TRENTON, N. J., October 31st, 1906.

To His Excellency Edward C. Stokes, Governor of New Jersey:

SIR-In compliance with the provisions of section 3 of chapter 68 of the laws of 1887, I have the honor to transmit herewith the thirtieth annual report of the Board of Health of the State of New Jersey, and the report of the Bureau of Vital Statistics.

Very respectfully,

HENRY MITCHELL,

Secretary.

(1)

General Report.

To His Excellency Edward C. Stokes, Governor of New Jersey:

SIR-The State census of 1905 shows that the estimated increase in population in New Jersey during the past five years has been substantially correct, and that the published rates of mortality, based upon the estimated number of inhabitants, have therefore varied but little from the true figures. In the quinquennial tables which are herewith presented the figures are computed on the census statements of population, and it will be observed that they compare favorably with the results reached by the use of the estimates which are of necessity depended upon during the intercensus years. The census shows that five additional municipalities are now included in the list of sanitary districts having 5,000 inhabitants or over, and these towns are therefore named in the following table:

TABLE 1.-POPULATION OF THE COUNTIES OF NEW JERSEY AND OF MUNICIPALITIES HAVING 5,000 INHABITANTS OR OVER FOR THE CENSUS YEARS 1880, 1885, 1890, 1895, 1900 AND 1905.

TABLE 1.-POPULATION OF THE COUNTIES OF NEW JERSEY AND OF MUNICIPALITIES HAVING 5,000 INHABITANTS OR OVER FOR THE CENSUS YEARS 1880, 1885, 1890, 1895, 1900 AND 1905-Continued.

We desire again to call attention to the advisability of providing additional protection for public water-supplies against pollution by an enactment which will effectually prohibit bathing and swimming in streams from which water for public uses is obtained. We also desire to call attention to a reaffirmation by the court of chancery of the validity of the act of 1899 which prohibits the pollution of streams of water which are used to furnish any public supply for drinking purposes. In the case of the State board of health against George Ihnken it was shown that the waste water from a creamery

building was discharged into one of the tributaries of a stream which flows into a reservoir from which water is taken for public uses in the city of Newark. The court enjoined the managers of the creamery from discharging waste fluids into the stream, and sustained the view previously adopted in the Diamond Mills case, where the washings from a paper mill were allowed to flow into water used as a public supply in the city of Rahway. Another action which has been brought by the State board of health under the same statute, to restrain the borough of Vineland from discharging the effluent from the sewage filtration beds into the Maurice river, is now pending before the court of chancery.

ANNUAL SANITARY CONFERENCE.

The act approved April 19th, 1906, providing for an annual conference between the State board of health and delegates from local boards, promises to prove exceedingly valuable in promoting a greater degree of efficiency in sanitary administration throughout the State. The purpose of this conference, as stated in the law, is "for the consideration of questions relating to the prevention of the spread of dangerous communicable diseases, and the promotion of the public health." But little uniformity at present exists in the measures which are employed in the different sanitary districts, and this dissimilarity in the operations of the different health boards is partly due to the lack of opportunity for comparison of views concerning common problems with the officials of other districts. The act approved April 8th, 1903, which provides that future appointees of local boards of health shall be qualified for the duties which they are expected to perform, will doubtless effect valuable improvements in the service, and annual meetings between these officers for the discussion of questions relating to their work will tend to prevent the repetition of errors and give to each individual the advantages which attend the experience of fellow-officials. The first of these conferences was held in the State House, Trenton, October 19th and 20th, 1906. A report of the proceedings is presented herewith.