Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-01-22
CITY SURVEY
Mclean Favors Further
Campaign for Non
Partisan Government,
Financial Commission
and Visiting Nurse

and Visiting Nurse
Francis II. Mclean Of New York
City, who was engaged in making a.
social survey Of the city recently, has
made report Of his work 10 the
Chamber of Commerce and the Asso-
ciated Charities. He characteiizes his
report as pathfinder bringing TO
light those social problems which al
rapid observation of the city easily re-
veals ard making recommendations
for their solution
Mr. Mclean favors partisan
city government, and recommends that
the campaign for bipartisan city
government be renewed by a self or
ganizing committee despite the two pre-
vious failures" Mr.. Mclean also rec
ommendS shat q commission be APP
pointed By the mayor for the purpose
Of putting the city on a sounder fl
nancial basis.
MI. Mclean points out that the sew
erage Of the city will in a few years
become problem, as the Hayden
brook sewer may ultimately become a
nuisance for bad .odorS have already
developed at The outlet
In speaking of housing" Mr.. Nc
Lean quotes the building code adopt
ed by the city government in 1912, and
then turns to what he calls. one of
the most astounding housing problems
which | have eyer seen III any Of the
cities Of this country. I nuer this
characterization he speaks Of the
houses OH the river side Of Water
street, some Of which are from four to
six stories in height on the water side.
and Two stories III height on the street
side. The sub-street apartments are
damp from Seepage Cf moisture into
the apartments themselves, and the fire
hazard is great in the serial apart
ments. which. however, are habitab!e.
E MIR. Mclean recommends the pur
chase by the city Of the property on
the eastern side of Water street for
developing park, he urges u rigid fire.
escape system. and the passing Of an
ordinance prohibiting hereafter the
erection of any dwelling on apartment
on any street in the city. entirely be-
low the level of such street. or tnc rem
ovation OF any such house.
Advocates Visiting Nurse
After discussing The tuberculosis
problem. Mr.. Mclean says that he
thinks the time has come for a re-
sumption of the original campaign
against This dread disease, and recon-
mends that n visiting nurse be provid-
ed for the city. lie gives detailed
account of the causes OF deaths in the
city during 1917, which indicates a
death rate of l7.52. which is unusually
,o,, I,,,t IA oGsilpOt a I
high rate He calls attention to the
fact that health departments III ether
cities- are carrying on campaigns with
reference to the prevention OF pueumO-
MIA
The causes of death Of children un-
de- live years of age are given ANA
Mr.. Mclean say that, Ihe need of Il
visiting nurse is st.,l more revealed by
these statistics. There were II deaths,
u Of which were of the bronchial pull
monary kind, While there We're Is still
born children and premature births.
He thinks the Visiting nurse should
give prenatal advice and instruction
in the care Of young children.
Mr.. Mclean says that Tie meat in
spection has been placed on an excel
preparation for the health board in
comparison with appropriations iur
other departments is ridiculously
small. For the Year ending January
81, 1917, it amounted to $500. lie says,
Thus for the ordinary activities OF "a
health department. evolving no pre-
NentiVe features whatever excepting
the very efficient meat inspection. the
city eXpendS l. cents per capita. When
one observes that the city spends $4,000
a year for street lights, 5000 for new
sidewalks and $500 for new sewers,
the absurdity for the proportions be-
come apparent.
In regard to this lie recommends
that the Associated Charities and the
Civic Improvement committees as
sumo the lead in presenting to this
and later city administrations. tle
ridiculous disproportions in present
appropriations 20 the nealth depart
ment, and urge that the part time of
a doctor he secured, who as a health
officer may give his time in attacking
definitely: ca the had housing condi-
tionS in the city. CD i'll conducting a
publicity health campaign from year
to year, (cl i'll attacking other sanitary
evils in the city. Thus there is one
dump nuisance in the west end Of the
city which has remained untouched
during the last year despite numerous
complaints. Az least $1,000 additional
should he asked for salary and pub
lefty purposes. (dD if this requires a
reduction in the police department. 1t
would still be a wise expenditure.