Evening journal., 1907-03-15
MUCH WORK DONE
BY HEALTH BOARD
Secretary WigeIeSwOrth Pre-
SentS His Annual Report
TO That Body
MANYCOMPLAINTS RECEIVED


Joseph Wigglesworth. secretary Of
the Board Of Health. has compiled his
annual report and it was read to the
board yesterday.
In this report the secretary gives
some interesting figures and makes
some very important recommendations
some If not all of them, may betaken
up and adopted by the board.
The report is ais follows:
To the President and members Of the
Board Of Health.
Gentlemen.
/ have the honor to submit my re-
port as secretary Of your board de-
falling the general scope and character
Of the work of the Health Department
for tho year ending December 81, 1906,
and also my reports and tables as
Registrar Of Vital Statistics for the
same period.
Work Of the Board.
During the past year the work Of
the Board has been unremitting and
at many times decidedly strenuous.
Faithful and untiring efforts to carry
out the provisions OF the health laws
and ordinances have been made so as
TO. secure to the city the best sani-
tary conditions possible
It is proper to submit that the Board
has been favored during the year with
the hearty and helpful cooperation OF
the citizens, and in but few instances
was it necessary to resort 20 the Muni-
cips Court TO secure the fulhnient Of
the Boards, orders.
Every intelligent effort that Is made
and every dollar that Is wisely spent
for the purpose of abating nuisances
detrimental to the public health, to
prevent disease and safeguard the pub
lie adds to the safety and happiness
Of the people generally, and to the
commercial prosperity OF the entire
community. Prosperity and healthful-
ness always go hand in hand. The
two great blessings rarely travel alone
when the healthfulness Of a city is
assured. It's prosperity is a natural Sc
quence. While the work of the Board
during the past year has been very
gratifying, vet our opportunities are
far from being exhausted and the de-
mands for still further Improvements
along a sanitary line are not only ur-
gent but exacting
The Board was unusually busy during
the entire year. A total Of 92S COM
rfaints was received from the public
Upon investigation. by the executive
officers, 1872 of these complaints were
found 20 be absolutely groundless and
no action was taken, large number
of the remaining complaints had al
ready received attention when the for.
NAL reports had reached this Office
This total represents only those com
plants where the action of the Boart
was legally necessary and does no
Include the large number that CANT
within the executive officers power o
abatement.
While a majority Of the complaints
consisted Of wet cellars, offensive cess
pools. defective paving Of yards an,
alleys. stopped drains, etc, there wa
total Of 1O3 complaints that mad'
it necessary to serve notices on The
owners Of 343 properties, to have the
same connected with public or private
sewers before the nuisances complained
of could be permanently abated.
on December 81. 302 Of these prop,
critics had been connected with thu
sewer and work was progressing OF
26 others. The remaining 10 properties
were owned by parties living outside
the jurisdiction Of our court, and th'
notices were served on local agents
In most cases no attention was pait
10 any Of these notices. as under
decision of the Superior Court Of New
Castle county the Board has no lega
right to compel the agent Of a prop
erty 10 connect the same with a sewer
70 Is the intention Of your secretary e
prepare a bill and present It 10 thl
next session Of the General Assembl,
so that an agent Of a nonresident car
be compelled TO do the work the sam'
as a local owner.
A law Of this kind is absolutely nee
essary 10 aid the Board in its work
as in many cases whole rows Of house
have been connected with the sewe
with the exception of a single property
and as this property IS always owne,
by a resident. the work Of tn
Board is hampered and many nuisance
only partially abated.
A number Of narrow party alley
were repaved during the summer. alsl
quite a number OF party drains re
paired. The cost OF this work wa
first paid by the Board and then col
iected pro rata from the owners o.
agents Of the properties owning o.
using said party alleys or drains. NJ
trouble was experienced in collecting
these bills, and at the end OF the yea