University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1910-11-29
AVERAGE DEATH RATE
LOW IN MISSOURI.
State Ranks as One of the
Most Healthful in
Country.
STATISTICS, IA PER 1000
In Ozarks, Where Water Is
Purest, Only 10 Out of
1000 Die.
STATISTICS, IA PER 1000

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.-The State
Labor Bureau has collected informa-
ton showing that the death rate in
Missouri averages but IA per 1000
ranking this state as one Of the most
healthful in the country. In the
OZarks where the water is of the
purest, the rate is but 10 to the 1000,
according to the bureaus figures.
st. Louis has a death rate OF 15S
and Kansas City of IA. st. Joseph
ranks still lower in mortality, with
1871 per 1000.
One chapter of the 1910 Red Book.
the annual report Of the bureau, is
devoted to health conditions of Mis-
souri,. The following table and expla-
nation are given, showing that the
death rate in St. Louis and Kansas
City is decreasing:
Year. ST. Louis. Kansas City.
1901 to 1904 IT'S per 1000 172 per 1000
1904 1888 per 1000 1877 per 1000
1905 ...... 1863 per 1000 100 per 1000
1906 1856 per 1000 15.S per 1000
1907 .15.7 per 1000 $50 per 1000
1908 .14.5 per 1000 16.S per 1000
1909 .15.S per 1000 14.4 per 1000
Health Precautions Taken.
Employers, with the assistance OF
state and city authorities, are giving
considerable attention to the health
and general welfare of their workers,
fully realizing that results can not be
obtained unless all are in the best con-
dition, both physically and mentally.
A sound mind and body are both alb
solutely necessary in many of the call
ings of the present day, when, with
fast-moving and expensive machinery
in all factories of any size and conse-
quence, the slightest slip or mistake
may bring serious injury, if not death.
to the operator, or damage some deli
cate piece of mechanism to such an
extent that a shutdown for repairs
becomes necessary, thereby causing
heavy financial losses to both employ
ers and employees.
Many Missouri factories are fitted
with modern bathrooms. plentifully
supplied with both hot and cold water,
soap and towels, and have an attend
ant in charge, whose duty it is to as
sist all employees who make use of
the accommodations. Three or four
of the larger establishments have gone
as far as to put in shower apparatus
and plunge basins, knowing that if
they bring about the general use of
the same their employees will improve
in health and strength and thereby
render better service.
Cities HeaIthfuI.
In all sections of the state the gen.
eral welfare of the worker is being
looked after more than ever. In large
cities tenement houses are giving
away to modern apartment structures,
fitted with all conveniences and built
so that there will be plenty of light
and air for each tenant. Boards of
health of the city no longer hesitate
in condemning as a public nuisance
and general menace any building no
longer a fit place of habitation, and
cause the same to be Immediately
either improved or rebuilt
The General Assembly during the
last session made Missouri a regis
tration state" by enacting law which
compels the registration of all births
and deaths throughout the state as
they occur. The State Board Of
Health is empowered to rigidly en-
force all provisions of this new and all
old sanitary laws, and a severe pen
atty is provided for all violations. I'm
der the clauses of the new law Mis-
souri, is to be divided into thousand
registration districts and a registrar
appointed for each. A record is to
be kept of all births, deaths and other
matters pertaining to public health and
safety and general sanitation.-St.
Louis Globe-Democrat.