The Washington times., 1909-06-29

While Time and Tide aud the Hot
Wave. too. wait for no man nor for wo-
man. nor respect none at all, il is down
IN the sluns of the big cities like Wash
tngton, where the alley walls come to-
gether over little brooks of sewage.
where the lung-filling air Of the country
or OF the city's green parks never pene-
rates, where the sun is a thing of tor
ture IN summer and a myth in winter.
that two OF the trio who never wait
and respect not all, hit hardest and
most frequently
II IS down in the slums of Washing
ton. IN the blind alleys, walled with
brick, with brick under foot, brick that
gets hot and stays hot, on which the
remnants OF a hundred meals lie bak-
ing in the heat. it's in the crowded
houses where the poor live that the toll
of death from the heat is greatest
Among Poorer People
Most of the deaths and the prostra-
tons OF the past ten days have occurred
among the people who live from hand
TO mouth.
According 70 the records Of the Health
Department there have Been fOrty-three
deaths of infants under three years OF
age within the last six days. OF this
number two died from heat exhaustion
and tWenty-SlX diseases due 10 the hot
weather. II Is the opinion OF Health
officer Woodward that the rate will
increase during the present week
The records of the department show
that one-hfteenth of the babies of the
District are residents Of the alleys
said DR.. Woodward today. "Of the
recent victims, one-siXth lived IN the
alleys and Sums where the suffering
during such weather as this is the
'sThe department Is doing all within
its power for the care of these chill
F1 for IN. fr.
long hours testing the milk supplied 10
the poorer families
What the District needs Is public
oepOfs where =pasteuTized milk can be
obtained in small quantities. No great
er good could be done by a philanthrOpic
citizen Of Washington than to provide
pure milk to the infants Of the poor
Terrible figures these" SAID Coroner
hewitt Theirs is a story OF misery
and poverty, and heiplessness. In my
mind there is no question but that these
babies died OF heat. They lived in alley
ways and narrow streets, without sun
shine and pure air. In the slums OF
" asniDgtOn conditions are so insanitary
sponsible for the terrible death rate
among the children
Suffering Terrible.
THE suffering among the poor in hot
weather is terrible Many have 10 go
Babies cannot survive under such con-
ditions. and that more do not suceumb
Is wonderful Children must have fresh
air and sunshine, proper food and water,
pure milk and many other things which
cost money.
The slums should be wiped from the
CITY, and their going should be brought
ABOUT quickly Just imagine having to
make two or three little tots sleep on
one bed OF on hre-escape, OF in dirty
yards where the smell from the bricks
Is terrible. Remember their Fairgrounds
are the hot dirty alleys. The sf.Ims
must be cleaned up
IN commenting today upon the recent
number OF deaths Of infants due to the
extreme heat, Commissioner Mcfarland
sald that free ice IS now available to the
lndigent sick and the children OF the
poor. The gift Is made by citizen of
the District who viii not permit the pub.
HcaJiOn OF his name
The distribution Of the Zee has been
placed by Commissioner mcfarland IN
der The direction OF George S. Wilson.
Secretary 20 the Board OF Charities. who
ts assisted by the physicians to the poor,
the nurses Of the Instructive Visiting
Nurses Society, and the Associated
Charities. An appeal TO any of these
agencies VIII result IN the ice being
furnished.