The Washington bee., 1902-08-02
w. CALVIN CHASE EDITOR.
TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION.
Ignorance the Cause.


In short letter Of A. R. Spofford.
Assistant Librarian of the Congress
sional Library, contributes some
facts relative to the health statis-
tics of the District of Columbia. 1t
would seem there has been some
contention over the question as to
whether Washington is a healthy
city, some maintaining that it Is
among the most unhealthy places
in the United States. In sup
port of his contention that Wash
ington is a comparatively healthy
place, he gives the following sta
istics:
Death rate
Number, per I, 900.
Native white population
OF Washing gton.......... I72oI2 IA
Foreign population...... I9 $50 $40
Colored population...... 07,Ieo $40
Referring to the above, it is stat
ed. as it would seem, that the great
death rte is due to the mortality
among foreign and colOred p1pu!a-
tions, the latter being somewhat
less than the former. Just how 1t
is asc.rtalned wh) are foreigners
end who are not is a matter which we
leave to conjecture. The great ad-
mixture Of bloods to be found In
this city would seem TO make 1t
difficult TO ascertain who are for
eigners and who are not. Perhaps
it is to the pure Italians or Ger
mans or Irish to which the article
refers. But whatever the basis 1t ls
clear that the health conditions
among the colored population IS
less than that among the foreign.
This is a fact of impertence, espec-
ially when as a rule We near no
complaint as to the introduction OF
foreigners while there is constant
howl about the colored population,
much less undesirable element II
We considered them from the stand
point Of health conditions. II, as
it is claimed, the home and othe"
conditions determine the general
health Of communities, it would
seem that the colored people are in
advance of the f,Teigners at least
in point of 8anetary matters. The
results would be for different If the
same privileges were granted to
coIOred people that are granted to
these foreigners. The foreigners
are permitted to rent houses where
ever they desire provided only that
they can afford TO buy or pay the
required rent, whereas almost the
entire body of the colOred populs-
latiOn are compelled to live in "a
levs or else in the most undesirable
and unstnitary portions of the city,
Under equal conditions, it is fair
to assume that the mlrtality among
colored people would be no greater
than that among native born white
citizens. But With all the disad-
vantages under which We labor
there is reason to be thank ktul. In
comparison with other cities, the
colored people of Washington fare
comparatively for the better. The
same writer gives the mortal
ity in some of the southern cities
IN which there is a large colOred
population with results as follows
Death rate Death rate
White per 600 Colored per T. oo
Baltimore. 429, 2IS l9.I 1879 81.
New Orleans 1887 IoS 1888 ~
Charleston ~ 23S 25.6 5L569 20
1t will be seen that in these cities
the death rate is larger than in
Washington while in New Orleans
where the colored populstion il
about equal to that of this city the
rate is very much greater, being
42.4 out of every l 900 souls. This
alarming difference must be account
ed for It would seem that it does
not result from a difference i'll eli
mate because it will be seen thal
the death ra'e e among the whites il
but slightly greater than tha
among a similar class in I. is city