unsatisfactory state of affairs and will be so until the two places are rebuilt and in working order again. The first time that I was aware that any of the residents had any grievances as to the manner in which the different works were conducted was at the meeting of a special committee of the State Board of Health at the Iroquois hotel on November 30th, for in a period extending over four years not a single complaint had been made to me about any of the different works not running in a sanitary manner, though I had notified a number of the prominent residents that if at any time, day or night, any objectionable smells were noticeable to telephone me and I would immediately go out and investigate; but, as I said before, nobody made any complaint and I feel confident that if the two plants were not destroyed by fire and that certain land companies were not so desirous to have the works moved further out, otherwise there would not have been any other complaints. On the other hand, the land companies cannot be blamed if they could get rid of any objectionable surroundings so that there would not be any obstacles in their way when they had a chance to dispose of their land. The Milsom rendering and fertilizer company was entirely destroyed by fire on June 29th, and since that time they have been using the Cushing factory. It will be March or April, 1901, before they will have the new factory completed, and when they do it will only have a rendering department, as the fertilizer branch has been transferred to the Crocker works. They have spared no pains nor expense in trying to have everything built in a satisfactory and sanitary manner. The main building will be about 500 feet further east than the old building. The Cushing factory that they have been using for the past six months is situated on Babcock street in a fairly thickly settled part of the city. It has none of the sanitary tanks, dryers, condensers and other modern improvements that they had in the old works which was destroyed, and as far as I know the board of health of the city of Buffalo have had no trouble with them. It seems strange to me that with none of the modern improvements at the present works, also situated in the city, and can conduct their business 362 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE STATE BOARD OF HEALTH without the city board of health being after them; that with the modern plant they formerly had and situated in a poorly settled section with an inspector constantly after them and without a single complaint in over four years, that there were some things said at that investigation at the Iroquois, November 30th, that cannot be fully understood. The Baynes garbage and reduction company was also destroyed by fire on October 1st, not as completely destroyed as the other factory, but to such an extent as to make it utterly useless for the disposal of garbage. The company has done very little since the fire in the way of rebuilding, and the board of public works is very anxious to have them go ahead and get their plant in working order, as they are now disposing of the garbage of Buffalo by placing it on railroad cars and delivering it through the 'country to farmers, which of course will not be a very sanitary manner, and especially when the warm weather comes on. I understand that one of the greatest hitches between the garbage works and the city of Buffalo is the length of time the contract for the disposal of the garbage has to run, which is less than a year and a half. The garbage people cannot put up a strictly first-class plant and conduct it on sanitary lines at the low price they are receiving now and have it terminate in so short a time. The board of public works is very much concerned as to the disposal of the garbage, especially as the coming year is PanAmerican. The Fechter rendering and fertilizer works have increased their business considerably in the past few months and are running in a satisfactory manner. Cannot say much about them as everything is all right and there is no use of taking up your time when everything is satisfactory. The Betz brothers rendering works handle no dead animals, and are keeping their place in good shape and everything is clean and in a healthy condition about the place. Yours obediently JOHN T. CLARIS Inspector REPORT OF WILLIS G. TUCKER, M. D., Ph. D. Director State Board of Health Laboratory BAXTER T. SMELZER, M. D., Secretary State Board of Health, Albany, N. Y.: Sir-During the year ending December 31, 1900, 57 samples of drinking water from various parts of the state have been received, of which number 50, being in good condition and sufficient quan tity, were analyzed and reported upon; and 45 other articles, including food and food-colors, sewages and miscellaneous substances which have been submitted to me from time to time have been examined. An investigation of coloring substances used in food, referred to in my last annual report as having been entered upon in December in compliance with a law passed by the legislature of 1899, was completed in February, and other matters of minor importance which have been referred to me have received attention. The correspondence of the laboratory has been quite extensive, and many inquiries concerning food and drug adulteration, the testing of illuminating oils, analytical methods and standards, water supply and pollution, and similar matters have been answered and the desired information sup plied. Reports upon the work of the laboratory have been transmitted monthly as heretofore, and a summary of this work, with certain reports not elsewhere appearing in the report of the Board, is now transmitted as follows: January 4. Received sample of water from Waverly, marked "Waverly water supply," and forwarded by the board of health |