Evening star., 1898-12-05


as to be available beyond the close of the
fiscal year. it would have been possible to
do the work during vacation months when
the buildings are unoccupied-an advantag ge
upon which II is needless to enlarge.
Public Vehicles.
The Pennsylvania Railroad Company has
inaugurated a local cab system in connec-
ton with its passenger service. greatly to
the benefit of the travelling public. The
vehicles used are of the latest and most
approved type provided with rubber tires,
and in every way credit to the company.
1t is hoped that similar innovation will be
made at the other railroad station and that
the movement will result in the general
Improvement of the cab and hack service of
the city. At present many public vehicles
are in such a dilapidated condition as to
provoke deserved criticism.
Excise Hoard.
During the year the excise board has pur-
sued the policy of reducing as far as pos
sible the number of bar room licenses and
preventing the establishment of too many
bar rooms in any one locality. The total
number of bar room licenses is now 532 and
the number of wholesale licenses 124. EX-
isting legislation regarding the sale of
iiquor is enforced, but new laws very
much needed, especially one which will
prohibit the sale of beer on Sundays by the
breWerIeS. a bill Is pending, which. if en-
acted into law, would remedy this difficulty.
as we'll as others in this connection. and it
Is hoped that its passage may be secured.
HarbOr Master.
The work of the harbor master, with the
patrol boat, has progressed satisfactorily
excellent results having been accomplished.
He has labored under the difficulty of hav-
ing old and entirely Inadequate machinery
IN a new boat, whose average speed is but
SIX or seven mics an hour under the most
favorable conditions. The Commissioners
earnestly recommend favorable action on
the estimate for new machinery and the
complete equipment of this busy little craft.
IN order that the many duties devolving
upon 1t may be properly performed. In
this connection a large amount of wharf
property demands protection. the Wash
ington and Georgetown channels must be
po Iced, dead bodies dragged for, the fish
and game laws enforced and security af
forded the numerous shipping interests
along the entire river front.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT..
The work of this DEPARTING has pro-
gressed satisfactorily, and through the
prompt action and efficiency of the health
officer the city has been saved epidemics of
smallpox and other contagious diseases A
case of yellow fever recently made it's ap-
pearance here, but was so promptly dealt
with that infection was prevented. AL
though the case was fully reported through
the press, nothing whatever being with
held. the public did not appear in the lea
alarmed, which is the highest testimonial
that can be paid to the efficiency of the
health office
There occurred during the year J.4l5
deaths, being :s22 less than were registered
in 1s96-97. OF the decedents, 2,913 we're
white and 2,442 Colored. The death rates
were therefore as follows: For the whites
lo'fI per thousand inhabitants; for the col
ored, 2'3l' for the total population 1872
"A n nonS to-;
tahty, 1t is improbable that this improve
ment has been due entirely to any single
cause: a statement that is borne out by the
iact that diminishing death rate seems TO
pe lhe rule at present in most of our
clties, While the sanitary improvements
winch are going on in each are as varied as
are their needs. But, if we NAV iudre
rom the experience of other places. the
i.o7t potent factors in the present instance
are the abolition of a large number of box
prlvies, the closing of numerous shallow
wells an improved milk supply and an i'm
proVement in the drainage and water SIM
ply OF numerous dwellings. which has been
accomplished by the introduction of sewer
and water service. in connection with tho
abolition of privies "
The attention of those who are interested
IN me statistics regarding diseases is in
Nlt"d to the report of the health officer NJ
ready published. which gives in minute de-
'dIi an the particulars regarding the same
ne NUMBER of marriages from which no
=; I;suIhS Were received. as determined by the
dlHerence between the number of IicGnees
issued by the court and the renorts rnrai,
ed at the health department, was / o4o or
"PPioAihalely 40 per cent of the entire
number. The only remedy for such neglect
We pointed out in the last report of 1bis
department and depends on conerc:ein,,lI
action. " N'iiei S77i"i4''i
Valuable Records.
II is matter of regret and unca sfn.ss
that the valuable records of the health de-
p"Ith cht, which could not be renlacad
enouiu he subject to possible loss bv G,.,
l i@iF Importance Is constantly demOns+r,t
60, as Is SHOWN by the fact that 4sS iran
iP'o tiom 'hem have been issued ,luri.7e
fnr ,h puSt year. This is another argument
pal building. III ooi munlci-
ne hummer of cemeteries and crerna-
- ieindHlS the same as at the close Of
tie tlSt report. Attention is again invited
10 me necessity for the constitution of -
Puolc crematory to dispose of that rIase
ter's field. Ia 'ie p's-
As 1t is to the interest Of every conmr-
liIoI i ~ Pi "niote the study of scientific mcdi-
cihe' 'le law now in force should he amend
tu 50 as To furnish all material needed fn,.
me STUDY OF anatomy if it can be done
without injury to the public The exneri
,j,i,, u olhtr places, and the experience oe
thls District with reference to the nres
ent law seems TO demOnstrst that his
might easily be accomplished.
AS promised in the preceding report of
tAls department, improved methods have
heel adopted in keeping the record OF The
work done in connection with the mcdicaI
fellef OF the poor AS, however thew cou,1
not be adopted until January l. 1898. the
ngures derived from such record refer ONLY
o-the six months subsequent to that da.c
During that period 1907 persons received
medical relief at the hands of the phySi-
clans TO the poor; of this number 946 were
white and 3,GG1 colored. These figures rep
resent actual persons. there being no possi-
blllty of duplication unless patients have
given different names at different times d
source of error that practically can be dis
To express the same data in n
different way, during the six months end
ing June 30, 1898 out of every 600 persons
residing in this District 1644 received medi-
cal treatment through the physicians TO
the poor at the expense of the public; out
of every 1000 whites. 494, and out of every
1,OU3 colored 41.22. These patients repre-
sented 2.49S families. of which 769 vere
white and 2,229 colOred. 1t is probable that
these figures are smaller than those for
periods in previous years, as
the actual number of visits during the past
year, 2l .153, ana the number of Office &C n
sultations, 19S1, are considerably below
similar statistics previously compiled
The average cost of treating each patient
during the past six months has been ap-
for services of physician to
the poor, 81 cents; for medicines and sun
dries Ii cents; total rs cents. The au-