Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-10

That insanitary dwellings. infected
heavier toll Of human
Mining Region lives In mining viii
lagos than explosions
0oAAsosAoA' and other mine acct
dents il the claim of Dwight E. Wood
bridge, an expert in the bureau of mines.
who has just made a report along this
line to Director Joseph A. Holmes MI.
Woodbridge has completed the study OF
mining villages in the Birmingham dis
trict Of Alabama, and he expresses the
belief that what is being done In tnat
community to improve living conditions
Of miners should be extended to every
mining region of the United States.
BIRMINGHAM has had to attack the prob
lem Of sanitation, according to Mr.. Wood
bridge, because of the high death rates
which were traced to unhygienic condi-
tons existing around the mining villages.
He believes the same care and skill that
have done much to avert accidental death
in the mines can save even more lives
by guarding the residents of mining COM
munities from preventable diseases.
''Ha1f million dollars" says Mr..
Woodbridge. lis spent In one year by iron
mining companies of this country for
the installation of devices to prevent ac-
cidents, yet in the city OF birmingham
the rate of deaths from tuberculosis has
increased In the past three years from u!
to 277 per 100000 persons Advocates OF
hygienic conditions state that tuberculo-
sis is a greater economic burden than
amputated limbs, and also that to permit
the existence of conditions that spread
typhoid Is an inexcusable crime. In Its
efforts to improve health conditions BIZ
mingham has in three years reduced It's
typhoid rate from eighty-three to forty
nine per 100, 900 individuals, and still the
rate is excessively high.
Some employers are alive to the need
Of conserving the health of employees, and
are as careful to preserve the efficiency
of their employees by guarding against
against accidents. But, in general, lives
are not safeguarded as they might be,
nor as humanita rian ideals dictate; nor
Is 1t fully realized by all employers that
healthful living conditions mean steadier
and more efficient work by employees.
Sanitary improvement about the iron
mines Of the Birmingham region has been
made largely under the leadership OF
one company. but others are following
closely. There is little doubt that public
sentiment and business consideration will
compel all companies In the district to
take up such work sooner or later. A
sanitary engineer was employed in 1912
by the Alabama Coal Operators Asso-
citation to make Investigations of the
sanitary and welfare conditions Of coal
mining camps. and the district now Of
fers many excellent examples of what
can be accomplished in connection with
the sanitation of mining towns.
The betterment work has included the
publication of water supply. improve
ment of conditions around the DWELLING
houses, Improvement in the conditions
of collecting garbage and other refuse
and the doing away with every unhy-
g1enic condition which might invite sick
ness and death. number of civic i'm
provements have been made in many OF
the mining villages. including the es-
enlistment Of gardens, Improvement in
the maintenance of streets and roads,
and other changes to make the villages
better places In which to live"
x
When the United States children's bu-
reau issued a booklet several weeks ago
on the baby saving
Baby-Saving campaigns which are
pooL1.4 carried on in various
American cities, it was
made clear that the publication was in
tended only for city health officers and
persons actively engaged in child well
fare work. No special attempt was made
to popularize the material for the gen.
eral reader, and it was thought that an
edition Of $500 copies Of the bulletin
would be sufficient to supply the social
workers having a direct interest in city
baby-saving campaigns.
The popular demand for Information
FAINT mortality in cities, however, is
more widespread than even the chill
dren's bureau experts realized, and re-
quests for the new bulletin have come
from people in all walks of life. Many
mothers having no connection with or
ganized child welfare work have writ
ten in for the publication. and at the
present time the first edition is almost
exhausted and another has been or
dered.
lication on methods of insuring the
health of city babies Is already seen by
the officials Of the children's bureau, and
Director Julia G. Lathrop Is planning a
bulletin which will be interesting not
only to public health officers and child
welfare workers. but which will appeal
to mothers themselves. Such a publica-
ton will outline methods Of child care
and show how it Is possible for individ-
ual mothers of the country to join in
the movement to lessen the high NOR
tally rates among infants and to in
children.
There are on hand at present only $50
copies Of Uncle Sans popular bulletin
on ba|by-saving campaigns, and while
the supply lasts each physician. child
welfare worker or individual mother who
would like to have the ninety -three-page
bulletin may have it mailed free OF
charge by writing to his or her con-
gresham, or to Miss Julia c. Lathrop.
director, United States children's bu-
reau, Washington. D. G. To make sure
of getting the right publication the re-
quest should be made for children's bu-
reau publication No. 3, or. even better
the name and the address of the appli-
cant along with this article clipped from
the paper will bring the booklet. Add
tional copies of the bulletin will be avail
able for distribution as soon as the new
edition of $500 has been turned out OF
the government printing office.
The jokers in the present denatured al
cohol law, which has stood on the stat
ute books for
Ineffective Denatured more than six
years. wer
Alcohol Law. revealed to
President Wilson by Senator Lane OF
Oregon during the past week, Following
the introduction in the Senate or new
denatured alcohol bill. which Will repea'
The old ono and which will make 1t pos