MYFBS, MAY(R - the Digital Library of Georgia

178 MAYOR'S ANNUAL REPORT.for whites, in order that so tar as the city governmentwas concerned these institutions should render equalservice. The following table will show the numberof days furnished city patients at the four hospitals :St. Joseph's Infirmary.................................5,561 days.Savannah Hospital................................ ......4,723 days.Park View Sanitarium................................3,054 days.Georgia Infirmary......... ...............................9,304c days.The Park View Sanitarium received its first supportfrom the city in February, and this accounts forthe low number of days of city patients. That institutionnow cares for its share of legitimate patients,and has given the city no cause for complaint.The drainage of the lowlands around the city isin better condition than I have ever seen it. One ofthe improvements of the year was the opening of thetwo lateral ditches which feed the Minis canal, drainingthe land of Ryals and others situated southwestof Laurel Grove Cemetery. These ditches werecleaned out after years of neglect, and must have asalutory effect on the health of the southwest sectionof the city. Further than this, the county authoritieswill push the drainage of the lowlands andswamps west of the city. This will be of great sanitaryvalue to the entire city, and we can look for astill further diminution in malarial fevers.The Springfield canal, which takes the bulk of thewaters from the lowlands southwest of the city and,empties them into the Savannah river, has beenobstructed by scores of pilings placed in it bythe Union Depot Company to support its tracks,which cross the canal just west of Laurel GroveCemetery. These obstructions were shown by