The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-06-03
MAYOR SENDSH HIS
ANNUAL MESSAGE
TO CITY COUNCIL
Continued From First -Pare.)

Continued From First -Page.)
fact which the Mayor says "eloouently
praises the past management of the
clty's affairs. and OF which our cit-
zens have reason to be proud" Dur
ing tho year the commissioners ~ Tho
sinking fund Invested s345,O5o in CITY
securities.
Health Conditions.
Tho Mayor reviews in sone det,t1
the seventh annual report of the Health
department. showing that the crude
death rate. even including legal cleo
trocutions. was the lowest Of any wear
save lcoo since the Health Department.
was reorganized. If the deaths OF non
residents be excluded. II was the low
est OF any year without exception The
Mayor says that sanitary authorities
ana vital statisticians do not lay much
stress on the crude death rate The
healthfulness OF a city is more clearly
shown, no says, by it's death rate from
prevcntable diseases and the value OF
board OF health can only be fairly
tested thereby. Consumption still
leads the list. with 27O deaths The
work at Pine Camp is commended, but
It's facilities. limited to thirty four
beds. the Mayor says, only scratch the
surface of the work that ought to be
done He recommends that the city
itself undertake the care Of all such
cases
The Mayor shows that the rate Of
death from diseases regarded as pre-
'entable has steadily declined from
597 per 100000 in 1907, to 40 in 1912
decrease or 1877. which only a fatal
list would refuse to attribute to the
direct work OF the Health Department
a new low record was made in typhoid
fever
High CoIored Death Rnte.
a ti,.a
mortality between the white and col
oFcd races. showing the colored death
rate TO have been 6s per cent higher
than the white. Comprising only 81
per cent Of the population. the race
furnished SIS per cent OF all deaths
The colored death rate from consump-
ton was 3l5.S per 100000 and from
other diseases OF the respiratory sys-
TEN, f2G per 100000. which. the Mayor
says. evidences a serious situation"
Your attention is called" says the
report. TO the importance Of the
boards recommendation Of a searching
investigation OF this entire question
which should be welcomed and assist
ed by all members OF the coiored race
VINO arc genuinely interested in Its
present condition and future welfare
Inc average age OF all dcccdents at
time Of death was 37.40 years; Of white
decedents. 1925 years and Of colored
decedeuts. 1910 years" After com
mending the work for the prevention
OF infant mortality. the Mayor states
that the work of the Health Depart
ment in connection win the source
and quality OF the city's milk supply
actually cclipseg it's fromer remark
able achievements
The MIX supply.
The report records" says the
Mayor. continued harmony between
the dairy men and the department but
II Is not Improper TO observe That this
relation did not come until after a
long and bitter struggle against the
departments requirements, TO which
alone we owe our present milk supply
IT VIII be wei! TO remember this when
other interests seek to be relieved of
what they conceive TO be foolish and
onerous regulations OF this depart
ment"
Attention is called TO the insufficient
size OF the inspection force. which con
slsts OF six men. whose diligence Is
proven b. record OF 3e,6ls visits dur
ing tho year The ne, cost OF main
tenance of the Health Department for
the year was si3l75.23. or about 81
cents per capita.
Il cannot pass from this report"
continues the Mayor. without the com
ment that the extraordinary results
obtained by the Health Department
chiefly measure the professional serv-
ice 10 this community OF DR. f c.
Levy, the man credited by' competent
judges with putting Richmond on tho
public health map OF the United
States"
Fire LOSSES.
In commenting on the reports of the
Fire Department. Mayor Ainsiie shows
that the department responded during
the year TO 7o2 alarms, the greatest
number in its history The fire loss
for the year was S345,i5617, being
sl31.463.29 in excess OF the previous
year and the largest except for the
years 1901 and 1903 of any year Of
which the city has record. The CON
trast between service rendered and
maintenance cost, the Mayor says
fully justifes the fire boards policy 10
rlotorize the whole equipment as fast
as possible. He continues: II com
mend TO Your consideration the Chiefs
oft-repeated recommendation TO equip
the City Tug with q large fire pump.
and 10 install proper connections, as
an aid In fighting fires in the down
town section. The age OF this pro-
posal, II nothing else. should entitle
IL 10 some respect. Your attention is
called 10 the report OF the Fire Alarm
Superintendent concerning the central
office equipment. which ne again de-
scribes as not only OF an obsolete pat :
tern. but which Is very much worn
owing to it's long period OF service
This is the nerve centre and absolute
essential OF an ehccWal fire depart