The daily times., 1921-08-03
GRADUAL REDUCTION
0F PELLAGRA CASES
IN NORTH CAROLINA
DURING PAST FOUR YEARS
Report of Health Department..
Rankin to Washington to At
tend PeHagra Conference.
Railroads Complain of Tax
Assessments. Increase in
Gas Rates Refused.
DURING PAST FOUR YEARS
(By Max Abernethy).

Raleigh, Aug. 3.-Pellagra stats
tics available at the State Board of
Health today indicates a gradual re-
duction of cases in North Carolina
during the last four years, the 1920
figures falling under those of 1917
by 3OS deaths.
The State boards chart is OF
deaths caused by pellagra since 1917
but does not show the total number
of cases. While there may be inaccur-
acies it is the belief of the health
authorities that errors in the reports
one year will offset those made in
another-that the average will be
pretty nearly correct. Today's fig
ures are interesting; it can be seen
whether the report of the U. S. Pub
lie Healt Services report of semi
famine and pellagra epidemic in
North Carolina is justified.
In 1917 in North Carolina there
were COS deaths from the disease;
634 deaths in 1913 and 3S1 deaths in
1919. Last year the deaths were on
ly 297.
Dr. W. S. Rankin, State health
officer, leaves here tomorrow for
Washington where he has been in
vited to attend a conference called by
the public health service Thursday to
consider the pellagra situation. State
health officers from thirteen South
ern States have been invited to the
conference. DR.. Rankin has the fig
ures compiled by his department in
dicating the lack OF an epidemic here
and he is supported in this contention
by Red Cross representatives of the
Southern division.
Commissioner of Revenue A. D.
Watts has fixed August Is as the
date for hearing the formal appeal
of the North Carolina railroads from
the property assessments recently
made
The property of the four big roads
operating in the State has been as
sessed by the commissioner, although
the figures have not yet been made
public, the hearing on the 18th be-
ing for the purpose of allowing the
officials to file formal appeals. All of
the railroads operating in North
Carolina will appeal from the valua-
tions fixed by Commissioner Watts.
Gas companies dissatisfied with the
State Corporation Commissions re
cent order fixing rates in North Caro-
lima will not have their new petitions
heard any time soon.
Members of the commission are un
derstood to have taken the position
that a rehearing at this time is moi
worth while since the whole matter
was gone into thoroughly this year
To reopen the matter now would be
a waste of effort and time. 1t is like
ly the companies will be permitted
to submit their evidence later in the
year.
The commissions representation
that their order reduced the charge.
for gas in misleading. Here are tn,
facts: The gas companies were las
year granted temporary increase il
wei
above two dollars per thousand Gu
bic feet. This was on the plea of tn,
companies that they could not exist
An investigation was made, tn,
case reopened and the Commission re
fduced the temporary rate to aroun,
$19O.
This reduction, however, was il
actuality an increase since prior t
the war the rate in most cities wa
under $1.65. The commissions lat
est order-reducing the gas folk
say; increasing the consumers say
fixed the charge at around $1.95 in
majority of the cities.
Malignant malaria in North Caro-
lima is now an oddity.
The State health authorities ar