The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-03-12

As compared with former years, the weekly
mortality of the city continues to be very
largo. The number of deaths reported last
week was Sl4. That would have been re-
markable, Il startling mortality for the win
ter season, and even for any season, except
that Of summer two or three years ago. 1t
also was considerably in excess of the NOR
tally for the corresponding week Of 1851,
though the comparatively large number Of
deaths then occurring excited discussion.
For the winter OF 1882, however, the NOR
tally of last week was not exceptionally
large. 1t was below that of several weeks in
February. During the week ending Feb
II, for instance, the number OF deaths
reported was $40, and during that ending
Feb 1s 1t was S92 The mortality OF the
corresponding periods in 1881 was 679 and Gs3
respectively. In the one week of February,
therefore, there were 1863 more deaths than
last year, and in the other 200 more. In the
first week the increase was more than a
quarter; and in the second, toward third.
When We compare the mortality of Feb
r,lary with the average for the month during
the past five years, the increase is much more
striking. During the week ending Feb. II OF
this year the number of deaths was 49, The
average for the five years was only $40. The
mortality accordingly was greater by 800
deaths. a gain OF nearly thrcc-ilfths.
If there had been any prevailing epidemic
in February, we should find in that an easy
explanation OF this great increase in our NOR
tally as compared with last year and the
average of the five years past. But there was
no epidemic The deaths from smal-po dur
ing the week ending Feb. II were only u. Scar
let fever and diphthcria were not unusually
prevalent, and not unusually fatal. And the
same can be said of the run Of diseases. Nor
was the weather specially inimical to health.
The city, indeed, was in fair condition OF
health, as it WAS throughout the month, and
as it has been since the year began. Last
week, certainly, was n very agreeable one,
with pleasant weather, and streets rather
cleaner than we usually find them; yet the
number of deaths was Sli, about fifty per
cent. more than the average mortality for
the five years past.
We mus, look elsewhere for an explanation
of the increase. OF course it is impossible 10
do much more than guess at the population
Of Nov York al the present day. II is obvi-
oUSly larger than ii WAS last year at the
opening Of March, but how much larger we
can only roughly estimate. The very active
demand for houses, tou"mcnts, apartments,
and stores this spring, in spite of the unoX-
anpicd amount OF building done last year, is
proof of growth. Landlords generally havc
been able to pat up their rents ten, fifteen,
and twenty per cent, and sometimes more.
Now, too, the indications are that there
will be more building than ever this year.
Never before, not even last year, were archi-
tcctS 80 full of business as they arc this
March. Five years ago, on Broadway and
on many of tho business streets, vacant
stores wcr" frequently encountered. Now it
Is hard to find a single one, considerable
number Of tlrst-class dwellings, for which
heavy prices are charged, may be in the
market, but houses are quickly let at adj
vnnGcd rates. The tenement houses, too, are
all crowded. the districts where they are stu
ated being more thirhly populated than ever
before, though their number has been greatly
increased within two years. Tho business
and the dwelling portions of the city are
both full
The great increas" in the amount Of travel
is also another Indication of IL large growth
in population We have not the nsulos to
show how much 1t has bccn during The first
two months of this year as compared with
1881, hut it must have been heavy. We have,
however, already published the statistics OF
the travel ON tho elevated railroads and on
the seven chief horse railroads for 1870 and
1881. They showed that the number of pas
snngcrs carried in the two years was:
1880 1871
H is2,; A, H?,2' ~ s ,}5}5 55 $55s
Total ....,...,,.........I5l,5s 6V72 i7o2,lGGs
That l., lS,7lj9ol more passenger were
carried by th" seven horse railroads included