Evening Star Newspaper, October 22, 1898, Page 7

THE EVENING STAR, SATURDAY,” OCTOBER 2%, 1898-26 PAGES. WASH. B. WILLIAMS, Furniture, &c., 7th and D Sts. Inexpensive Luxuries. ouches. ttehes you have alwa: sitting rom. T! makes ef their kin fnily upholstered and terials, ealeulated to lowest this qmalities sin hes—with spring id “ol ¥ colorings, iliams, 7thé& D Fosse rere seesercccscoeseee «here kind :Good gunning, : lucky fishing : is < Tackle. from the kind the sort used te neede eok tai TAPPAN & CO., ;* Seite ieetesdeeleeoaeees “ to For d ability and easy run- ning ies the “COLUM- BIA PEVEL-GEAR CHAIN- LESS BICYCL ed, unapproached. qua is unequal- ‘Aa NE Conn., October CURTIS On 17th of Meriden, broke all existing bicycle rec- ords irom New York to Bos- $ ton on a “COLUMBIA $% BEVEL-GEAR CHAIN- LESS,” lowering best previous oe record by five hours. On October 21st LOUIS R. onl SMITH, a member of the “Arlington Wheelmen” of Washington, D. C., on a “CO- LUMBIA BEVEL-GEAR CHAINLESS” broke the Washington-New York send ¢ unpaced, while the best previous record was paced the entire soehorfonfostonlontentoatentontentonorgonlonteatestentortentententontony Sondontonte aa distance by strong pacing teams. TEDDY EDWARDS, a member of the “Century Wheel- £1 en” of New York, has this % vear ridden 250 consecutive é s on a “COLUMBIA b L-GEAR CHAIN- $ SSS,” and has ridden over $ 00 miles on the same ma- ¥ $ vith the me set of at our store, try ak BICYCLE,” ince yourseli of its = + ¢ All the fixin’s 3 : needed by the { fi ot ball player. ards, fed 4 S é e with fared ford’s 2 stores, and also “477” Pa. Ave. Use (oO and Facial Soap & 7 Facial Cream Acne. Pi Comedone by D. Worms pe: JOHN Hi York Facial Inventor Cream Lovers of | will find at our establishment the largest and most complete exbibit of cboice articles tn Porcelain and Fine China and Crystal to be found anps Glass = b Fifth Avenue and 30th St., Rew Vork, A FACT. Burchell’s Spring Leaf Tea sold at 50c. and a war tax of Ioc. a pound gives selT-s&w2in more satisfaction to the lovers of good tea than many kinds sold for one 1325 F. Washington an Audience. ‘The Btar’s “Wanted Help and Situations" felumns are carefully read by thousands A#aity. Fifteen cents pays for fifteen words. tment has be: |. VITAL STATISTICS Report of District Health Officer for Past Year. COMPARISON WITHPREVICUS RECORDS The Absence of AnnualCensus Pre- vents Accurate Analysis. ai eee GENERAL DEATH RATE Dr. Wm. C. Woodward, the District health officer, today submitted to the Com- sners his annual report, being a state- of the operations of his department during the year ended June 30, 1848. It is explained by Dr. Woodward that the Vital statisties for the period covered by ort are based upon an estimated ilation oY 191478 whites and 88,772 col- . & total of 280,250. This estimate was by determining the ratio of increase en pre censuses and applying tie to the police census of March, While by this method a reasonably accurate basis can be secured for the cal- ath rates, it is manifest, Dr. ays, that it cannot be applied afford any information as to s in the on of the popula- A statement of such changes cannot made until another census Ss been imitation upon the value of 1 by estimation instead of by ation, prevents any very de- ysis of mortality returns with rence to the various factors in the pop- lous culation of @ Woodward to compo: 2 les the decedents 5 42 colored. The death rates efore, as follow For the r thousand inhabitants; for 31; for the total population, eneral Death Rate. 1 death rate for the year, 19: ares Vv year pre .71, and, in fact, with any previous record. Annual statements of vital statisties have been made since . and at no other time during that has the death rate fallen so rest approach occurred in 1894+ was The improvement is among rate for this race indicating, therefore, ng the year of 150 17. vement and. du ‘Fhe diminution in the death the colored race during the same eriod was but LS. As compared with the best prior records, those for 1894+ the y of the whites shows an im- 1.44, while that of the colored decedents by > males and compared with the of the preceding year tively. An examina- » to age gives the fol- whe ding figures 1.785, or 22.96 per cent of the en- tire number. were under five years old: and of these were under one year old, being ) per cent of all decedents 71 p cent of all under five. The average se who have died was nine months and the whites betng five months and and ars, of ix day five years twenty-two days. But, has been indicated before, the value these figures, and the amount of interest attached to them, are very much diminish- ed by the absence of reliable information as to the number of males and females in the community, and as to its distribution by ages. Study as to Locality. “As the absence of a census during the year has prevented a detafled analysis f the mortality with reference to s uiso it has rendered impos of it with reference to locallt study @n appendix to the report appear: of ment the number of deaths reg’ from re in the city, and each 0: important suburbs, and fiom this t those intereste? can | work out mate death rate for any particu ality; but Dr. Wocdward » Inaccuracie: neral ta s of th to Tender its pre t unjustifiable force at ion of deaths s shows that th nstitutional diseases, 4 from local 9.40; from de opmental diseases, 1.41; from violenct eral death ré ing interesting statistics are Entire mortality from zymotic dis- . $82, being than t of the eding year and 355 less than in 1895-046, he death rate w colored 4.91. There were this class among children un- s old. chiefly responsible for this Were diarrhoeal diseases, dipth- . typhoid fever, whooping cough and grip. From diarrhueal diseases there were 319 deaths, g te of 1.14 per 46; from typho-malarial called, five deaths, a death rate of mularial fevers, thirty-eight ath rate of 13; from whooping our deaths, a death rate of 30 and from grip, death rate of 14. There thirty- ne aS compared v last year in the vm diarrhoeai dise: from typhoid fever, of one malarial (7) fever, of thirteen rial fevers, and of seventy but the number of deat theria shows an increase whooping cough, an inerease of nineteen; from scarlet fever, an increase of twelve, and from measles, an increase of seven. A Gratifying Feature. ne Most gratifying feature of the mortal. y returns for this class of diseases, says Dr. Woodword, is the decrease in the num- ber of deaths from typhoid fever, larial fevers and diarrhoeal disea: shown in the following table: ; of from from ght from from diph- twenty; from ma- as Says Dr. Woodward, in this connec! “As is the ¢ s s« In most variations fn mor- it is improbable that this impro due entirely to any single tuse; a statement that is Lorne out by the fact that a diminishing death rate seems to be the rule, at present, in most of our cities, while the sanitary improve- ments which are going on in cach are as ried as are their needs. But, if we jud; om the experience of other places, the most potent factors in the present in. stance are the abolition of a large number ot box privies, the closing of numerous shallow wells, an improved milk supply, and an improvement in the drainage and water supply of numerous dwellings, which has been accomplished by the introduction of sewer er service in connection with the abolition of priytes.” Constitutional Diseases. Speaking of constitutional diseases, the health officer states that in this class, em- tracing diathetic and tubercular diseases, there were registered 1,154 deaths. Among the whites the death rate was 3.04, the number of deaths being 582; among the colored portion of the community it wa3 G44, the deaths numbering 572. Mi conspicuolis among the fatal dia- thetic diseases were those popularly classed as cancers. One hundred and sixty deaths Were attributed to this cause, a ra‘to of the to the population of .57 to the thou- sand. The death rate from tubercular diseases w . that from pnimonary tubercutosis alone being 238 The number of Seathe registered against this entire class was 950, of which 667 were due to phthisls pulmo- nalis. This disease has been, as usual, much more prevalent among the. colored people than among the whites; the deaths registered among the former numbered 358, or 4.03 per thousand, while for the latter but 309 were recorded, a death rate of but 1.61, The mortality for each race, how- ever, shews improvement over” that for 1893-07, when the death rate for the col- ored people was 4.07 and that for the whites was . Pneumonia, death rate, 36; Dror and congestion of the 0.16. Death ‘rate from this entire class of diseases: White, 1.67; colored. 2.1. Dr. Woodward gives data as to deaths from other diseases and from violence, the latter having appeared in the annual re- ort of the coroner, heretofore published in he Star. Number of deaths from sun- stroke fell_from 43 to Deaths by Violence. The relative prevalence of violent deaths among the two races of which the com- munity is chiefly composed is shown in the following table: Whites. Colored. ‘Total. Death Death Death D'ths. rates. D'ths. rates. D'ths. rates. accidental... 8 O44 10° O11 18 0,07 Homicidal (not accidental... 8 0.04 10 0.11 18 0.07 Suicidal, HO. 50 6 0.06 - 0. Number of Births. There were 4,709 births reported during the year; 2,737 among whites and 1,97: among colored. Of the children born, 2,444 were males and 2,265 females. Six hundred and fourteen were recorded as illegitimate, 96 white and 518 colored. Twins were born in 54 cases, 32 white and 22 colored. Of the entire number of reports received 2,558 came from physicians and 2,150 from mid- wives. The returns of births, says Dr. Woodward, are too incomplete to justify any conclusions as to the prevailing birth raie The entire number of still-births reported 03: of these 197 were white and 306 col- legitimate and 19 illegitimate; re- ported by physicians, 374, and by the cor- oner, 129. Of still-births’ reported by the coroner the parentage and place of birth were unknown in 118 cases. This number represents approximately the number of such bodies which were abandoned on the streets during the year. Out of the entire number of still-births _reported—503—the cause was reported as unknown in 830 cases, Referring to the reports to his office of marriages, births and deaths, Dr. Wood- ward says: “Returns of marriages were the number of 1,508, of which 1,028 were from whites and 570 were from colored. In 1,437 instances the marriag»s were for the first time; in 156 for the second time of at least one of the parties, and in five for the third time of either bride or groom. The number of marriages from which no re- turns Were received, as determined by the difference between the number of Hcenses issued by th court and the reports re- ceived at the health department, was 1,- 049, or approximately 40 per cent of the entire number. received to Records and Transcripts. “The records of the health department of births, deaths and marriages were aug- mented during the past year by 13,153 en- tries. They now contain returns from scmewhat more than 121,000 deaths which have occurred in this District, and which have taken place in other jurisdic- tions, record bing made in the latter class because of the interment of the dec here; the record of births includes more than 98,000 entrtes, and that for marriages contains somewhat over 27,000. These rec- ords cannot be replaced if destroyed, and should, therefore, be deposited in fire-proof vaults for safe Keeping. They are of con- stant use and great valu, as is shown by the fact that JSS transcripts from them have been issued during the past year. “Under the act to reguiate the practice of medicine now in force In this District, seventy-one physicians have been regis: tered during the past year. Of this num- ber thirty-six have been licensed by the board of medical supervisors by reason of having been registered at the health office at the time of the passage of the present law, and thirty-five held licenses secured by examination. One surgeon in the United States army and one in the United States navy were registered. he first licenses to practice midwifery in the District of Columbia issued by the board of medical supervisors under the act of June 3, 1803, were granted furing the past y. All of such licenses were based upon registration at the health office on that date. Under the law now in force it will not be possible for any one who had not acjuired the right to practice mid- wifery under the old ordinance to engage in such practice until after having proved her ability to the satisfaction of the board of medical supervisors, and those who can- nnot b xamined. ed by the board of dental Were presented for record. The register of undertakers shows an increase of but three, and the health officer calls attention to the need of gal standard of proficiency for the de- uination of the right of applicants to be classed officially as undertakers, and to ras such. Status of Private Hospitals. Dr. Woodward states that the status of the private hospitals in this District has not been altered during the past year, and s the law governing such institut! ons should be amended, as has been poiated out in previous reports of this department. He also says the location and management of cemeteries in the District of Columbia has been brought under proper legal con- trol by the passage of an act for the regu- lation’ of cemeteries and the disposal of dead bodies in accordance with previous recommendations of this office, the act containing certain provisions in reference to the establishment of crematories fcr human remains, which were urgently needed. The number and location of cemeteries and crematories remains the same as at the close of the last report, and attention is again invited by Dr. Wood- ward to the necessity for the construction of a public crematory to dispose of the bodies of the indigent poor, such as are now buried in potter's field. For Use of Colleges. The number of bodies distributed to the various medical colleges under the pro- sions of the act of February 26, 1805, was fifty-one, an increase of four since last year. The amount of material so furnished, it is stated, has never been sufficient for its purpose, and the decision of the attorney for, the District, December 16, 1897, that derital colleges are “medical” colleges, has increased the lawful demand for such’ ma- terlal without increasing the supply. As it is to the interest of every community to promote the study of scientific medicine, Dr. Woodward believes the law now in force should be amended so as to furnish all material needed for the study of anat- omy if it can be done without injury to the public. Medical Aid to Poor. Dr. Woodward calls attention to the im- provement of the methods in keeping rec- ord of medical relief of the poor adopted January 1, 1898. During the first six months of the present year 4,607 persons received medical relief at the hands of the physicians to the poor. Of this number #46 were white and 3,661 colored. These fig- ures represent actual persons, there being no possibility of duplication unless patients have given different names at different times, a source of error that practically can be disregarded. To express the same data in a different way, during the six months ending June 30, 1898, out of every 1,000 persons residing in this District 16.44 received medical treatment through the physicians to the poor, at the expense of the public; out of every 1,000 whites, 4.04, and out of every 1,000 colored, 41.22. These patients represented 2,998 familles, of which Te) were white and 2,229 colored. ‘The average cost of treating each patient during the past six months has been ap- proximately, for services of physicians to the poor, 61 cents; for medicines and sun- dries, 17 cents; total, 78 cents. The ap- proximate average cost per visit (includ- ing office consultations) during the entire year has been, for service of physician, 34 cents; for medicines and sundries, 10 cents; total, 44 cents. The amount received by each physician to the poor for each visit or office consultation was, therefore, on an average 34 cents. Contagious Diseases. Speaking of contagious diseases, Dr. Woodward states that there was a marked increase in the prevalence of scarlet fever during the past year. The number of cases reported was 437, a morbidity rate of 1.57 per 1,000; among whites, 403, or 2.13 per 1,000; and among colored, 34, or 0.38 per 1,000, The corresponding ratios for 1896- "97 were: For the entire population, 0.57; for whites, 0.74, and for colored, 0.14. The cases which have been reported have gen- erally been mild; but the percentage of deaths has been’ somewhat higher than during the preceding year, although lower than in years previous. ‘Of all reported es, 2.9 per cent died; of the white cases, per cent; and of the colored, 5.9 per cent. Diphtheria, too, has been unusually preva- lent. The entire number of cases reperted was 700, while those reported in 1806-97 amounted to but 620, and during the years immediately preceding they did not reach even that figure. Among the whites 494 cases were reported, and of these 67 dicd, showing a morbidity rate of 2.52 per 1,000, and a percentage of fatal cases amounting among the colaged. there were 206 with 64 deaths, the corresponding ratios being 2.43 per NW, and 31.1 per cent. The morbidity rate ‘for the entire population was 2.52 per 1,000, and, of all cases, ’8.7 per cent died. The increased prevalence of the disease. and the increas- ed percentage of fataT cases has been cn- tirely among the colored people. In connection with the scarlet fever and diphtheria service, Dr. Woodward says that 2.209 cultures were received from the throats of thosc who were suspected of being infected with diphtheria. Of these 1.017 were primary cultures—that is, cul- tures from cases where diagnoses had not been made. Only 436 of such cultures—that is, 43 per cent, showed the presence of diphtheria bacilli; which Indicates. it is be- lieved. that physiclans‘are acquiring more confidence in the bacteriological method ot Glagnosis ard sending cultures from suspi- cious cases more frequently, and which dis- proves the asseriion occasionally mace that the health office “finds diphtheria bacilli! in everything.” Matter of Disinfection. Dr. Woodward, in this connection, says: “The disinfection of such articles as could be moved to the municipal disinfecting sta- tion and disinfected by steam has been done. as heretofore, under the direction of the health department, but the disinfection of the premises themselves has necessarily been intrusted to the householders, because of the absence of any appropriation to en- able the heaith office to do the work. De- cisions of the attorney have from time to time shorn the health department of al- most all the authority which it was form- erly supposed to have under the act to pre- vent the spread of scarlet fever ane diph- theria. ats work. therefore, is now almost entirely educational in character, and not conducive to the best results. Unless amendment to the existing la e secured, or a new Jaw passed, no action can taken looking toward th spread of these disease: The health officer calls attention to the fact that the delay which necessarily took be limitation of the place in constructing buildings for th» treatment of minor contagious diseases, as provided for by the act of March 3, 1897, though {t was at the time a matter of re- gret and disappointment, has pesulted in an increas of the appropriations for such buildings from $30,000 to $65,000. The build- ings are in cours> of construction on the grounds of the Providence and Garfield Hospitals, and there seems to have thus been settled satisfactorily a matter which has been the source of much embarrass- ment to the Commissioners, and a hin- drance to the work of the health depart- nent, - Generous Action Recognized. “The generous action of Providence Hos- pital,” says the health officer, “in consent- ing to the us: of a part of its grounds for one of the buildings provitied for in th> ap- propriation first mentioned, deserves recog- nition. So also does the ‘fact that this in- stitution has voluntarily received and treat- ed during the year four'cases of scarlet er and thirty-five cases of diphtheria, ithout any prospect. of compensation therefor, and for which* substantially no other hospital accommouations 2ould have been secured. In no Ansjance has there been any spread of dissase from any of these cases after they were admitted to the hospital, gemons tanner ripe practical ab- sence of danger from {fStitutions for the treatment of such maladi The only one of the gr@ver types of con- tagious disease which Has existed in th District. during the past year has been smallpox, of which there were ten cass. Need of Detention Building. “The need for a byllding separate from the smallpox hospital,” states Dr. Wood- ard, “in which’ casesswspected of being smallpox van. be held. pending diagnosis, which was so urgently demonstrated during the last outbreak, was presented to Con- gress several ycars ago, but the proposition to erect such a building was so unfavora- bly received that it has not been again sub- mitted. It may possibly be received better at some future time. The recently erected hospital for smallpox has proven of great value; but attention is again invited to tb fact that except when it is occupied by pa tients it is without uny one to care for the extensive sieem heating plant and the stam disinfecting machinery connected h ft. The absence of an engineer will some day be the cause of dangerous delay in re moving @ patient to the hospital, It has a) ready proved expens! my by reason of injury to the water and sewer services and to the heating apparatus by freezing. The recommendation for an appropriation for the services of an engineer, which has been made annually for several years past, is _respectfully renewed.’ During the year five s of alleged hy- aropkobia in dogs were reported. Four of the animals were examined by Dr. D. B. Salmon, in two instances the disease being established, and in the other two the re- ults were negative. Under the order of the Commissioners of August 23, 1503, there have been issued forty-four permits to rope off streets and alleys on account of serious illness. ‘This shows a cousiderable improvement over the record of the preceding year, during which eighty-one permits were issued. “The issu. of such permits has been, as heretofore,” says Dr. Woodward, “based upon certificates from the attending phy- siclans. The issue of such permits shouid either be regulated by Jaw or discontinued altogether.” Analyses of Food. “There were made in the chemical labor- atory during the past ycar 607 analyses, as follows: Of milk and cream, 357; of water. 141; of miscellaneous foods, 42; of drugs, 18; of miscellanecus substances, 49, of which sixteen were submitted by the police department and corcner's office for analysis to assist in the detection of crime. “Of the 350 samples of milk examined, 2s were submitted to the department by citi- zens, 88 were collected about the city, 115 Were collected at the Pennsylvania depot, 117 at the Baltimore and Ohio depot, and 12 at the depot of the Washington and Al- exandria electric railway. The general practice of the health department has been to refuse to analyze samples submitted by private citizens, but instead of doing so to secure the name of the milkman from whom the proffered sample was alleged to have been purchased, and to obtain a sam- ple directly from ‘him without notice, through an agent of the department. This practice has been adopted in justice to the dairymen, for dishonest jservants occasion- ally tamper with milk'/after it has been delivered, and interested parties have been known to submit impure samples for an- alysis when there was reason to susp2ct that they were themselves responsible for Lassitude. Lassitude, “that tired feeling,” is the sign of approaching illness; it may be a Cold, La Grippe or other malady. A few doses of “77” at this early stage may “break up” the dis ease, preventing a long illness. “77” cures Grip, Colds, Influenza, Catarrh, Pains and Soreness in the Head and Chest, Cough and Sore Throat. At druggists or sent prepaid; . 25e, and S0c.; largo pocket flask, $1.00. Dr. Humphreys’ Mantal at druggists or sent free. Humphreys’ Med. Co., cos. William and Jobn ats,, New York. ‘Be to get H-U-M-P-H-R-E-Y-S.- the adulteration, The general composition of the samples collected by the department was good. . Of the 141 samples of water which were examined, 51 were from private wells, 40 were from public wells and 5) were sam- ples of Potomac river water collected and analyzed weekly at the request of the United States’ marine hospital servic: ‘Twenty per cent of the public wells and 47 per cent of the private wells, represented in the above analysis, were condemned. The number of nuisances which were abated-at the instance of health depart- ment during the past year was 14,689. Health Office Hampered. “The health department,” says Dr. Wood- ward, “is seriously hampered in its work in two ways: First, by the absence of any gereral law authorizing the abatement of nuisances on the property of non-resident and the assessment of tMe cost against the property; and, second, by failure to receive proper support from the Police Court. In the absence of any law authorizing the abatement of nuisances as suggested, no- tices requiring their abatement are left, when the owner cannot be found, at the of- fice of the agent, but an agent so notified has a good legal defense if he can show that his authority from his principal does not permit him to act; and if no agent can be found, the health department is in many cases powerless. The embarr: ent arising from the action of the Police Court results from the continuance of ¢: by the court for the purpose of allowing time for the abatement cf the nuisance for the maintenance of which prosecution has been instituted, and in event of such abatement even after the commencement of the trial, and possibly weeks after the expiration of the time allowed by the health officer, the rendering by the court of a judgment of ‘not guil Such procedure not only tends to encourage the maintenance of nuisances, for which the health depart- ment is held responsible, but also results in the presentation to the court of many cases in Which the defendant would prob- ably have abated the nuisance in compli- ance with the notice originally served, w he not morally certain from the expe ence of his neighbors that the court would impose no penalty for his failure to do so. New Laws Needed. “Attention 1s respectfully invited to the need for laws to authorize the condemna- tion of dwellings unfit for habitation by reason of their insanitary condition, and for the prevention of the smoke nuisanc>. The passage of the bills which have b introduced into Congress at the instance the Commissioners to supply these nes sould be urged.” Dr. Woodward stat» twenty-three cases pro: Court for the sale of adulterated food con- victions were secured. H> recommends, both in the interest of the fisheries and of the consumer, that the passage of a law be secured to prevent he sal: of oysters, crabs and lobsters which are smaller t some fixed legal standard, and he renew his previous r2commendations for the es- tablishment of a public abattoir. A considerable amocnt of work has been in posed upon the health department by the op-ration of the milk law, and it is noted that much of it is quite independent of reu- tine inspection. It is stated also that “what has been sa elsewhere in referenc? to the limitation work under the law to: prevent the manu- facture and sale of adulterated foods ap- plies to dairy products as well as to other forms of food. Certain d:fécts in the pres- ent law regulating the cale of milk will have to be supplied before satisfactory re- sults can b ured; the most important of these is the lega! authagization of the control of the temperature ut which the milk is kept and offered for-sale. The im- perfect cooling of milk is probably respon- sible for more sickness and death than an: other one condition relating to this art of food, and yet it is one but little, if at all, und-rstood by the average producer or dealer in milk.” Garbage Collections. There were collect=d during the past year 28,167 tons of garbage. The average amount that in each of the uted in the Police collected daily has been, ther2fore, 63.47 tons; the average amount for ea com- plete collection, 106.27, and the average per 1,000 inhatitants per annum, There hav2 been collected 10,129 dead animals, a duily average of + The total number of complaints of failgre on the part of ti contractor to render proper service nas been S71, a daily average of 1.56. In view of the fact that not more than 40 p2r cent of such complaints have been found upon investigation to be justly chargeable to the contractor's ne the coll jon serv may bt regarded as having b>en reasonably satisfactory, thinks the health officer. Removal of Refuse. The health ofticer indorses the proposal of the superintendent of the street cleaning department that ashes and like refuse be hereafter collected and removed at publ expense, but, he says, the arguments made cn behalf of the preposition apply with a hundred times more force to the removal of the contents of privies, particularly in the case of the poor. Even aside from the sanitary ne the removal of the contents of privies at public expense,” says Dr. Woodward, *sim- ple justice demands it. The government al- ready provides means whereby a portion of the community can without cost dispose of similar refuse, by providing sewer and w: ter facilities for it; and so long as suen s vice is rendered free to some, it, or as nearly {ts equivalent as possible, should be free to all. "The only way in which this can be done is by providing for the removal ¢f the contents of all box privies at public ex- pens d for Site for a Pound. The entire number of animals impounded during the year was 2. of which 2,889 were dogs. The amount collected in fees Was $401.25. The recommendations for the purchase of a site for a pound, and for the construction of a building for that pur- pose and as a general stable for the health department, which have been made in previous reports, are renewed. In 659 cases, warrants were issued at the instance of the heaith department for vio- jations of sanitary laws. In 253 of these the prosecution was abandoned at the re- quest of this office because of the abate- ment of the nuisances; in 371 cases convic- ions were had, and penalties withheld upon abatement of nuisances; 15 defend- ants were fined and 16 declared not guilty. ee AGITATION IN POKTO RICO. Faction Objects to Gen. Brooke’s Or- der Regarding Offices. A dispatch from San Juan de Porto Rico says: Considerable political excitement pre- vails here owing to the fact that the auton- omist government officials elected last March are continued by Maj. Gen. Brooke in their respective offices. Their political opponents suggest public demonstrations against such continuance, Investigation by the American authorities, however, has led to the conclusion that they are all men of excellent standing and that their retention in office will be the best way to preserve tranquillity in the insular ad- ministration until such lime as the United States Congress can take action regarding Porto Rico. It is distinctly understood that this cabinet will act under the control of the American military government. During the continuance of the military adminis- tration, a strong attempt will be made to hold in abeyance insular politics. All gov- ernment institutions, local and general, will be continued, partisan politics being elim- inated. Six hundred Spanish soldiers and officers, including Gen. Ortega, who was second in pmand under Capt. Gen. Macias, are em- barking on the Spanish transport Monte- video, to sail Saturday morning. There will then remain only a few Spanish officers, who have personal business to attend to. The administration of local affairs in San Juan is progressing as before. Dr. Breche- min, who succeeds Dr. Huidekoper, is vig- orously taking hold of matters relating to public health and sanitation. A system of street cleaning will soon be inaugurated. The oath of allegiance to the United States has been taken by five judges of the superior court of Porto Rico, who will later administer the same oath to their subordi- nates. Spanish judges who do not wish to forswear their allegiance to Spain will be returned to the peninsula. The dissatisfaction felt by Porto Ricans at the increase in foreign postage is wide- spread. Formerly the rate was 5 cents, now it is 10 cents in local money. Insular postage has been increased from 3 to 4 cents. The percentage of sick among the Ameri- can troops quartered at San Juan barracks is very small. ————_~+ e+ ____ Cheap Publicity. For fifteen cents you can let every one in Washington know by a Star went ad. that you want @ situation or want.a cook. sSerberaonts erconientettedty ALLL AMAL OEE g Hecht’s greater store's greater selling. | These Saturday night bargai that we have decided to continu o'clock until 10, we have made spe ments of other stores. its to get you here tonight to d great. From 6 to 10 tonight rou may take this Jot of one hundred dozen all-iinen fringed damask towels, of very good qnality, which aze worth more than donble, at this remarkably low price, each, 434c. for only... From 6 to 19 ton fine quality Turkish sizes—and the re: —for only t vow may take these towels good, I .eral ann 8i4c. From 6 to 10 tonight yon may ts these pretty linen scarfs, with fancy rol- ored centers—which a sold regniarly at 25c.—for only... 1734c. LP OL LMC OLA EA OEE LLM LMM! Four hours of bargain selling tonight. n sales have proven so successful ie them. Again tonight, from 6 ial values that will stand out in brilliant contrast when compared avith the commonplace announce- Prices there’s little left above bare cost—but we're willing to forego prof- have been marked down until lo the shopping. It won't pay you to wait until next week—the saving possibilities are too Fine extracts, which sell regnlarly at Boe. oz., tn all the wanted odors, Includ- Ing bottle will go, per on. BEC. at m can have the which # BOG, heary-weleht Ran- shirts finished with silk kK and binge 1 tenet tame and never sold Indies for $1 fine Kid glo 25 regularl; Men's good 4) dom underwear, tape around aplendidty 1 at ves Men's well made heavy = esdeteatetentetoatectntocinteronteeedtodteiottetbdtelottesatesatedntedtiadntesteatedtiesitetediet lotrel atid eset esateheteeh telyheplhes 1 derwear, nteely finished 1 From 6 to 10 tonight you may take all will wear <ple linen colored bordered Inneh napkins that Oe. garments—wil go for, 29¢. give the greatest service— for 34 Ladies’ perfe fittin 4 bet! Men. at " 334c. sientebivtir color hase een ore aie From 6 to 10 tonight sou may take 10- ans. special velee up to ctotarey quarter German luen table covers, such anit < aS mally retafl in all stores at re . pea e ie ee '73¢. A big lot of new fll hats for men—in & ¥ all the latest Apes and shades in hoeth < e a derbies and all Which are Just as “eg 6 to 10 tonight you may p “as yon ean get at $1 or & |_ fine Turkey red table tinen, F $2 at the hat storex—will be on & yards wide—of sple sg sale this evening until closing DS $ ftrnese opis yer sant at Y49GC. | Te oe. ie oie = Seeders Seaton sf Seog Septet Hecht & Company, 513-515 Seventh Street. ee es a Cash only and the narrowest margin of profit. See testeteteeeeieteteeetetetetttetetetees enormou sSessotseete By how much below all others our Prices are. We can save you fully = 40 per cent on all kinds of furniture and carpets, and no one can % offer you a better chosen stock than we do. eeeione Us oneaseetentetseagotcetie one Large, Well-made Solid Oak Chamber Suite, ‘with bis bevel” plate glass. mirror in dre $11.85 Twoof Jackson Bros.’ Just try for once to match our yalues and then you w that is newest and prettiest in the furniture line. retenionte epostenioesestonts S values. ll see Four stores full of all So tconioetortontetponseet ote ae eet $ $ : : - An Extra Large Chiffonier, made of solld oak, highly fin ished. Brass escuteh Lock one ° drawer om 4 ‘A pretty and well- finishd svite We want to call your attention to our ne with a very pleasin lepartm i made, lined and laid on w pat lender 4 your too exrpet depal for os JACKSON BROS. 915 = 917 = 919 = 921 Seventh Street. Se eteete detente ete eden eteede ee eens dedetndaedendetteetetnteetece: 4 Great < Cash Furniture Houses. DAVIS TRIAL BOARD DISSOLVED. May Take Some Time to Repair Dis- abled Torpedo Boat. News of the fatal termination of Thurs- day’s trial trip of the torpedo boat Davis came to the Navy Department yesterday in the shape of the following telegram to Secretary Long from the president of the trial board: “CLIFTON, Ore., October 20. “Secretary of Navy, Washington: “Torpedo boat Davis blew up forward boiler, scalding seven firemen badly. Time of repairs indefinite. Request authority for board to adjourn and return to regular stations. (Signed) DRAKE. Secretary Long immediately returned the following answer ‘Lieutenant Commander Franklin J. Drake, Wolff & Zwicker Jron Works, Portland, Ore.: “Report disaster to Davis received. partment deeply deplores death of board. Trial board is hereby di Report particulars by mail. : *“Signed) LONC The following telegram was also add: ed to the contractors who built the boat: “Wolff & Zwicker Iron Works, Portland, Ore.: “The department regrets exceedingly the accident to the Davis and loss sustained by you. (Signed) LONG.” ‘The Davis at the time of the accident was not the property of the United States gov- ernment, but wes in the hands of the con- tractors, whcre crew Was on the boat. No one representing the government, beyond the members of the trial board, was on the boat, and the firemen whose lives were lost were not in the navy. The Davis was fitted with water- boilers of the English Thorn involving the use of curved tubes connect- ing upper and lower water and steam drams. From the meager details which have reached here the engineers believe that one or more of these tubes, under the influence of the tremendous pressure to which the boat was keyed up for her trial trip, pulled away from one of the drums. The leak so caused would be sufficient to fill the small fire room with scalding steam in a few seconds. Possibly a contributing cause to the accident was the jack of water, resulting in the overheating and weakening of the top of the tubes. Just such an accident, thovgh, fortunate- ly, without so fatal a termination, was sus- tained by the torpedo boat Mackenzie dur- ing her trial trip on the Delaware some months ago. Using « boiler of generally similar design, the great French battle ship Jauregulberry sustained a frightful acci- dent on June 9, 1896. One of the tubes, about four inches in diameter, of the D'Al- lest boilers, split, throwing several other tubes out of place and fatally scalding a score of men. The accident to the Davi is greatly regretted at the Navy Depart- ment, for the Inspectors had reported that the boat was wel! built and likely to fill all requirements. ee THE FERN TRANSFERRED. De- en on ved. Naval Reserve Battalion Takes Pos- session of the Vessel. The United States ship Fern was today turned over to the Naval Reserve Battalion of the District of Columbia. By order of TO CURE A COLD IN ONE DAY Take Laxative Bromo Quinine Tablets. drug- fafund the money it if fellate, cure, “SS. genuine bas L. B.°Q. on each tablet. QUICK ACTION, Clean printing, simplicity, Permanent and accurate align and durability features of Equal to any $100 machine on the market. Bent to any responsite party on receipt of price (}, Satistection guaranteed 01 terbnes DOU. after 10 days" trial |" OF ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE SENT FREE ON APPLICATION, THE WILLIAMS MFG. ©O., LTD., BOX 3. PLATTSEURG WASHINGTON OFFICE, 726 ig°H ST. no30-tu, th&s-17-26 COME IN AND ASK FOR THE Latest Prices on Eclipse Bicycle. Fourteenth and H Streets. oc8-lott Commander Hains, Lieutenant Command- er Wm. A. Megrath has ordered Lieuts. Jo- seph Van Fleet and S. J. Hopkins to de- tail three men in each watch from their divisions to stand for night watch on board the Fern until further orde Commander Hains today signed invoices and receipts for all government property aboard the Fern, and the vessel was at 3 o'clock this afternoon formally transferred to the Dis- trict of Columbia, the change of flags tak- ing place and without any putting of the boat out of commission. ‘The ceremony of transfer today keeps the fern, which occupied such a conspicuous part during the war with Spain, in contin- uous service, and that was what Com- mander Hains desired. The arrangements were effected after a consultation with the naval authorities. Tomorrow morning at 11:30 o'clock there will be a general muster of the District naval militia on the Fern, and after the calling of the crew to quarters the orders of the Secretary of the Navy authorizing Commander Hains to take command of the Fern, will be read, Then the articles of war will be read and the bugle will be sounded, notifying the quartermaster to get the colors ready for hoisting. The naval battalion band of thirteen pieces will play patriotic airs, and the stars and stripes will be run up to their proper place. Both the divisions of the naval reserv will be uniformed tomorrow, and an im- pressive scene on board the Fern is antici- pated. In the near future various 4rilis will be practiced on board the Fern, and it is expected that a high degree of efficiency will shortly be reached. —_—_.—__ Wants Quickly Filled. At this season, when so many are seek- ing situations, and, on the other hand, so many seeking employes, it is of interest to know that advertisements under the classifications Wanted Help and Wanted Sitvations are inserted in The Star at a charge of 15 cents for fifteen words. epee An American troit capital, has land at Manzanillo, Cuba, eral good iron mines.