The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-12-28
Increase in Fatalities Shown
in Report of Health
Officer.
WOODWARD DEMANDS
AN INVESTIGATION
Matter Will Be Referred to Electric
Railway Commission, Says
Macfarland.

Declaring that the situation is
one demanding rigid investigation,
Health Officer Woodward, in his
annual report submitted to the
Commissioners today, states that
the mortality record from street
railway accidents during 1908 was
the greatest recorded in the history
of the District of Columbia, twenty
persons having lost their lives from
this cause.
INCREASE SHOWN
The average death rate from
street railway accidents during the
hve-year period 1S96-19OO was %,
says the report, "and during the
hve-year period 19O1-19O5 was 2.6,
The death rate in 1906 was 2.S;
IN 1907, 40, and in 1908, 50. 1t
IS reasonable to presume that there
has been corresponding increase in
the frequency of accidents which
temporarily disable, or permanent
ly main, but which stop short of
causing death. In any event the
situation demands rigid invesGga-
ton"
Goes to Commission
Commissioner Macfarland said today
that the matter viii be referred at once
20 the District Electric Railway Com
mission. which has supervision OF street
railways. for investigation and report.
in comparison with last year there has
heen no reduction in the number OF
deaths from steam railway accidents,
notwithstanding the elimination OF the
grade crossings.
1T was hoped that with the establish
ment OF the Union Station and the re-
duction in the number Of grade cross
tLgs, deaths from steam railway acci-
dents would be materially less fTC-
ouent." says the report such, how
ever, is not the case. Seventeen per-
sons lost their lives from TINS cause
in 1905, which is exactly the avera2e
number who lost their lives annually
from the same cause during the fiH o.
year period, 1896 10 1900.
During the five year period. 1901 70
1905, The average loss of life per annUm
was "a. but during this period the large
gangs Of men employed in connection
the alterations unGer way iu our
terminal facilities, probably accounted
for the increase. The average death
rate per 700 per aunum during the
ouinqUennium. 1895 TO 1900 was g. The
death rate last year was 81
Suicides More Frequent
Suicide is increasing in the District.
according 10 the report. The average
sunual death rate from suicide durinS
fhe five-year period from 1895 10 $50.
was 1873 per hundred thousand. The
average during the fve-year period,
1901 10 1905 was 164. while during the
calendar year 1905 the death rate was
1s5
While tbe prevalence of some OF
the more important communicable auH
preyentabIe diseases Eas declined auo
The general death rate FOR the District
has 10 a certain extent fallen says tht
report, 't1e Improvement I'm the genera
death rate has been very materially re-
farded by the increased prevalence Of
certain conditions which so Tar as sci
enCe has demonstrated are either not
preveutable or else are preventa,Jie only
By rigid personal hygiene and not by
any public effort
Deaths From Cancer.
The death rate from cancerous
growths IN 1908 was SL2 per hundred
thousand. while the average deGJh rate
f~ontfnuad ou Ninth pace