The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-08-15
THE COST OF CITIES.
Interesting Figures from the Gen.
sus Office.
ELECTRIC LIGHTING IS FAVORED

In Cities Having More Than 100, 900
Population The Expense of Pro-
lection from Rogues and Con-
fiagrations - Buffalo the Greatest
Cold Water Town in the Country.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 15.-The census
office issues o bulletin on the social
statistics of cities of the United States.
The returns are yet incomplete, but a
statement, comprising fifty of the prin-
cipal cities. is given. From the tables
1t appears that the annual cost of each
gas lamp in cities varies from $50 in
New Orleans to $3.50 in Hoboken,
while the annual cost of each electric
lamp varies from $440.67 in San Fran
cisco to S68 in Chicago. The bulletin
shows that gas lamps comprise more
than 90 per cent. of all classes used for
street lighting, but are rarely used ex-
,clusively for that purpose. Ele ctric
lighting for streets appears to be most
favored in cities having more than l0O,-
OG0 population.
Thirty-tive cities Of those comprising
the bulletin own their own water works,
the average cost of maintenance of the
work being s., ,79l ,04l.
In cities of less than 10000 inhab-
itants there is an average of 3.75 patrol
men to the square mile and 4.3 miles of
street to each patrolman, who makes an
nually an average of 81 arrests. The
cost Of tho force to each head of popula-
tion is rs cents, varying from $l.2b in
New Haven to 60 cents in Nashville.
New York city, with total of 3,421
miles Of streets, has 400 officers, detect
ives, eto., and 2,922 patrolInen. The
average number of arrests made annually
is 1850; average number of station
house dodgers annually, 139,604. Value
of lost and stolen property recovered,
S937, ,031. The average cost of the New
York force was $4,391 1853; Chicago,
&9I9, ,S94; Philadelphia, ST. 100000 and
Boston, $3.50, ,B55.
In twenty-five cities of over 100, 900
inhabitants each the average annual cost
of the fire department to each head of
population is 81 cents, varying from Sits
in Boston and 81 06 in New York to I'll
cents in Chicago, so cents in Philadel-
phia, 10 cents in Brooklyn, 81 cents
in st. Louis, So cents in Balti-
more, Si.15 in San Francisco and
90 cents in Cincinnati. In cities under
100000 inhabitants the average annual
cost of tho fire department to each head
of population is II cents. New York
has 1 ,0s7ss men attached to its fire de-
partment, Chicago 9l6 and Philadelphia
b2l.
In twenty-one cities of 100000 in
hnbitants each the total loss by fire dur-
ing 1880 was $3.50 to each head of popu.
lation, ranging from 1927 in Buffalo
$3.50 in ST. Louis and 50. II in Brooklyn
to s1.11 in Baltimore, $1.02 in Newark
and 55 cents in Washington. In twenty,
seven cities of less than 100000 inhabi
tants each the total loss by fire during
1850 was @1.45 to each head of popula
sion, ranging from $G.6S in Lacrosse
S4-e7 in Portland and 1881 in Rockford
10 81 cents in Newport, 10 cents in
Hartford and 10 cents in Lawrence
The large fire in Lynn, Mass, $50. 81 tt
each head Of population, has not been.in
cluded in any of the averages.
The average daily consumption o.
water in New York is liz 100000 gal
Ions Chicago, 100000, 900 gallons, ant
Philadelphia, 118,50O, GOO gallons. AL
though Buffalo, N. Y. consumes onl,
60,OO0,000 gallons daily, it represent
the largest amount (196 gallons) dali,
consumed by each head Of population.
The total length of sewers Of the thre.
largest cities are: New York, 464 a
miles i; Chicago, 525 Philadelphia, $50