The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-05-15

life in the sixteenth century was only
between Is and 20 years, and that at
the close Of the eighteenth century it
was little over 80 years, while to-
day it Is between 38 and 40 years-in-
deed the span of life since 1880 has
been heightened about six years. No
two factors have contributed so much
to the general result as the improve
ment of the air We breathe and the
water we drink. Indeed we have am
pie evidence that with the introduce
ton of public water supplies and
sewers the general mortality in nu-
merous cities during the past fifty
years. has been reduced fully one
half, the good effects being especially
shown by a marked decrease in the
number Of cases of typhoid fever,
dtarrhoeal diseases, and consumption.
The mortality of London between
1850 and 1879 was SO per 1000 in
habitants; from 1879 to 1928, includ-
ing the period of pests, it was 80 per
1000: between 1928 and 1880 it was
has steadily decreased to 1871 per
1000 in 1905.
The death rate in the city of New
York in 1904 was % per 1000; from
1850 to 1854 it was SS per 1000;
while in 1906 in spite Of the density
of population 1t was 1879 per 1000,
practically a reduction Of SO per cent,
which according to Walter F. Wilcox
of Cornell university, means a saving
of something like $4,000 lives each
year in that city alone.
The mortality of the registration
area in the United States has been re-
duced since 1890 from 1876 to 1872 per
1000 in 1905. Taking the census fig
| ures Of population of 33,757,S11 in
the registration area as a basis, the
number of deaths in 1905 was 544.-
533; whereas at rate prevalent
in, 12Qn
662,654; reduction of 17.S per
cent and a saving in one year
of 11S,121 lives. If the same ratio is
applied to the entire estimated popu-
| lation in the United States of 82,574,-
1875 the saving of human lives during
1905 alone would be over 100000.
Publication of Streams.
We would not think of establishing a
vicious circle between our mouths and
the drainage Of our houses and stables.
| and yet practically we have suffered
| this to be done upon the assumption
| that rivers purify themselves. A GER
| tain degree of publication is possible
by natural means. such as dilution
| with unpolluted water, deposition OF
aquatic animals and plants, the bacteria
! Of nitrification, the destructive in
| fiuence of sunlight upon germ 1ife and
| the chemical affinity of certain bodies
| These factors are calculated to purify
waters, provided we give them q
| chance This may still be true in very
| sparsely populated regions of our OWE
country, but with increasing settle
| ments, the pollution of our streams
will become continuous from theil
sources to their mouths, and river wa
| ter to which sewage gains access must
| be considered as dangerous for drink
/ ing purposes.
| After determining the extent ano
dangers of river pollution, the remedy
can and should be applied. This rem
/ edy is not only of interest to the SAM.
tartan but also the agriculturist and
| consists in the adoption of a proper
/ method of sewage disposal. including
harmful Industrial wastes.
The best methods SO far proposed l!
sewage farming, or irrigation.
| The city Of Berlin purchased abou
/ 10000 acres of land and notwithstand
ing the enormous outlay of little ovel
81 600. 900 for the land and over $40, 1000,
900 for the sewer system, operates these
i farms at a net profit Of about $6,OO'
/ per annum. The city employs mel
condemned to the workhouse as labor
/ ers at the farms. and practically con
yerts vagabonds into producing class
/ with a fair prospect that many of thes'
/ individuals will continue their homes
EFFORTS to become self supporting citi
ZenS. ..