Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-30


In the sixth publication Of the Ameri-
can Jewish Historical Society. just is
sued David Sulzberger. OF Phiadel-
phia, has an article headed Growth OF
the Jewish Population in the United
States" in which he presents some in
teresting matter relating to that subject.
ut is impossible to arrive at the ex-
act number of Jews at present living in
the United States" he writes, NOR has
that number been at any time definitely
| attainable, as the United States Govern
ment does not classify persons by their
religious convictions in the enumeratiOns
| for the decennial census. Nevertheless,
various estimates have been made from
time to time with considerable care, and
from these it may be possible to gather
an approximate idea of the growth of
the Semitic population"
In 1918 the Jewish population of the
United States was estimated at 5000. In
1910 the number was given in the Ameri
can Almanac at 1900. Eight years later
the population was said to have grown
to $1,000. In 1877 the Board of Delegates
of the American Israelites estimated the
population at nearly 100000. In 1883 the
figures had risen TO about 10000
The work of gathering the statistics
for the eleventh census $500 was COM
mitted to Philip Cowen, Of the Ameri-
can Hebrew, and he presented tables
showing 533 congregations of orthodox
and Reformed Jews, with 130 i96 commu-
nicants. The two branches together have
30l church edfices, with an approximate
seating capacity of 1S9,S2i. Besides these
edifces, 81 halls, etc, are occupied by
CONGREGATIONS, and these halls have a
seating capacity of S.477. The total value
of the synagogue property is $9,754,27j,
an increase in ten years of S549,6H.
while the number of communicates adj
vanced over $1,000.
Coming then to the Jewish population
of the United States in 1897, the writer
says:
"The total ascertained immigration
since 1885 is 4110 73. and, adding 1870
given by Mr.. Joseph Jacobs in the jew
ish Yearbook for 1896. the total OF jew
ish immigration TO the United States
upon the basis Of earlier computa-
tions. and with the aid Of persons in
various parts of the country, / have
prepared the following estimate OF Jews
now settled in the United States. This
estimate is, / believe, conservative. 1t
is not capriciously made, yet IL put for
ward tentatively, as material for criti-
cism and discussion:
Alabama, 6,O00; Arizona, 1000; Arkan- |
sas. 1000; California, $1,000; Colorado, |
] 500: Connecticut GOO; North and South |
Dakota, $500: Delaware, 5000; District OF |
Columbia, $500; Florida, $500; Georgia, |
600; Idaho, 200: Illinois, 5000 Indiana, |
Is 600: Iowa, 5000; Kansas. $500; Ken
lucky, 1900; Louisiana, 10000; Maine, |
900; Maryland, 5000; Massachusetts,,
% coo: Michigan, 5000; Minnesota 5000;
Mississippi, 5000; Missouri, 25,0C0; Mon
tana 2.5OO; Nebraska, 1000; Nevada, $500;
New Hampshire, 1000; New Jersey. 25,-
100; New Mexico, 1900; New York, $4,000;
North Carolina, 1900: Ohio. 5000; ore
CON- 5000; Pennsylvania. 5000; Rhode IS
and. $500; South Carolina, 5000; Tennes-
see, 1900; Texas, 1900; Utah 5000, Yer
mont. 1000; Virginia, 1900; Washington,
,SO0 West Virginia, G,000; Wisconsin, TO-
100: Wyoming, 1000. Total, 1880.
II trust" says Mr.. SulZberger, in con-
,lusion, that the paper will lead TO dis
,ussion, and the eliciting OF further in
formation. which will eventually result
n securing a comparatively correct CEN
JUS Of the Jews of the United States