcome its scien-
tffic application in this disease will ulti-
mately stamp 1t out in dangerous FORM
There were 1913 deaths frcm violence dur
Ing the year, of which forty were from
suicide. Five of the suicides occurred in
November. The principal methods by
which people take their own lives are pis-
tol shot narcotic poison and corrosive poi
sons. One occurred by jumping from q
third-story window. All were white, with
one Or two exceptions.
During the year the health department
gave much attention to relief of the poor
people who were sick Nearly 16 ono ma
tients We're treated and 800 office consul
tations given, with an expenditure of nearly
$S,OO0 for medicine furnished free to this
class.
Over 5000 children were reported as hay-
ing been born and 900 marriages were
officially recorded.
The year closed with very low death
rate. thus indicating favorable state OF
health at the beginning of the new year
Cases of diphtherfa and typhoid fever were
tending to the minimum. No new diseases
indicate tendency to spread and an al
most total absence Of other contagious dis
eases or malarial troubles give cause for
congratulation.
Corcner Hanmett has investigated more
than 6Uo deaths during the year This
number includes suicides, homictdes all a =
cfdental deaths and every death which &C.
Cured from violence and all sudden deaths
where there was no physician in attend
ance. There was one legal hanging in ad-
dition to several suicides In which hang
ing was the means employed to cause
deaih Then there Were suicides commit
ted by taking poison as well as by the
use OF the pistol In all there We're thirty
nine cases OF seif-destruction, while the
number OF homicides was fourteen. an
average OF more than one O month Sixty-
eight of ninety-five still-births reported rem
resented the daily finds of dead infants on
ASH plies, IN sewers or on doorsteps The