Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-14
fever originating each month for the same

October ......................3a 70
December ...................40 2 10
1S9S-January ......................457
FEBRUARY ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
March ........................ot
April .........-..............4 o9
May OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. b3i
June ..........................5I 6
Totals .5,344 1871
"These facts illustrate the danger to the
health of the city from the persistence of
the present conditions of the Anacostia
river. Among other matters of Importance
to the health of the community are the
safe disposal of sewage and the removal OF
garbage, ashes and other waste. The plans
proposed in this connection by the officials
of the District government deserve approval
and recommendation"
Disease Among Pupils.
DR.. Johnston, in the course of some inter-
esting remarks, called attention to a num-
Der of charts which were displayed above
the platform, showing the extent of va
rious diseases in school children based on
statistics cOllectedr5 ins foreign countries.
He stated that whle,sin some European
countries a systematic teffort was made to
study this subject, 1notl9ing of the sort was
done officially in this country. He re-
ferred in detail Ito the charts, which
showed the rate Ofincrease of disease with
advancing ages Of children. These diseases,
he said, We're MAINLY of nervous origin,
such as headaches restlessness at night,
while there were others, such as anaemia.
The charts showed, he said, the diseases
increased from the time the children en-
tered school. He spoke of the growth of
the child's brain 'ffonf infancy to eight
years and said after that it remained prac-
tically the same, and hence the Importance
of these years when the childs brain was
developing He said that an organ that
was growing ought not to be taxed, and
the conclusion he would draw was that
children should not enter school until eight
nfa IL fInt- 1,,ltp bod lfa-
fore child was admitted to school a GER
tificate should be presented from the ply
sician showing that the child was physi-
cally and mentally sound.
In reply to a question DR.. Johnston said
poor children could secure certificates from
the physicians to the poor although it had
been suggested that school physicians ought
to be appointed. Then he referred to that
portion of the report showing the ratio of
malarial cases in the southeastern section
of the city as compared with other sections
of the city, and in reply to a question said
that the conclusion was that if the Ana
costa river was improved these conditions
would be changed.
Instructed to CO-Operate.
A resolution was offered instructing the
officers of the board and the committee on
public health to do all in their power to
make effective the recommendations con-
tanned in the report
The attention of the board was called by
Mr.. M. 1. Weller to the recommendation of
the District Commissioners referred to in
the report of the committee for the appro-
priation of $40, 900 for the removal of ashes
He regretted that the Senate had not seen
mt to insert this recommendation in the
pending District appropriation bill, and ne
hoped that the committee would give this
matter their support
The report of the committee on rivers and
harnors was then presented by the chair
man, Mr.. Thomas W. Smith and was read
rms report would not be complete, nor
can 1t be begun consistent without re-
ferring to the work that has been accom-
pished in past years by the former chair
man, Charles 3. Church. Reference to the
reports made to the board of trade from
$3.50 to 1897 shows that he has given this
subject much thought and investigation,
and his committee, through his personal
enterprise and energy, has been enabled
| to benefit Washington to an extent that 1t
Will be unable to repay him for in any other
way than by the great respect We all
| have for him.
HarbOr Improvements.
Il might take up the question of the be-
ginning of improvement of the Washington
harbor. I will not do so, however, any
further than to call your attention to the
| report OF the committee on harbor i'm
provement appointed by the citizens COM
mittee of one hundred taxpayers Of Wash
lngton, made the 18th Of November, 1877.
The following is part of that report:
'Ihe SWaSh channel around Easby'S Point
mas gradually become too shallow for use.
The waters above the Long bridge spread
over marshy flats, which are covered with
water at high tide, but which at low tide,
under the hot sun of spring, summer and
autumn, reek with miasmatic exhala lions.
Upon these extensive bottoms, grown over
with coarse grasses Of rank growth, one
OF the large sewers of the city vomits it's
bIaGk tide of filth discoloring the vege-
table growth emitting the foulest vapors
| and spreading far and wide on the winds
the seeds OF disease and death: The win
dows of the White House look out upon
these unhealthy bottoms, and every south
west breeze fills the. corridors and halls of
sons alone make 1t fmperatively necessary
that this nuisance.i which is the prolific
cause of disease, shall be abated The same
cause which has spread sickness through
our city has impeded the natural growth of
/ our commerce. NoR bit the smallest yes
sells can discharge Eargbes at even our 18th
street wharf. The chatnel has become so
shallow that vessels Of ordinary build and
draft avoid our port, because many of our
wharves can only .te. coached at extreme
high tide, the average draft of vessels en-
ployed In 1850 being feet, while the aver
age draft of vessels employed in 1875 is
about IA feet.
You can compare the condition as out
| lined in this report with the present condi-
ton OF the river front and Georgetown and
washington harbor. We have now we'll
defined harbor lines and have channels both
to Georgetown and to Washington of suf-
i ficient depth to float vessels drawing 10
feet of water.
Use of the Flats.
THE flats referred to in the report of the
committee of one hundred have been filled
up, retaining wall of great strength and
SUFFICIENT height has been built around them
and, instead of a plague spot. the flats are
now as healthy a portion Of the city of
washington as the hill surrounding it.
They are not as beautiful as they ought to
reclaimed flats. lis true, We have six
hundred and seventy-one acRes Of land re-
claimed with a substantial stone wall
around It; but, SO far as the condition of
the reclaimed land is concerned, 1t is moth
Ing but wild waste of rich alluyial soil