The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1913-07-23
| prevailing in the principal cities Of

prevailing in the principal cities Of
the state.
North Dakota having chiefly a rural
population and having no large cities
or manufacturing centers, should have
a very low death rate. The following
table will show that the six largest
cities have a higher death rate than
those Of the, adjoining states of Min
nesota and Montana:
Average Death Rate in the Six Lara-
est Cities in Minnesota, North Da-
kota and Montana, Year 1910.
Death rate per thousand population
Minnesota, 1885, North Dakota 15.8;
Montana, 14.S.
This shows that if the death rate
was as low in the North Dakota cities
as in those of Minnesota that 1876
lives a year would be saved in the
former. Now anyone at all acquaint-
ed with public health work knows
that Minnesota, with her large cities
and manufacturing establishments,
and Montana with her mining indus
tries would naturally have a higher
death rate than North Dakota.
Fail to Enforce Law.
The only reason known to the writ
er for the high death rate of this
state, is the absolute failure of the
state board of health to appreciate the
Importance of the duties devolving
upon 1t and it's neglect to enforce the
health laws of the state.
North Dakota has had a model vital
statistics law for the past six years
but it has never been enforced. Min
nesota and Montana have had the
same law for the past four years and
have enforced it.
Gtotn officials hove a1aiyoo5
there are no funds to enforce the law
in this state. Even if this was true it
would be no excuse for failing to en-
force the law.
Citizens when hauled into court for
failing to obey the laws, are not ex-
cused on the grounds that they could
not affort to comply with them and
public officials should be held to a
stricter obedience to the laws they
have taken an oath to enforce than
private citizens.
Says Funds Were Expended.
However, it is not the case that
there are no funds to enforce the law.
More money has been spent, during
the past six years. in publishing in
correct and misleading returns Of
births and deaths in the state than
would have served to obtain accurate
returns. The different counties
throughout the state have been re-
quired to pay out thousands of dollars
annually, for fees to local registrars,
under a law that the state officials
declare inoperable. 81:
The vital statistics law (Chap. 27o,
session laws of ! 1907) reuires the
state board Of health to establish a
bureau of vital statistics at the state
capitol. This specific provision has
never been complied with, although
boards created since the vital statis-
tics law was passed have been provid-
ed with offices at the capitol
If the state board of health desires
to comply with the law the statistics
can be collected, reviewed and tabulat-
ed at the state capitol for the money
that is now being spent in collecting
illegal certificates.
The death rate of our principal cit
les which, for the past six years, has
been appallingly high appears to be
increasing and in the bulletin issued
by the state board of health for June,
1913, one city is credited with enough
deaths, in the month Of May to equal
an annual death rate of z1.2 per thou
sand.
There are other measures that could
be adopted by the state board Of
people and lower the death rate but
lone are SO important ais enforcing
the vital statistics law.
You1s respectfully,
It. R. Smyrh,
Commissioners of public health, Bis
nsarck.
WEAK lsSs I