Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-11-08

growth of any city than for its san
itary condition to be known as inn
paired. The public does not fail 10
discriminate, and it is far better for a
community to begin preparations be-
fore evil conditions and evil reports
come about. Very often citizens are
in fancied security because the public
officials have not Investigated or re-
vealed conditions, for lack of special.
organization with sufficient funds
and scope,
Many industrial organizations, APP
preciatng the necessity of healthful
surroundings for employees and con-
sequent efficiency and production,
maintain thorough health depart
ments at corporation expense much
greater than Albuquerque now pro-
poses,
Now why the proposition for a
combination between the city and
county, instead of two bodies func-
tioning separately or attempting to
| cooperate?
/ Under present conditions Albuqucr-
que is exposed to disease epidemics
or insanitary conditions existing in
the county, and vice versa. The pres
ent move for extending the city
boundaries is based upon a desire to
obtain more sanitary conditions in
Barelas, Martineztown and other su-
burbs now outside the citys jurisdic-
ton, vet constantly mehacing the
health of the urban population.
As long as there are separate COM
munities of this size under different
administrations, there will never be
the proper correlation of health ac-
tivities which is necessary to the elm
ination of preventabe disease in the
city and county as a whole.
Disease does not recognize geo.
| graphical limits. Smallpox in Old
Town does not cease to be contagious
when it reaches the limits of Albu-
querque. An insanitary dairy without
the limits of Albuquerque may easily
spread disease among the children in
the urban districts who consume the
milk,
Any efforts directed toward improv-
ing sanitation in Albuquerque with
out a corresponding effort in territory
adjacent will in a large part be multi
fled
The practical splitting in half of the
overhead costs of health administra-
ton is municipal economy and good
business.
Here is the outline proposed by the
state health board for an organization
for Albuquerque and Bernalillo coun.
ty, which should be at once consid.
cred by the official bodies that mus
provide ways and means.
A trained health officer to give hi.
entire time to the service; one part
time physician to serve both city and
county; one public health nurse; one
sanitary inspector; one clerk for keep.
| ing records, correspondence, etc, will
the state health department. provid,
ing one person constantly in the office
in order to maintain health office
throughout every day.
The estimated cost of such provi
sion for the public needs, and atten
ton to conditions, which, to a larg,
extent are undiscovered. if there b.
not constant watchfulness, unity o
action and responsibility is estimated
at about $4,000 annually. which Of
course would not all be added ex.
pense, as there is outlay now sepa.
rately by both city and county II
health matters. The cost per capita
based upon a population of 10000
affected by such protection would be
but 25 cents per annum, which is bu
half of what the average communit,
is considered as requiring for healtl
work. Many cities are disbursini
from rs cents to $1,OO per capita TO
such service.
The health department so organ
lied would have the support ant
active assistance of the state boar,
of health, and would cause the me
tropolis of the state to be recognize,
everywhere as a careful and health
| fuI rity