Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-28


had been destroyed by fire. The investiga-
ton and report was for the twenty years
from 1867 to 1856, and not only gives the re-
port by states, but by counties also.
How many divorces We're obtained in the
United States in these twenty years! The
report tells US 32S, TIC. Let US write it in
words that there may be no mistake: Three
hundred and twenty-eignt thousand seven
hundred ana sixteen. These figures are so
astounding that we could not believe them
if they were not official. In the year 1867
the number issued was 1887, and there was
a gradual increase for each succeeding
year, save one, until in 1856 there was OBJ
tanned the amazing number of %, 535, or
nearly three times as many as were granted
in 1867. The ten states grantingthe largest
number of divorces during that period are:
Illinois, sc, 0s2: Ohio, PC, 1867; Indiana PSI 1873;
Michigan, Is, 1873; Iowa, 16, 546; Pennsylva-
mia, 10, 020; New York, 1885; Missouri,
15.21S; California, Ills; Texas, 11,4E2.
This is list and record that ought to
bring sigh from every true citizen the
name of whose state appears therein.
Every American with patriotism enough to
love our common country, ought to feel the
reproach that such state of things bring.
Texans will, no doubt, be greatly aston
ished to learn that 11,412 divorces were
granted in this state in the short period Of
twenty years-from 1867 to 1856. The in
than the increase in population, as will be
shown further on-rising from ninety -One
in 1867 to 1926 in 1856. The increase of di-
vorce i'll the state and in the United States,
however, is best shown by the elaborate Ia
BILE which Commissioner Wright furnishes
showing its increase by quinquennial, or
five year period. The number of divorces
granted in the first of these periods was
SO, 574; in the second, IS, 5f7: in the third,
SO, in the fourth, 117,3l1. Following
this there is an elaborate table giving the
per cent of increase in each state and in the
United States. The commissioner himself
has written out the results of this table in
such way as to make its facts tangible by
every one, and we here give some extracts
from this summing up. He says: This
table is perhaps the most instructive one,
SO far as the direct movement of divorce is
concerned The column of percentages
under quinquennial periods gives us an
honest basis of comparison, and one OH
which we can determine the increase or de-
crease for each state, and for the whole
country Taking the United States as
whole, we find that the increase during the
fourth quinquennial period over the first
was ll9 per cent"
The commissioner then groups the states
and gives the per cent of increase Tor de-
crease of the fourth quinqueunial period
over the first OF the six New England
necticut-show decrease, while there is
an increase in New Hampshire OF 1921 per
cent. Massachusetts 6S.4 per cent and
Rhode Island 1873 per cent. The Middle
states show an increase of the fourth over
the first quinquennial periods as follows:
New York, 2G.7 per cent; Delaware, 36.2
per cent; Pennsylvania, ne per cent;
Maryland $50 per cent.
The Southern states show the following
of tha TorIpfh 0J-ar. fhn fret rI1ip-
Quennial period: Virginia, 114.9 per cent;
North Carolina, 344 6 per cent; South Caro-
lima ceased granting divorces in 1873 and
cannot be counted; Georgia, 147.7 per cent;
Florida, 1914 per cent.
In the Gulf states the per cent of increase
of the fourth period over the first was as
follows: Alabama, 1859 per cent: Missis-
sippi, 5l74 per cent; Louisiana, S3S7 per
cent; Texas, 1928 per cent.
OF the Middle Southern states West
Virginia -shows an increase of 1893 per
cent; Kentucky, 80 per cent; Tennessee,
1Al6 per cent; Arkansas, 3T.9 per cent;
Missouri, $50. per cent.
In the Western states the percentage of
increase of the fourth over the first FIVE
year period was as follows: Ohio, $50 per
cent; Michigan, 1876 per cent; Indiana, 1856
per cent; Illinois, 1877 per cent; Wisconsin,
g.. per cent; Minnesota, 307.7 per cent:
Iowa, 97.4 per cent; Nebraska, 1O0S.6 per
cent; Kansas, 2J5.1 per cent; CALIFORNIA,
1856 per cent; Oregon, 1893 per cent; Ne
vada, 13 per cent.
Continuing, the commissioner gives a ia
bic showing the per cent of increase in pop
ulation from 1870 to 1880 for every state in
the Union, and for the whole country, and
the per cent of increase in divorces for tine
same period. 1t is very interesting table,
but would burden these columns too much
to be introduced here entire. We only give
the figures for q few of the Southern and
Western states.
From 1870 to 1880 the per cent of increase
in population in Alabama was $3.50 per cent,
while divorces increased 1852 per cent. In
Arkansas population increased CSC per cent
and divorces 3l0.6. In Georgia population
increased 800 per cent and divorces 1144
per cent The increase in Louisiana was
in population 293 per cent, and in divorces !
1888 per cent. In Mississippi populatio9SI
1868 per cent, and divorces 404$
per cent In Missouri the increase in poHfi-
lation was $50 per cent, and in divordes
1914 per cent. In Nebraska population
grew at the rate of 267.S per cent, but tins
growth was outstripped by the