New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-05-16

through a proper medical inspection,
many trivial defects would have been
corrected and not permitted to develop
into serious Weaknesses. This neg
lcct on the part Of the government
eventually led to their rejection when
their services wcTc needed by the ma !
ton.
The need of an isolation hospital
is made evident daily. During the past
year ninety-nine (99) cases of diph-
liberia and cighty-two (82) cases OF ,
scarlet fever were reported to the (
board of health. Other communica- :
bio diseases were reported, but not IN |
such numbers. The control or elm ;
inaton of communicable diseases is =
almost impossible by your board Of :
health under the present system of !
home quarantine. Diseases Of a COM |
munica bic nature should be isolated
and under the constant care of
trained nurses; therefore, an isolation /
hospital is a pressing need, and action
should be taken upon this matter At
once.
Tho prevention Of tuberculosis and
the care Of persons affected with tiis
dread disease is receiving the earnest
attention of your health department.,
\ tuberculosis clinic has been esta b.
lished and it will he necessary for the
Precipitation TO carry on tho work If
they are to have any lncaGuTC Of sac
cess,
The municipal s1auahte, house. an
institution which was scotfed at by
many, has proven its value and neces-
Sity and it is now necessary to in
crease the size Of the building in or
der to take care of the increased num-
Der Of animals slaughtered. An APP
preparation will no doubt be requested
by the board of health during the year
! for this purpose.
"There is no question TODAY among
| those who have been Interested in the
milk station that this branch Of pub
! lie health service should he under the
board of health and not in charge OF
| public-sprited men and women who
! have carried on a governmental work
, because the government was dcrchct
| in its duty.
"Thcse are matters vital to the
health of this and every other COM
munity and should receive your at
| tention.
! Food Production.
"A matter that should continuously
| engage your attention is tho matter of
| food production. We have. as a gov
| eminent, been instrumental through
| appropriations and by example during
| the past year in timulating the pro
| duction OF foodstuffs in our city and
| it's imm ediate vicinity. but our work
| is not finished. We must continue to
| stimulate this interest--the co-opera-
ton of every official and every q.
| zen is needed in this work.
| The municipal farm committee Was
| subjected to criticism--the administra-
| ton food production program became
J 81 fn11 froIo "a
! mercenary saw but the monetary loss
! and not the object achieved-the in
| creased production of foodstuffs.
in order to stimulate interest, [
| would recommend that your honorable
| body make an appropriation not to
! exceed five hundred dollars to be ap
| piled in awarding prizes to those who
excel in home gardens and farm pro-
duction That a portion of this fund
! be applied to paying the expenses Of
| a New Britain food exhibit at the
state fair at Berlin and prizes be
! awarded to the people of New Britain
exhibiting foodstuffs of merit.
! THE manner or method of prize
! distribution to be in the hands of a
| competent committee.
| Il urge this matter of food produc-
! ton upon your attention that We may
| do our part as a government in rally
ins to the support of our nation and
, our Allies in determining the issues
| of this war in which we are so vital
ly interested.
Waiting and Comfort Stations.
THE need of a waiting station at
the south end of Central park and
public comfort station are two mat
tcrs that should engage your attention
during the year.
"Thesc matters have been agitated
at various times, sites investigated,
plans prepared, but, due to a feeling
that the money necessary to carry
out this work was needed for other
more necessary public improvements
action was delayed. The time has
however, arrived when these matters
are become of such importance that
further delay is not in the best inter-
est Of the city, and I hope that during
the year tho necessary funds will be-
come available to provide these two
public necessities.
Rent Problem a Big Ono.
"a rent problem of u serious nature
now confronts the city and I believe
steps should be Immediately taken to
investigate conditions and sec what
can be done to relieve the situation.
Increased cost of labor and ma
torials, and difficulty Of financing
, building operations has reached the
! stage where the building Of tenement
| houses has become prohibitiVc. there
| by causing a serious shortage OF rents
and retar1ing the growth of the city
< "VhiS situation is being taken adj
vantage of by some tenement house
owners to advance the price of rents
l beyond all reason, thus creating un.
l,,. hi he