The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-09-03

lower house and got he second In the
senate but failed for want OF time before
adjournment to get the third reading and
become law, Since that time every
measure Of this character has met with
vigorous and relentless oppostl n tor
every State health officer we have had
from what motives | leave TO coniectife. In
the meantime the facts have rectted wee
observed elsewhere than IN Texas By par
iCs whose interests were adverse 20 our
prosperity. The then Territory of Cot
RADIO had been waGchul OF every st =
aiken by the authorities in Texas to d.
veiop her resources or obtain the benent
II her natural advantages, aud they We 9
not Slow to improve the occasion Afforded
by our negligence On he iUth day OF
February, 1876, Territorial board OF
health was formally inausurated some u
the leading objects OF which were to COZ
leot and disseminate the vital statistics
of the Territory In Illustration OF It's
healthfulness. and to publish The merits
OF various localities as special health re-
sorts, Denver was then city of less
than 10000 inhabitants, aud the Territory
OF which II was the capital. ranked fourth
/ in point of population with the Territories
OF the Union While her mining interests
attracted a rapid influx OF population j;
was not of such a character as to satisfy
the aspirations Of the proud people who
! controlled her destinies. The work OF her
board OF health here made Itself manifest,
and q more desirable class OF citizens soon
began to appear, Consequently when tho
State government was formed, on The LIST
day OF July, 1876, provision for sta o
beard OF health AID vital Statistics was
promptly re-enacted. Since thar time and
up to the present day, in the language "
a memorial TO his excellency, the COVER
. lfzgfa.F -
Legislature, their annual reports have
contributed more to the material Inherent
of that commonwealth than all of hef
mineral deposits" Even the Territory oi
Oklahoma, prohting by the example OF her
lneighbor and the manifest value OF her
State board Of health as factor In her
prosperity was prompt 10 avail nerself Of
a similar organization, and Is now reap
ing immence benefits therefrom, in the
wealth, intelligence and high social quail
ties of the great mass OF the Immigrant
seeking homes within her borders. wa
have here Mr.. President and gentlemen
"an object lesson" which ought to be kepl
before the minds Of our legislators I'm
ceasingly until they awake to the necessity
Tor action commensurate with the i'm
portance OF the problem. We have N
Texas a greater number and greater va
riety Of health resorts, adapted 20 th'
favorable influence OF far greater mum
Der OF diseases than any other State II
the world, but we have no official or re
liable scientific source OF information Il
regard to them, and the world is there
fore left without their benefits-ano. hel
Illustration Of the fact that natural ad
gantages" are too frequently the bane o
, prosperity.
1t would be lnvidious II not out OF place
to give partial list OF our health re
sorts, and ! have neither the time nor tn
data at hand from which to compile
complete one. ! may do that q, som
future time. with an effort to analyz
their merits.
For seventeen years Texas, while nav
I ing on her statute books law TO protec
her people from the deleterlnus efectg o
, adulterated food and impure med cines
} has yet made no provision for It's eNecu
ton. For twenty-four years there has ex
} lifted IN the constitution Of the safe PRO
vision for the creation or the state boar
OF health and vital slatistios, which he
legislators have ignored and her gov
erno.s have never noticed-oontentin
themselves all this time with the pretens
OF controlling disease and projecting m
man life from rs rayages by guarsnt
alo1e--at once the meet expensive an
least effective Of all the resources Of T.
asnitarlsn Desirable citizens, men {
wealth and Intelligence, take NOT U Tres
facts. greatly 20 Our detrlment, both mate
rally and socially.
thank you, Mr. President, ladies' an
gentlemen fer your induigent attention.