Evening star., 1901-11-12

should be employed to prevent needless
waste. In this the public and press
generally are Ina accord. The reasons
Ior this position have been fulIy
given In former reports. At the
beginning of the year the question of filtra-
ton was unsettled 2 The engineer depart
ment Of the United-States army, after
thorough investigation by Colonel Miller.
made report through Gen. John NJ. VIII
American mechanical filter. The public
Dr.. W. en ". Johnsto6. 5 'aa Chairman. 1 "a after an
exhaustive inquiry into the subject.
strongly recommended the English sand or
natural filtration. After several personal
intercnanges OF Views between the MEM
pers or the committee and Colonel Miller
the matter was discussed before meeting
OF the Board of Trade. Colonel Miller was
invited to be present, and he accepted the
lnVitation 1t was carried on with good
feeling and with an evident desire that the
pest shouid be intelligently secured. The
BOARD OF Trade adopted the report of the
committee The Senate District committee
took the matter up and made further in
curry calling In experts for their views.
Inc Inc result was thelapproval of the. English
system. congress at once appropriated
Sooo,oo0 for the purchase of ground and to
commence the establishment of filtration,
Wnich is now an assured fact 1t will,
MHsn IN operation, be certain to reduce ty-
pnoid iever and death hatherefrom, and the
city Will also enjoy clear water.
Parks and Reservations.
Ihe report of the parks and reservations
committee covers matters of unusual inter-
est. FOR many years the Board Of Trade,
other organizations, the press and the pub
Tic have proposed plans and urged action
| looking toward a comprehensive park sys-
tenn throughout the District This year
| more has actually been accomplished than
| ever before. It all has eliminated in the
appointment of a park commission, to
| make a thorough examination Of park
| system for the District of Columbia, and
| submit the result of it's labors to Con-
Sress. Messrs. d. H. Burnham of Chi
cago, Z. r. Mckim of New York, both
| members of the American Institute of Arch
| ltects, and Fred Law Olmsted, landscape
archltect of Boston, were appointed to con-
stitute the park commission. The appoint
| ment of these gentlemen was universally
| approved by the members of their profess
| sion throughout the country, not an ad-
verse criticism having been made. From
| What we have learned since their appoint
| ment, cordial support has been given and
| confidence manifested in these gentlemen,
| in respect to the ability, experience and
| character that they bring to this work.
Immediately upon their appointment they
| began to work in earnest, fully examining
| the situation in the District, and with Mr..
| Chas. Moore, secretary of the Senate Dis
| trict committee, visited Europe for obser-
| Walton and for suggestions, where abundant
| examples are to be found in capital and
| other cities, showing what degree of per-
| fect1on has been attained in park and land
! scape systems. We do not know definitely
| the details or conclusions at which they
| have arrived, but we may feel certainly
| assured that most intelligent, compre-
| hensive and accurate plans will be sub
| mitted. Upon Congress approving of the
plans when submitted by the commission,
| there will be a final settlement of the ques-
| ton, and a great step forward will have
| been realized.
| Future Location of Buildings.
It is reported that the commission has,
in maturing its plans. taken into consider
| alton the future location of public build
ings. SO that they shall be in harmony
with the park system, the adornment Of the
| city, and convenience in transacting gov
| erImental business. If this be true, and
| the plan Is adopted. when future public
buildings needed for the general or
| District governments they can be readily
| located. For years when public buildings
| have been provided for, great delays and
| embarrassments in securing sites have
| been experienced Naturally race of prop
| erty owners and brokers to bring all their
| influence to have their holdings selected
| would occur, not infrequently causing con-
| fusion and failure. It is quite certain that
| District buildings would have long since
been provided for by Congress had not
| the difficuity of selecting a site been en-
| countered. We have ample reason to see
near at hand, 'the development on broad,
| artistic and practical lines, the park sys-
| tenn of the city and District quoted from
| my predecessor, Mr.. Noyes The delay in
definite formation, and in the approval
| of the plans for the Improvement of the
national capital until this time, has been
| perhaps natural but will, it is expected.
| be all the better in the end. 1t has been
until the opening of a new century, when
the republic has become the richest
nation in the world, expanding, and be-
coming a world power, and better able
| by education and wealth. and for other rea-
| sons, to inaugurate an appropriate and
| accurate system of improvement for the
| national capital. 1t is fortunate that there
| are men in Congress, broad minded and
| patriotic. who have the highest ideals for
the treatment of the national capital, and
| are laboring unselfishly and intelligently in
| its interest, to the crelit Of the republic.
| Public Health.
The committee public health submits
report containing important tables and
| other information relative to the health Of
the District. The committee calls atten-
ton to the fact that the death rate Of the
| colored race is far in excess of that Of the
white race being nearly double. The total
number of deaths, however, in the District
| of Columbia does not differ materially from
| the preceding twelve months. The great
difference in the death rate between the
| whites and the colored is serious in the
| opinion of the committee, and attention
should be given. 1t Is suggested to RENE
death rate between the two races raises
| the general death rate and makes un-
favorable comparison with other cities. The
death rate of the whites, as compared with
other sanitary cities, is about the same.
The tables and statistics prepared by the
| committee are instructive, and suggest
where the Board Of Trade may take steps
| to improve the health conditions Of the
| District of Columbia.
| More fatality results from consumption
and pneumonia than from any other dis
| ease, which the committee considers is
abnormal, and, by measures it recommends,
may be prevented.
Mortality Among Children.
The tables show the mortality among
children as greatly lessened, which is at
tributable to milk inspection. The excess
siye mortality among the colored race has
not been confined to any particular age or
sex. The average age at death of the whites
is found to be forty years. one month, twen-
ty-fye days, and Of the colored twenty
seven years. nine months, four days. The
average age of whites dying over five years
old was ffty-two years, four months twen-
ty-six days, and of 1.-the colored forty-two