The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-29
THE NEGRO'S WORST FOE.
RATAGES OF CONTRIBUTION AND
KINDRED DISEASES.

Social and Physical Conditions OF
eans In tho Large C~ities-Uuiaue lnvestiEn-
ttous I'm Three observation-disclosures OF the
High Death Rate In the southern states.
SAC HARBoR. Aug. 2s.-As It has been planned
of late years, the Federal census should be an
invariable guide concerning the national popu-
lation. its physical condition. wealth, and the
like; but, on the contrary. for the last three de-
cennial periods, among the most important In
the national growth. Its untrustworthiness has
been q notorious scandal. This is especially
true In the matter OF population, the one thing
above all others in which 1t should be as accu.
rate as lavish expenditure and painstakinRi in
dustry could make 1t, The last census Is hope.
lessly inaccurate In the matter Of a correct
enumeration OF the population. While 1t gives
something like 100000 Atro-Americans, tho
opinion Is that the number Is nearer 10. 200, 900.
We were quite in ignorance OF how these
100000 A~tro-Americans live, what they do,
their health conditions, and the like. until very
recently. There was much wild speculation but
no trustworthy data upon which to base conclu.
sions. This Is no longer true. The experiment
stations OF the United States Department OF
Agriculture arc informing us in bulletins, reeu-
larry issued. OF the kind. quality, and amount OF
food Afro-Americans consume In the rural dis
tricts OF the South; the Johns Hopkins Cuiver-
sity at Baltimore has had Investigated their
farm holdings and mortgage Indebtedness; the
Atlanta University Ia conducting q systematic
investigation into their social and physical con-
dition in the cities. and the Hampton and Tus-
kegeo conferences, held annually, throw q food
Of light on tho subject by giving the farmers
themselves an opportunity to testify as to their
condition and prospects. Tho Federal Depart
ment of Labor Is also taking q hand in the mat
ter, and has issued several helpful bulletins.
With all these agents actively at work gath
ertng the facts and putting them into handy
reference form, we shall soon know vastly more
about the Afro-AmGricans OF the Southern cities
and rural districts than we do about the white
population OF the same section; indeed, that Is
almost the case now. A thorough Investigation
into the condition and habits OF the poor whites
OF the South is absolutely essential to a proper
understanding OF tho condition OF the blacks.
The conditions OF the two are interdependent. 1t
is difficult to deal with the one WI, hout dealing
with the other. 1t Is very generally and
enormously believed that the poor whites are
able to look out for themselyss , and need no sort
OF outside consideration. They think this way
themselves, II they ever think at all. However.
main. as their black neishbors IN misfortune DO.
Atlanta University has issued a pamphlet EN-
bodying the proceedings OF the Secont confer
ence for the study OF problems concerning negro
city NE, dealing especially with tho social and
s saNi.:k. G Sa;heFed IN IN t his'g pGbli in itLie and ths
opinions and conclusions advanced have the
merit OF having been gathered and put forward
verstty ant other schools OF
higher learning. The nature, SCOPE. aud thor:
oughuess with which the work WAS performed
are worthy Of notice here.
Butler r. Wilson. a Boston lawyer. who gath
cred the statistics for Cambridge, Mass, makes
a general summary OF the Investigations and
states their purpose as follows: u To obtain
accurate without regard TO
inquiry practical and helpful. and not merely
for scientific results; ~ TO induce the people 10
ann n aDAAlfaa rhAr fhauh h. 80 - -. N-.
hands for the evils which are found 10 exist
ana which retard their progress. As to the re-
suits OF the investigation, Mr.. Wilson says:
The present Investigation Is the result: o. tho
Joint efforts OF graduates OF Atlanta University.
harry and other institutions for the higher edu.
cation OF the negroes. The conclusions which
these men and women have reached. as a result
OF their Investigations. are, in some respects.
most surprising. especially their conclusions as
to the effect OF environment and economic con-
ditions upon the vital energies OF the race. These
sive mortality OF their people cannot be attrib-
uted in any largo degree TO unfa vorablec ondi-
tions OF environment. but must be chiefly at
trtbuted 70 the ignorance Of the masses OF tho
health and morality. The significance OF this
CONFUSION Is 'essely e!Psesset ~ one OF me
t No. eFse.,t We0 deaf rate e9'i the sas soIo taSt' pe tais
does not arise from diseases due 10 environ
ment. is OF vast Importance. II poor houses.
unhealthy localities bad Sc leverage, and detective
plumbing we're responsible for their high death
rate there would be no hoVe OF reducing tho
oEhln IAlt uukllC lLLt nc tpiyTtl people OHtAtle
wealthy. or phi!anthropic persons erected sani-
tary houses or municipalities made approprIa-
tions to remove those conditions. But since The
excessive death rate is not due 10 these causes
there IS reason for the belief that IL may be
reduced without regard TO the present economic
condition Of the colOred people The result OF
the present Investigation Ia. been. on the whole.
distinctly encouraging. In the opinion o. ;Ee
committee having the investigation in charge
the negro has nothing to fear from a most rigid
and searching investigation into his physical
and social condition, but such an investigation
can be made most helpful and valuable"
The negro may have Iothins TO FEN from such
an tnEesstSatiou., but he certainly has much TO
ductng IL, upon which Mr.. Wilson and his CO.
workers base their encouraEing conclusions; 1t
and analyZe the vital statistics OF Atlanta.
Baltimore, Charleston, Memphis. and Rich
ton by does not sppear' since It i |. no,o-ion nsT thsr
the vital statistics OF the District or Columbia
Americans are concerned. in WHICH there Is not
q g!lnmer OF ENCOURAGEMENT. Mr., Hershaw
vestigations. the excessive mortality OF AFRO
Americans, was due to pulmonary. scrotulous,
and %infantile diseases. and other ailments that
and are hardest and longest o.
eradication. under the most favorable economic
and sanitary conditions, such as the masses OF
Americans do not enjoy in any OF the large
cities In any section OF the country. and espc-
bulk OF them reside. Mr.. Hershaw says ina:
these principal causes OF excessive mortality
are Identical in Al the large cities; he therefore
-AO e-N aD.t' sHA SociF - IA ACHLDl.
Memphis. and Richmond, combined. and gives
the average death rate per 10000 for q period
of fifteen years, from 1881 to 1895:
Per Cent.
Erce&s or
WhHS oOiorSd. COlorsd.
monia ..;--."-~'..s a.7s 76.4s 1904
typhoid, malaria. scar
let fever and tiarrhoea. 40. 10 Ao2O so
Cholera infAntum. CON
wis Ons. and stu born. l4.57 So 1851
The two principal causes Of death. AZ shown
In this table, and In all others contained in the
report. are consumption and neumoni whilo
the waste OF child life on the part OF both races,
II Is shown. Is simply appalling. That consump-
ton has already become tho worst enemy of The
Afro American race is shown by the following
tables, showing tbs death rate per 10. 600 Tor the
i've cities under consideration
ATLANTA.
PVF Cent.
Eroess of
WhIs. Cotorsd- Coior,d
1890. ..-........lS.IO $3.50 I72 ~
lsso-s0."..- ....-.iS.s3 1888 1895
ie9i-sS'"...... ''.'Io'SH %3.4S 1880
BALTIMORE
1854. o9o5 l2s as