The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-25
Good Health
OF Pensacola.

One day last week The journal
printed an editorial article in which
COMPARISON was made between the
death rate in this city and in tle
cities of New York and New Orleans,
the former the largest city in the north
and the latter the largest city IN the
south. The rates as given were, New
York. 1915, New Orleans 12.15, and
Pensacola 1156 per thousand of pop
uIation. The rate for New York was
based on a population of 100000. for
New Orleans it was based on a pOpu-
lation of 351, 600 and for Pensacola on
a population estimated at $4,000.
1t will be readily seen by all who
understand how the rate per thousand
is obtained that, given a certain num-
Der of deaths, in a certain time, the
rate per thousand will decrease as the
number of thousands of population in
creases and vice versa; so If the pop
ulation allowed to either of the three
cities was too large the rate obtained
was proportionately too small. With
out questioning the number of inhabi-
tants claimed by either New York or
New Orleans, which are probably fair
estimates, Just a word about the 27,-
900 for this city. The latest data from
which an estimate can be made is the
last city directory from which the fol-
lowing quotation is made:
Pensacola, Florida, as is indicate +
by the census taken in compiling this
directory, is a city of 34,7S2 popula-
/ ton"
If those figures had been used in the
calculation instead of those that were
used the rate would have been about
per thousand instead of 11.56; bit
the figures taken (27.O0O) are in the
opinion of The Journal. a fair and con-
sentative estimate of PensacoIa's pres
ent population.
And now it remains for The Journal
to call attention to the fact that for
New York and New Orleans their rates
were for their best week; for the lat
, ter the best ever known But not &C
| with Pensacola; the week taken for
! comparison with the two big citie=
was the one ending Sunday, Angus;
16. in which the deaths were, white
I ,, coIored, 4; total, 6. The report fol
| last week, and which was published
in The Journal last Sunday, August
%, was. white, 3, colored, 3; total, 8
| Thus the rate for last week is 11.56
the same as the week before.
! 1t is due however to state here thai
one of the whites was a child which
came to its death by an unfortunate
accident while on visit in a northern
city and was probably included in tbs
mortality record of that city II this
be deducted the total deaths in Pen
sacOIa for the week would be only ;
and the rate only 9.63 per Thousand
/ instead of 1856. a still better showing
for the city's healthfulness than the
previous week.
This remarkably favorable showing
for Pensacola speaks well, not only
for this city. but for this locality, fol
! the whole of West Florida of whic-
! Pensacola is the metropolis.
If the facts were made known it !.
{ highly probable that many of th'
i smaller towns in this section of Flor
ida could make Just as good show
ing as the city does.
Beyond the natural conditions a.
regards healthfulness Pensacola ha!
as yet done little except to supply al
abundance of pure water for genera
use. However. waeu the improve
ments now being constructed shall
have been completed together witt
others contemplated and provided TO
the Deep Water City will be withou
q peer for cleanliness, beauty AM
healthfulness.
And Vet as can be seen from TIT
above it is pretty good place TO IIy,
in right now.