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side might be heard briefly. He said he wanted all his constituents to be represented and heard; and at his request the Engineer Department of the Army was asked to send for the engineer officers in charge of the works, and the mayor of Charleston was to be notified to appear, if he chose to, and be heard. Those gentlemen are now present, and the hearing will begin.

I want to say again that this committee can not go into this question as the commission did. It can not spend the rest of its time on this matter, because it has other things to attend to. The Port Royal side has been very fully beard, and has made an impression, I can say to you, gentlemen, upon the committee, and a very strong impression. We have sent for you now to present the Charleston side of the case. I shall ask the mayor of Charleston to make a statement and then select afterwards, from the engineer officers who have been summoned at our instance, those whom he desires to make statements. We have a reporter present who will take down everything that is said.

I will say to you, gentlemen, that the two points upon which stress is laid and which it is your business to remove, if you can, from the minds of the committee are the unhealthfulness, the malarious condition of the site indicated by the commission, and the insufficiency of the water in the channel by which ships are to come into the harbor.

Senator CHANDLER. Mr. Chairman, since the gentlemen were notified to be here the Senate has decided to meet at 11 o'clock. I suggest that we give them the twenty-five minutes that remain before the meeting of the Senate and then take a recess until the District appropriation bill is resumed in the Senate, which may be half an hour or

more.

The CHAIRMAN. Perhaps that would be well.

Mr. HERBERT. When witnesses are introduced, Mr. Chairman, shall we not have an opportunity of asking them a few questions? The CHAIRMAN. Yes; undoubtedly.

Mr. HERBERT. And then if they are heard we think it would only be fair that we should have fifteen minutes to make our statements in reply.

The CHAIRMAN. There will be no difficulty about that, of course, but we can not have prolonged hearings.

Mr. SMYTH. We labor under this disadvantage, which I am sure the committee will appreciate: We have not heard anything that has been said upon the other side of the question. We are here without any knowledge except what the chairman has kindly conveyed to us, except what we saw in the newpapers. If these gentlemen have the right to question us and reply, it seems to me, in justice to Charleston, we ought also to have a chance to reply to them.

Mr. HERBERT. Here is our brief. We will give you a copy of it. Mr. SMYTH. It is too late now, sir. I could not go through it now. The CHAIRMAN. It is not so much the question of answering the other side. You have the positive side to make out.

Senator CHANDLER. You assume the affirmative, Mr. Mayor, and show us, if you can, by your own statements or the statements of others whom you have here, first, that this site which has been selected for a navy-yard at Charleston is healthy; and, secondly, that there can be obtained at a reasonable cost a proper depth of water over the Charleston bar. Take the affirmative of that question for a little while. Mr. SMYTH. Are you ready to hear me now?

The CHAIRMAN. Yes.

SD-11-54

STATEMENT OF HON. J. ADGER SMYTH, MAYOR OF CHARLESTON, S. C.

Mr. SMYTH. In regard to the suggestion of the gentleman as to the matter of the depth of water, we thought it would be more satisfactory and convincing to you to have the engineers representing the United States Government, those who commenced the system in Charleston and those who are now in charge of the work, to give you the facts on that point. Of course, we are familiar with them, but we thought it would expedite matters if you would allow them to speak on that point.

The CHAIRMAN. We have sent for those officers, and we expect and desire to hear them. You need not spend any time on that point.

Mr. SMYTH. You want us to address ourselves, as I understand, principally to the healthfulness of the city?

Senator PERKINS. And the facilities for fresh water.

Mr. SMYTH. That was not stated by the chairman.

The CHAIRMAN. That is an incidental question.

Mr. SMYTH. We can also answer that question, but as I understand I am to speak first on the question of the healthfulness, as I saw by the papers, of the city as well as of the site, and if you will allow me I would like to say just a few words on that first question.

The CHAIRMAN. You may take your own course, Mr. Mayor, about that.

Mr. SMYTH. As to the healthfulness of the city of Charleston, I stand before you as a man who was born and raised there. I have lived there sixty years and have never had a fever of any kind or description, in any shape or form. My mother was born and raised in Charleston, and she never had a fever of any kind.

The CHAIRMAN. You do not look like the victim of a fever. Mr. SMYTH. I think not. I have some other representatives here, sir, that I would like to introduce as Exhibits A, B, and C. My grandfather died at the age of 85 in the city of Charleston, having lived in various parts of the city, and he never had a fever of any kind or description. Alderman Rhett is also a Charleston born and raised man, and he does not look, I think, like one who is subject to fever.

I have here before me a letter from our health officer in regard to the death rate of Charleston, which I know is used against us, showing that the death rate of the white population is a very small one. What makes the death rate appear large is the fact that we have more colored people in Charleston than we have white people, and in all the cities of the United States the death rate among the colored population is about double that among the white population. I do not desire to read his letter in full, I will leave it with you.

The CHAIRMAN. That letter may be filed. Give it to the stenographer and let him make a copy of it.

Mr. SMYTH. I want to refer to it a moment if the committee please. I understand we have been attacked on account of the fact that there was some typhoid fever in Charleston during the year 1900. In common with every other city-for instance, your good city here, leading, perhaps, the rest of them in the number of cases of typhoid fever they have, and Baltimore, Philadelphia, Pittsburg, and almost every one of the coast cities-there was typhoid fever in Charleston last year; but here is the statement of the health officer of the city that the deaths in

the city of Charleston in the year 1900 were forty-five less among the whites and thirty-two less among the blacks than in the year 1899, the year previous; and notwithstanding that we did have some typhoid fever, it was very mild. The total number of deaths in the city of Charleston in the year 1900 was seventy-seven less than in the year previous, which he considers shows an improvement in the conditions of the health of the city; and he states also his opinion-I have some physicians of Charleston here who will be glad to state that absolutelythat the conditions at Chicora Park and around there are perfectly healthy. That letter I would like to have filed with the committee. The letter referred to is as follows:

CHARLESTON, S. C., February 1, 1901.

DEAR SIR: I have the honor to state, in answer to your request as to the health of Charleston, that the ratio of mortality of the city of Charleston in regard to the white race compares most favorably with other cities of the United States.

The ratio per thousand for the white race for the past ten years has been 18.06. This indicates good health.

The ratio for the black and colored race for the past ten years has been 36.27. This will show a ratio double among the colored race as compared to the white race. This condition will be found to be the case in almost every city in the United States. The ratio among the colored race is double that of the white race. ton has a larger colored population than white. Therefore when the death rate is Charlescalculated for the two races together the ratio of the white race is made to appear very large. Charleston is a very healthy city, and has been known to be such as far as the white race is concerned for many years. Anyone using the ordinary precautions obtaining among an intelligent population is reasonably secure of good health. The prevalence of typhoid fever in Charleston during a few summer months of the year 1900 was due to a protracted droughth, and a large number of cities all over the United States were similarly affected in the same manner from the same cause. There were 42 fewer deaths in 1900 among the white race than occurred in 1899.

There were 35 fewer deaths in 1900 among the colored race than occurred in 1899; 77 fewer deaths in 1900 than in 1899, both races being considered.

The above record would indicate that the health of the city of Charleston is improving in a marked degree.

In reference to my opinion as to the health of the proposed site of the naval station, I beg to say that I believe with thorough drainage the place would be entirely healthy. At present I am informed that there are white care-takers, with their families, living on the two places, and these families have enjoyed good health.

Very respectfully,

Hon. J. ADGER SMYTH, Mayor.

H. B. HORLBECK, M. D.,
Health Officer and Secretary of the Board of Health.

Mr. SMYTH. Now as to the healthfulness of the location selected by the Government. I do not want to take up too much of your time with regard to affidavits, but I have before me here about twenty affidavits from persons living in and around Chicora Park and the Lawton place, one of which I will read:

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, County of Charleston:

Personally appeared before me Ira Weld, and made oath that he resides near Chicora Park, in the county of Charleston, and has been living there with his family for years. That he lives there night and day, during the summer as well as the winter months, and that he and his family enjoy good health and notice no ill effects from residence in that locality. That the locality is considered healthy by the residents of the neighborhood, and that he himself unhesitatingly considers it absolutely healthy.

Sworn to before me this 2d of February, 1901.
[SEAL.]

The CHAIRMAN. Is that a white man?
Mr. SMYTH. Yes, sir; he is a white man.

IRA WELD.

LOUIS MANIGAULT, Magistrate.

All the affidavits are the

affidavits of white men. There are about
parties living in the immediate vicinity.
from persons who live in Chicora Park.
J. M. Smith. It is a good name, sir. I
that myself.

The CHAIRMAN. Will you read that?
Mr. SMYTH. Yes, sir.

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, County of Charleston:

twenty of those here from I have here three affidavits One of them is signed by have the honor of bearing

Personally appeared before me J. M. Smith, and made oath that he resides at Chicora Park in, the county of Charleston, and has been living at said place for some time; that he lives there night and day, and during the summer as well as the winter months; that the said location is in every way healthy; that the city of Charleston has drained said park thoroughly and converted the same into a pleasure resort, where its inhabitants congregate daily during the summer, as well as winter, and remain until midnight and sometimes much later. The vaudeville performances are held at said park during the summer evenings and hundreds of people attend the same; that open-air dances, which last until after midnight, are given at said park, and that the place is regarded as healthy by the entire community; that deponent has never known a day's sickness since residing at said place, and unhesitatingly pronounces the same as absolutely healthy.

Sworn to before me this 2d day of February, 1901. [SEAL.]

J. M. SMITH.

M. RUTLEDGE RIVERS, Notary Public, South Carolina.

Mr. SMYTH. I know this man personally. He has charge of Chicora Park, or of the consolidated railway station, which is just within the limits of Chicora Park, and I could swear myself to the faet that he is there day and night.

The CHAIRMAN. He is a permanent resident?

Mr. SMYTH. Yes, sir.

Mr. HERBERT. How long has he been living there, Mr. Mayor? Mr. SMYTH. He has been there at least two years; probably nearer three. Before I read these others

The CHAIRMAN. You need not read those. Just leave them with the committee.

Mr. SMYTH. I only want to read the affidavits of those who actually live in Chicora Park; and then I have present here a gentleman who resides on Mr. Lawton's farm with his family day and night. I desire to present him to you as a living evidence of the healthfulness of that place, and also that you may hear his testimony as to the condition of things there.

Senator CHANDLER. Will it be convenient for you to inform me right here as to the height above the sea level of this park as compared with the height of the promontory of the city of Charleston itself? Is Charleston higher than the park?

Mr. SMYTH. No, sir; the park is higher than Charleston; considerably higher. I have a topographic map of the park, which shows that its level is at some places as high as 30 feet.

Senator CHANDLER. I got an impression that as you go up from Charleston the ground falls off-becomes lower.

Mr. SMYTH. No, sir; it is a remarkable place. It is rolling ground, and we have some very high spots in it. The pines grow within a very short distance of the river.

in

any sense?

Senator CHANDLER. It is not a swamp
Mr. SMYTH. It is not a swamp in any sense of the word.
Senator CHANDLER. As a whole, it is higher than the city?

Mr. SMYTH. It is higher than the city, as a whole. Yes, sir; considerably higher.

In regard to this matter referred to in the last affidavit I read, during last summer and the summer before and the summer previous to that, I have been out with my family attending these vaudeville performances, which are given in a building that has a roof, but is open on all sides, and I have remained there sometimes as late as 12 or 1 o'clock at night.

The CHAIRMAN. How do you get there; by rail?

Mr. SMYTH. We have an electric road that runs right into the building. These buildings belong to the Consolidated Railway Company, who give these vaudeville performances. It is a summer resort, you understand, and the city of Charleston has spent $40,000 in the improvement of Chicora Park, in draining it, in walks, and in the developing of all the points of interest there; and I can only say to you, gentlemen, that if we considered it unhealthy, not only would we not allow those gatherings there in the summer evenings, and not allow dancing until after 12 o'clock, until which time, as I say, I have been there myself, but I certainly would not take my daughters to a place of that kind if I thought there was the least danger of malaria.

My good friend the ex-Secretary of the Navy, Mr. Herbert, whom I have had the honor of having dine at my house, has seen my two daughters, and if I could present them here to-day as an evidence of the condition of those who frequent Chicora Park and of those who live in the city of Charleston I am satisfied they would be convincing proof of the healthfulness of that locality.

Senator CHANDLER. I wish you had brought them along, Mr. Mayor. Mr. SMYTH. I wish I had, sir. One of my daughters can talk a great deal better than I can. She is 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs 160 pounds, and is as healthy a woman, and I appeal to ex-Secretary Herbert for confirmation of that fact, as you are likely to find.

The CHAIRMAN. He agrees with you, Mr. Mayor. We will take your word for it.

Mr. SMYTH. I want to read two other affidavits, and then I will not go any further in this matter.

Here is an affidavit from a man who lives over in the park itself. You understand, gentlemen, one side of the park, all of which is embraced in the reservation that the Government wishes from the city, the side nearer to the city, is occupied by the buildings of the Consolidated Company. The affidavit I read you first was from a man who lives there. About half a mile, or perhaps three-quarters of a mile, from there we have our buildings. We have a very handsome house there which we fixed up, and where the ladies and gentlemen go on picnics and things of that sort, and all kinds of buildings, which, as I told you, were erected at a cost to the city, including drainage, of over $40,000.

The CHAIRMAN. A kind of clubhouse?

Mr. SMYTH. A clubhouse; yes. The man whose affidavit I am going to read is in charge of that clubhouse.

The CHAIRMAN. How long has he been there?

Mr. SMYTH. Three years. When we took the park there were quite a number of fresh-water ponds there. The city has gone to a great deal of expense in filling up those ponds that we could not connect with the salt water. There is not to-day a drop of fresh water on that

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