The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1910-01-07

once, which we consider very good
showing. Besides this we have also re-
duced the amounts OF our outstanding
warrants from the current expense fund,
something over $4,000. While this re-
ductiOn is not as large as | had hoped
we would show, yet We are satisfied to
have done that well. We are making
progress, and are going out OF debt and
not deeper into debt. We have reduced
the levy for the city taxes for the year
1910 two mills, bringing it down to 20
mills instead OF % mills as last year.
We hope, by being economical during the
present year, to again reduce the levy at
the end of the year another two or three
mills, go that soon we will have the levy
down where it belongs. Granted that
this reduction appears small, yet it is
good to know that we are on reducing
standpoint.
Now in conclusion | wish to thank all
the councilmen for their splendid work
and assistance during the last year, who
helped to attain these results for the city
of COlfax. | am sure they will continue
in the good work also during this year,
so that we may be able to make the best
showing for the city that ever was at
tained, as we are all only working for
hn into &c he a,k Of lis
so as to have CoIfax be the best city,
morally and commercially, in the whole
Inland Empire.
Board of Health.
The council after adjournment met as
the board of health Of the city of Colfax,
Mayor Lippitt being elected chairman of
the board and Howard Bramwell secre-
tary. The appointment of DR.. Pala-
mountain as health officer for the ensu-
ing year was announced. DR.. Pala-
mountain read his report as health
officer for the year 1909, as follows:
Since June, 1907, diphtheria has been
almost constantly present in Colfax; the
same is true of most cities in Ea stern
Washington. Ordinary methods of
eradication and prevention have sienally
failed. In 1908 there we're more cases
than in 1909. From October 1, 1908,
to October Is, 1909, there were 103
cases of diphtheria. Conserva lively
estimated these cases have cost the peO-
pie 100000, or a per capita cost of
So 33, Six deaths from diphtheria have
occurred in the same period, loss not
to be estimated in dollars and cents
During this period there has been spent
for prevention by the city $1,000 per
capita cost Of about 13 cents We thus
appear to have spent for prevention 13
cents; for cure. So. 80. The school board
spent few dollars for few gallons Of
formaldehyde to disinfect the school
rooms.
During the year 1909 there were 40
cases of diphtheria total number OF
deaths, 4 There we're l 4 cases under
years Of age; from 70 IS years, %
cases adults, 13 cases. Total number
of days of quarantine for diphth eria,
527. There we're % cases of scarlet
fever-no deaths-and $40 days OF quar-
antine. There were four cases of typhoid,
all in the unsewered parts of the city.
December, 1908, had 33 cases OF diph-
liberia the same month, 1909, had
case In December, 1908, schools,
parties, theaters, skating rink and pub
lie meetings we're interdicted and much
loss sustained by merchants from the
holiday trade. In December, 1909,
schools and all business and social bodies
were unmolested. Since October Is
there has been but one case OF diphtheria
in the city, and that was a Doctors
baby, and the origin of the infectio is
not known. With the close of the year
one case of scarlet fever is the only con-
tagion in the city.
There have been a few cases OF small
pox brought into the city by travellers,
and one case arose here from contact
with one OF these strangers. But vacci-
nation will control that disease.
There have been 81 deaths in the city
during 1909. Many Of these have been
residents OF other pIaces-!or instance,
county charges.
The continual presence OF dipht iberia in
our city is a matter OF history. The
epidemic has been stamped out and am
certain it ia because of the energetic
work Of the health department in tracing
up every case OF illness, particularly
among school children. l commend
most highly the work OF my deputy, Mr..
Hogan, who has been charged with the
ferreting out of sick children particularly,
and all sick in general, and attribute the
present good health OF our city, to a
large extent at least, to the prompt de
lection of contagious diseases before