The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-11-01
TYPHOID IN LEXINGTON
An Official Statement BY the Mayor q

An Official Statement BY the Mayor of
thu Town.
Editor OF The Times-Dispatch:
sir,-Following my telegram to you at
ter the publication OF the article in your
paper OF the 23d instant l beg leave to
submit the following concerning the fever
situation and the sanitary conditions OF
lexington:
"Over sixty cases In town and insti-
ttute,'. is set out in bold type at the
head OF this article. Now tile fact Is
less than half this number Of cases OF
typhoid fever were In evidence at the
time OF the publication Of this article OF
this number less than twenty cases are
now in existence, the remainder being
convalescent,
Dr.. a. .. Estell. health officer, rp orts
I from LIST OF June to list Of september,
htwenty-1ourBc cases OF typhoid t~er; dur
Ing September, four cases; October, In
Guiding Virginia Military Institute. and
Washington and Lac University, thirty
seven cases.
During July, three deaths reported by
the chairman OF the Board OF Health from
typhoid fever with complications and all
Of these among the colored people. Up
to and Including the day OF your report
no other deaths had resulted. Since that
time two deaths had occurred-one white.
the other colored; In the latter case, ac-
compauied by complications
That these cases have been mild. with
four or five EXCEPTIONS, Is shown by the
number Of convalescents, less than TWEEN
.ty cases being now visited by the phys.-
clans out OF thIrty-seven cases reported
In October. These facts ! get from the
health officer. y
;. have delayed this report in order to
obtain information concerning typhoid
fever conditions outside Of our irnmedl-
ate vicinity. and Il ind It by no means
confined to Lexington, though do not
wish to burden you with q publication II
all tho facts obtained as to other locali-
done Lexington, is the claim am MAX
ing and a full knowledge OF the facts
viii convince any one.
- THE SPRING IN QUESTION.
II we are left to. infer that the health
OF the community is affected by the
use Of water from q certain spring In
town, over which the health board and
the owner have been at variance. AT
one time in the history OF the town q
large number Of persons were dependent
upon this spring. but now only few
families use 1t, and after most careful
Investigation by our health board. we
have been unable to trace the origin
OF a single case Of fever or any other.
sickness to this source.
AS TO SEWERS.
tIexington has practically no sewerage
system other than above ground
trenches" Can any more unjust criticism
be made OF our town?
We have about one square mile OF town
and streets, with a fairly good sewer
system. embracing between seven and
eight miles OF underground sewers. In
addition to this. Lexington has an un-
usually good. surface Drainage.
cadets TO the grounds Of the institute.
They would go down town and eat at
the hotels and restaurants" etc. This
statement Is SO absurd that It needs no
comment. Lexington hotels and restau-
rants are not up to Delmonico's. but they
are not deserving OF sucn comment
Washington and Lee students num-
.berngs three hundred feed at these
places and at our boarding houses and
developed seven cases. while at the In
stitute. with less number In attend-
ance. We had ten cases.
The same sewerage system Is In ope.
ration In town that we have at the in-
stitute, and II to this can he traced the
cause OF our fever, we shall undertake
radical measures at once.
have never thought, and SO express
50 Sd myself e. your reporter here that Pr,
dona our Ms sty aos
our institutions Of learning. but some
body IL, and I trust you will do us tho
honor to give these facts room In your
SAMUEL 3. WALKER, Jy. &
I'M Mayor Town OF Lexington