Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-14
Important Reports Submitted at the
Meeting Last Evening.
DISEASES AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN
Importance of Speedy Reclamation
Of the Anacostia Flats.
TIL p UBLIC LIB RAR Y

a meeting OF the DOdTu OF Jrdue was ntlu
at Masonic Temple last evening, and in
spite of the disagreeable weather condi-
tons a goodly number of the members
were in attendance. They were fully re-
paid. as two excellent reports on important
local matters were presented, in addition
to several resolutions. The report of the
committee on public health was supple
mented by an extremely interesting talk by
the chairman. DR.. W. W. Johnston, who
showed by statistics the increase in disease
among school children. A report was also
made by the committee on river and harbOT
improvements which gave an array of
facts demonstrating the Importance of a
prompt be ginning OF the work of reclaim
ing the Anacostia flats. The president of
the board. Mr.. Theodore W. Noyes, pre-
sided.
The minutes of the last meeting We're
read by the secretary of the board, Gen.
Geo. IL Harries, and were approved The
secretary read also a resolution from the
committee on sewerage, which was passed,
urging upon Congress the adoption of the
amendments in the District appropriation
bill providing an appropriation of $1520OJ
for the construction of an intercepting sew
er between I'D and A streets northeast and
18th street southeast, and $4,000 for an
intercepting sewer from 18th street south
east to the pumping station at the foot of
New Jersey avenue. Also d resolution from
ThOs. W. Gilmer in favor Of memoralzing
Congress to select sites along the southern
side of Pennsylvania avenue for the erec-
ton of future public buildings: also a res
olutiOn favOring the selection of a site on
the south side of Pennsylvania avenue be-
tween 18th and 18th streets for the pro-
posed public hall of records; referred to
the committee on public buildings
The Library Site.
From the committee on public library,
Mr.. ]. W. Babson offered a resolution urg-
ing that Congress at once make provision
for a site for the public library building.
the money for the erection of which has
been offered by Mr.. Andrew Carnegie;
adopted.
In the absence of Henry F. Blount, the
chairman of the committee on public parks
and highways. Mr.. W. V. Cox offered a
resolution recommending that the House
of Representatives accept the amendment
of the Senate that the unexpended balance,
amounting to SO, 6g3, of the sum appropri-
ated for the purchase of Rock Creek Park
be appropriated to be used in the improve
ment OF the park and beginning the work
Of making roads
Mr. Cox spoke briefly in favor of the res
plution. and it was adopted.
The report of the committee on spublic
health was then read by DR.. w. w. John
StOn. the chairman, and was follows:
The health record of Washington and
the District for the past year shows a gain
over all previous years since vital statistics
began to be compiled in 1S75-6. There were
go less deaths than in 1861 a death rate
of 1872, as compared with 20.71 for the
previous year. This great difference was
chiefly due to diminished mortality among
the whites, being 1.50 per 600 less than the
year before. The ColOred death rate was
lessened by los only, but the mortality was
less than in any previous year.
The few deaths from typhoid fever form
the most encouraging feature of the year.
being 10, as compared with 153 in 1885,
and 40 in 1856. This gratifying result
m st Frgg4
stroy the sources of the disease by the
abolition Of surface wells and pumps the
removal Of sinks and the improved drain
age of outlying parts of the city The diff
fusion of knowledge among The people as
to the danger of contaminated water and
OF an impure milk supply. with the neces-
sity Of milk analysis and inspection has
no doubt helped TO lessen the diffusion of
this disease. During The past year there
was an increase in the number Of cases of
scarlet fever and diphtheria. II is an in
siruotive fact that there were 494 white
cases Of diphtheria with 81 deaths and
-" coiored cases. with "a deaths: that is
there were two and one-third more cases
among the whites with about the same
number of deaths as in the colored race
This difference is due in part. no doubt to
the fact that anti-tOxin is used more gen.
orally and at an earlier period among the
whites
The general fatal prevalence of these
contagious diseases calls for the most strin-
gent laws TO prevent their spread, and the
iiett OF an appropriation from Congress to
enable the health department to disinfect
the premises where there have been cases
and deaths from scarlet fever and diph-
liberia must be apparent to every one
Among the more intelligent class methods
OF d1sinfeCtion may be understood and emf
ployed, but the crowded and more unhealth-
ful houses Of the poor become the chief
means OF propagating disease as their in
mates. through ignorance or carelessness
fail to carry out the directions of the health
department TO disnfection
Water supply aud Filtration.
The daily consumption of water in
Washington averages AZ 2sS 733 gallons, an
Increase over the preceding year. and per
capita supply of 1sS gallons for an estimat-
ed population of 2S3. 1872 Although a large
proportion of water entering the CITY is
wasted yet there is a general use of Po-
tornac water for household purposes
The imperative demand for better uuri-
hcaton OF the water supply than can be
secured by reservoir sedimentation is en-
phasized with ey cry years experience here
and elsewhere. and Is supported by every
consideration of policy and humanity.
Il The Potomac river above Washing
ton has a drainage area of about 1OO0E
square miles. 1t receives annually over
5,0Oo0eO tons of sediment, the washings OF
the surface soil over this area.
The river IL Q sewer for nine cities and