The sun., 1900-02-09
THE DEATH RATE
OF Wilmington
|It Compares Fayorably With
That Of Other Ameri-
can Cities.
MORE MARRIAGES LAST YEAR
One OF the Greatest Sanitary Ques-
tions That Confronts Progressive
Cities Today Has Been Placed
Under the Reward of
Political Services.

According to the annual report of the
Board of Health which was presented to
City Council last evening, the number OF
deaths in this city last year was ,294
This is IS less than 1898 Based on an es-
timated population of $500, this would
1000 inhabitants. This compares favor
ably with the death rates in other cities,
some of which are as follows: New
York. 1928; Philadelphia, - IS; Balti-
more, 10 10; New Haven, Conn, rs Is;
Patterson, N. j.. Is 80; Utica, n. ",
Is AZ; Richmond, Va, 20 Al; Reading,
Pa, a.
The principal causes of death were
consumption and pneumonia. There
were l42 deaths from the former disease
and l07 from the latter. The deaths
from zymotic diseases We're l9l. which is
- less than last year and IA. 50 per cent
Of the whole number of deaths.
The deaths by wards were as follows:
Firsy, 81, Second, 95; rhird, 96; Fourth,
-; Filth, 143; Sixth, III; Seventh, 209;
Eleventh, IS; Twelfth, So.
The number Of bodies brought here for
interment was 244, while 1863 were sent
away.
The number of still births were 96, Of
which 50 were white, q colored, 81 male
and ~ female.
Tue number Of births were 1872, of
which l,2l5 were white and l57 colored;
I'll male and 66l female. This is 1l2 in
excess of 1898.
The number of marriages for the year
were 654, SIS being white and 76 colored.
There were but 573 marriages in 1898.
| The marriages by months were as fol-
lows: January, white, 80, colored, 81;
February, white, SO colored Z; March,
white, TO, colored, s.; April, white, 80,
colored, 6; May, white, %, colored, 5;
June, white, 81, colored, 5; July, white,
81, colored, 6; August, white, 26, col
ored, s; September, white, Ill, colored,
| 10; October, white, %, colored, Z; De-
cember, white, 60, colored, 4.
During the year 720 complaints OF
various kinds were examined, of which
| l57 were found to be absolutely ground
lets. The complaints related principal
lv to defective drains and drainage,
offensive cesspools and imperfect paving
of alleys.
A number of small alleys were repaved
during the summer, as this was the only
means of abating nuisances of pools III
stagnant water and kitchen refuse caused
by defective paving.
The present force of executive officers
are commended for zeal in seeking ont
and abating nuisances,
| The complaints were as follows: Water
in cellars, 256; water In lots, 4 defec-
tive drains, l49; defective drainage, l16;
defective water spouts, 66; defective
hydrants, so; defective alleys, IL; defec-
tive paving in yards, 19l; connect sewers,
IS; clean cesspools, l,4s0; clean cellars,
l39; clean yards, 1893; clean alleys, 9S
clean cutters, 30; defective Sc yer inlets,
2; cut weeds in lots, 2; number OF houses
fumigated, 300.
The number of cesspools cleaned were
3,l57, from which l,U03,67l gallons of
liquid matter we've pumped and 1850
cubic feet of solid matter removed.
Some space was devoted to the matter
of the collection of garbage. The report
states that there was q decided improve
ment during the year in the collection
of garbage. During the summer months
a special complaint wagon was put in
service and complaints attended to
within an hour after being reported.
The president of the board had visited
points in the New England States in
specting methods in use there in the col
lection and disposal of garbage. 1t was
the intention to embody new ideas in
the new garbage contract this year and
had the Board of Health been given the
control OF the crematory new methods
would have been put in practice then.
The report says that collectors had made
complaints that at different times they
we're unable to UNLOAD their carts at the
crematory. Now one of the greatest
sanitary questions that confronts pro.
gressive cities today has been placed
under the reward OF political services.
The report was accompanied by 8
note from the Secretary of the Board
Joseph Wigglesworth asking that SOC
copies OF the report be printed. On mo-
tion of Mr.. Smith, Council decided tc
print but 250 copies.