Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1852-01-13
RegistI atiOA of Births, Marriages, and


heg1Sbt 01tOA OF Births MARRIAGES. and
Deaths.
Hon, Amasa Walker, Secretary Of State. has lust
presented to the Legislature the ninth Registration
Of Births, Marriages add Deaths, which took place
in this Commonwealth in the year ending Dec
81, 1850, and which were registered, and returned
to the Secretary Of States office, during the past
year.
There are fewer omissions in this report than
there were IN former ones; and there is greater
degree of accuracy manifested in the local returns
The Town Clerks throughout the State have be-
come more familiar with the details Of registration,
and they have consequently produced more co rpIete
tables Of the general returns.
Returns were received from every town in Wor-
cester County. except Upton, which has made no
returns since ls45 The Winchendon report did
not define sea in fourteen cases; and the Leomins-
ter and Souhhridge reports not perfect in the
specification Of nativity. In the deaths there were
fourteen cases in which the sex was underlined, FIVE
oilhese cases being IN Brookfeld; in all other req.
poets, the report correct.
The report for 1850, compares most favorably
with preceding reports, and furnishes the most par.
tcular evidence Of the progress Of Massachusetts.
The whole number Of births in the Common
wealth, between Jan. LIST, and December 3ist 1850,
was "a ,664 being increase from lS49 Of 1891 or
734 per cent. OF this number Sl97 were of for.
eign parentage. 1t is worthy of remark that in the
cities of Boston, Lowell, Fall River, &C., the mum.
Der ofChidren Of foreign parentage exceeds that Of
native Americans. In Boston the whole number of
births in 1850 5279, of which 1910 we're of
foreign percentage.
In 1850, the number of marriages was I0,S45,
showing increase Of 3i09, or nearly 80 per cent
over lS49. And in the same wear the number of
deaths was less by 3,sl7 than in the preceding wear.
The prevalence of Cholera, Dysentery, and Scar
letna in 1919, accounts for the remarkable excess
in favor Of the health Of 1850.
There is one most startling and important fact es
tabshed by these reports to which lac Secre tary
Of State calls attention to his report in the preface,
and TO which invite special reference, and that
is,the difference in longevity between those engaged
in mechanical and agricultural pursuits The aver
age longevity OF the English aristocracy,is about as
years, that of the working classes does net reach
thirty years. Compared with these the health of
still there is disparity between the health Of me-
chancs and farmers sufficiently staytng and worthy
of universal attention.
Wecall attention 10 this fact in the admirable
words Of Mr.. Walker himself.
N1hi-.e 10 startling or more suggestive
oi important considerations than the statistics
tanned IN these Reports, especially those in regard
to the influence Of occupations the duration OF hu.
man life. From them il appears, that agriculturists
in this Commonwealth, attain TO the average age of
81, while mechanics attain only to that of46 This
most astonishing difference Of Is years, or nearly
40 per cent, between large class OF the comnu-
nifty and another cannot fail sooner or lal err TO al
tract the attention Of the public mind, and awaken
those inquiries which they evidently suggest
Whence this wide disparity? How can it be re.
moved or iessened! What are the peculiar eircum.
stances incident to mechanical enploynents, which
cohsign so large part OF our citizens premature
graves2 What sanitary measures can be adopted
by persons engaged IN these employmens to prevent
this appalling waste OF life! BY what means can
the great manufacturing and mechanical employ.
ments Of mankind be carried forward consistently
with the physical well being Of those engaged in
theml
These and other questions, of similar import,
cannot fail to be forced upon the public mind by the
facts presented in these Reports; nor can they fail
to excite the deepest interest in the mnd Of
the phianthr1plst and political economist. They
present problems OF the gavest character, upon the
solution OF which depend the health and longevity of
no inconsIderable part of the whole human race.
AS society advances, the number of persons who be.
engaged in these branches Of industry Is con.
stantly increasing. Grave and important as these
questions are now they must become more SO in the
natural course OF events.
Massachusetts has taken the lead in this work of
Registration, and is well for she of all the States
is the most Immediately and deeply interested in the
description Of statistics they present. large and
constantly increasing proportion Of her citizens are
engaged in those enploytnents which these Regis.
rations Show nconteelihly, greatly tend to shorten
life. They will lead TO Investigations and will
arouse her manufacturing and mechanical popua-
ton to inquire in what manner and by what means
the great evils they now suffer may be removed or
alevated.
On the other hand, the deductions which cannot
fail to be drawn from these Reports, will tend 10
give encouragement and contentment to oilr agri.
cultural popnation for they show, most conclusive
iy, that agriculture is The normal occupation of man.
the most congenla To his nature, in which he has
the best guarantee of long and heahful life 1ney
demonstrate, too, the fact that the difference in
wages between the agricuturist and the mechanic is
apparent than real. 1.-THE f,rmer has less for
day, or year, he has, prospecively, 40 per cent
more days, or years, in which to earn wages If
the amount he gains for year be less, the ag-
gregate for life may be more besides, what TO
most minds would be regarded desideratum, the
prospect OF 40 per- cent. Of earthly existence
sTinIxering the Constitutions
It is really astonishing to witness The zeal Of
our Wing brethren in the cause of"State Reform