The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-01-07
Evidences of Rapid Growth.


Evidences of Rapid Growth.
The mortality statistics Of New York for
last year arc very significant. The total
number OF deaths was 1881, Or not far from
the total for 1881. which was 3s,624, differ
ence in favor Of 1882 Of only 673.
We see, therefore, that there was little vari-
alton between the mortality for these two
consecutive years. But the variation as
compared with that for the two years just
previous to 1881 was very great. The num-
Der OF deaths In 1880 was only 81 ,937, or about
six thousand less than last year. and sixty
six hundred less than in 1881. As compared
with 1879, the increase In both 1881 and
1882 was toward ten thousand.
So sudden an advance In the city's NOR
tality has not been known since the Health
Department began, In 1865, its present sys-
tenn Of gathering the statistics Of death;
system which for completeness and &C.
curacy OF results has no superior anywhere,
and commands the confidence Of all vital
statisticians at homo and abroad In 1855
the mortality was 24,s43, and 1t gradually in
creased from that total the advancing wave
being very regular, until In 1875 1t rose to
80, 100. UP to 1880 there was not much varia-
ton yearly from those figures 1879 even
showing falling Off; but, as we have said,
1t suddenly jumped up In 1881 to 3s,624, and
in 1882 it was only few hundred short Of
that total.
Yet 1881 was not by any means IN UNI
healthy year, and last year was an excep-
tonally healthy one. There Is, accordingly,
only one reasonable explanation OF the sud-
den increase, so unexamplcd in the history
of New York since 1865. 1t Is the one we have
before given. The growth OF the city In
population was gradual up to 1880, but then
1t took squirt, and the gain must have been
twenty per cent. That Is indicated. not only
by the sudden increase In the mortality in q
healthy year, and by the mortality remain
ing ut comparatively high total during an
other even more healthy year. but also by
the rapid growth OF the business Of the sur
face and elevated railroads. and by tho cx-
traordinary demand for houses and tene-
ments, including apartment houses, which
multiplied accordingly
Take another test. The mortality among
children under five years. the average con-
ditions rs to the public health aud the meas
ures for its preservation being about the same,
is very fair standard by which to measure
the total population. In 1880 the deaths
among such children numbered 1850,
against 1877 in 1881. and 1895 In 1882. The
increase rs compared with 1880 was about ~
per cent. in each OF tho two subsequent
years. The increase OF the total mortality
was about 20 per cent. The deaths from
consumption, the mortality from which dis
ease bears a pretty fixed proportion to the
population, were 4, FOG in $780, against 5,3l2 in
1884, and s, 245 in 1882. The increase there was
nearly 90 per cent.
All that means that the mortality In New
York has run up suddenly. not because the
chances OF life here have decrease but be-
cause after the census was taken in 1880, and
especially in 1881, the growth OF the city in
population was rapid to degree unexampled
In this generation. Nor is there any proba-
bilty that we shall see decline in the total
yearly mortality unless we have great and
improbable set back to our prosperity. The
probability Is rather that we shall see grad
ual increase, like that which took place be-
tween 1865 and 1880, unless, indeed, the city
takes another squirt ahead.
We observe that the Times Is troubled be-
cause 80 great proportion OF the deaths
took place In tenement houses. OF the whole
number, $50 occurred In such houses, and
1922 In public institutions, principally, of
course, among people taken from tene-
ment houses. There Is no doubt that large
part OF the tenement population live under
conditions generally unfavorable to health.
especially that Of infants. The sanitary sur
roundlngs are bud; and the Improvement OF
these dwellings Is one Of the gravest and
most urgent problems with which society
has to deal. Yet, when we see how great a
proportion OF the annual mortality is among
the inhabitants OF tenement houses. We must
remember that the majority OF the people
In New York now live in tenement houses
and that that majority Is steadily increasing
especially since what are called apartment
houses, or better-class tenement houses
have become 80 popular, and capital has
found them a profitable investment. Instead
Of decreasing therefore. whatever may be
the improvements In tenement construction
the proportion OF the mortality occurring In
tenement houses is likely to increase.