The Washington times., 1905-12-05

ties.
A total of SAT- tons of garbage and
el,l76 cubic yards of ashes were coll
lected and disposed of, an increase over
1904 of l2.S and 31.2 per cent, respectively.
Under the fixed contract prices per
annum the costs were sl.09 per ton Of
garbage and 3z.2 cents per cubic yard
OF ashes. as against S1.39 and i3.2 cents,
respectively, in 1904. The COLLECTION
service has been somewhat improved,
but is still by no means satisfactory.
1t is believed however. that the new
contracts, awarded in the spring OF
1900. and which Will go into effect be-
fore the close of the calendar year. viii
afford effective practical resource in
compelling contract service without the
undesirable alternative of canceling the
agreements.
Protection From Fire.
No extraordinary demand for the
services of the fire department oc-
Cured during the year. but il showed
by what it did that IL was useful as
ever Its inspection work. in connec-
tion with that of the electrical depart
ment. carrying out the policy Of the
Commissioners to do everything pOssi-
BILE to prevent fires. has been diligently
done. The chief engineer of the de-
partment, who must personally make
many inspections besides those made
by the fire marshal and his assistant,
has a contantIy increasing burden of
duty and should be relieved as prompt
ly as possible from all responsibility
for the business administration Of the
department. so that he can confine his
attention to the direct work Of inspec-
tion and fire lighting.
Work of Police.
The police force has been directed and
disciplined in Il manner to maintain for
II an enviable reputation for efficiency
and good conduct, although IT is still
numerically inadequate. When it is con-
sidered that the police Jurisdiction is
co-ext,nsive with the District of Col
umbia. embracing an entire territory of
the United States. with an area Of near
ly severity square miles, including cities
and towns, a nearly proper conception is
had of the great landed extent over
which the available force Of about 400
patroimen, divided into different reliefs,
must be distributed The general and
local government interests concentrated
in the Capital City, including the White
House, governmental Institutions. lega-
tions. municipal buildings. courts, and
other interests. necessarily demand at
tention and surveillance, which compel
deductions or details from the aggre-
gate force. thus limiting the effective
organization for general duty.
There occurred in the District during
the calendar year 1904, 622l deaths, $3.50
Of the decedents being white and 2,s4l
being colored. The corresponding death
rates per 1000, based on the estimated
population set forth above. were:
Whites. 16.oS; colored. 1872; all. 1851
These rates are somewhat higher than
the death rates for the year Immediate
~ preceding. but lower than the aver
age for the past ten years.
The total number OF cases Of typhoid
fever reported during the calendar year
1904 was 1.OO6; corresponding figures for
1913 were LOS The number of deaths
reported during 1sO4 due to ayphoid fever
was 139. which is l less than the num-
bsr reported during the preceding YEAR
The average FOR the past ten years has
been 173-l. The deaths from this cause
among the white persons decreased
from SO TO 7S and among the coIored
people increased from 81 to CO. The
record for the first half Of the current
calendar year indicates a comparative
diminution In the number Of deaths. viz.
q deaths for the first six months Of 1906.
as compared with AZ deaths for the cor
responding period OF 1894 A comparison
OF the number OF reported cases during
the corresponding periods of 1904 and
l3J9 is $50 10 157. respectively.
The measures introduced in the last
Congress for the condemnation Of ~
sanitary buildings unfit for human habi-
tation, and for the abatement OF nuis
ances on property owned by nonresi-
dents, arr OF vital Importance 10 the
community and tits earnestly hoped
that favorab bic action will be taken
thereon AT the coming session of Con
gress
The operations under the smoke law
during the year have produced marked
Improvement. Many plants have installed
smoke-consuming devices, others have
substituted anthracite for bitumiuous
coal, while at nearly all of the plants
greater care is being exercised in stok
ing the furnaces. Daily observations
have been made and the offenders have
from time TO time been prosecuted. One
inspector Of the Health Department de-
tailed from the sanitary. inspection force
has continued 10 perform this duty, but
The clerical work required. together with
N
prosecution Of cases, prevents his giving
daily fun working day To actual oh
servation Of stacks. More effective SER
Ice could be rendered If two or more
special inspectors were engaged upon
this work, and it is recommended that
Congress make such provision.
Bathing Beach.
The conditions at the bathing beach
demand immediate Improvement. Al
though more than 5000 persons availed
themselves during the past year of tb,.
privilege afforded at the beach. the fact
remains, that the accommodations are
not only totally inadequate, but Of the
most primitive character The build
iDgs are old and dilapidated and ought
&c be replaced by a new structure. not
only FOR the convenience and comfort
of the PATRONS OF the beach. but also
because the picture which they now pre-
sent when viewed from the speedway Is
discredtable to the District government.