The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-10-13
UNIONS LOW DEATH RATE.
Statistician King Thinks
There Must Be Some
Mistake About It.

The census officials in Washington were
surprised at the phenomenaliy low and
decreasing death rate returned from this
county, especially from the Town of
Union. and concluded that there must be
tistician Of the Census Bureau, wrote to
C. j. Rooney, Clerk Of the Board OF
Health, about it.
Mr. King wrftes:-"The number of
deaths obtained from your records at the
last census, 1890, was 254, and the popu-
lation of the Town of Union was then
but 1858, and it certainly has increased
since 1890 1t seems singular that there
should be such falling off in the NUM-
ber Of deaths, particularly as the census
year ending May 81. $780, was not marked
by any great epidemic which would re-
suit in more than the normal number OF
deaths.
.Tt IS also true that there has been a
similar falling off in the deaths recorded
In other cities which have increased
largely in population, and the decrease is
so marked that 1t will require special
comment and explanation in the final re-
ports. I would therefore be pleased If
You will favor me with a statement of
the number Of deaths occurring in the
Town of Union during each of the last
ten years, with your explanation of the
particular reasons or causes operating to
reduce the death rate and to cause the
variat ton in the different years
Clerk Rooney received Mr.. Kings letter
on Wednesday and this reply was on its
way to Washington yesterday
Jersey City, N. T., Oct 18th, 1899.
"W. A. King, Esq, Chief Stattstician,
Census Office, Washington, D.. G -
.sSir-Replying to your favor of the 18th
inst. received this A. NJ, referring to
number of deaths recorded in Town OF
Union, etc. (not as you wrote It town-
ship, / beg leave to say that the re-
markabIe progressive decrease of deaths
in Town Of Union since 1890 is not an
error, it is a fact. The figures are: 1880,
285: 1891. 274; 1892, 22l; 1893, 228; 1894, 242.'
1895, 2l5; 1896 $50; 1897, 211, and 1885, 1874.
'.The reason for this decrease Of deaths
is probably the fact that about 1880 was
begun an extensive system Of sewers,
since carried on; this and the change TO
Hackensack River water which was pe-
gun In 1882, and the use gradually Sex-
tended, taking the place Of wells. The
rate for zymotic diseases from 1892 TO
1893 was about per 1000 as against coun-
ty rate of l.
1.-THE very notable fall in death rate Of
Jersey City IN 1881 anu 1880 ana now toi>
tinuing. comedies very closely with the
Introduction of the Pequannock River
water supply which began in July 1896
I'm the case of Hoboken's reduced death
rate it may be accounted for by new
water supply from Hackensack River in
1882, also by the gradual reclamation OF
sunken meadow land partly surrounding
city. also by Increased and improved
sewers
II may say here that 1t is quite possible
in the case of West Hoboken, Gutten-
berg and West New York that the death
rates since 1895 may be too low, for the
reason that estimated populations, used
In calculations, may be too high, as the
high rate of increase, from census of 1880
to State census of 1895 may not have con-
tinued.
This. however is not susceptible Of
proof and as the census increase from 1890
to 1885 is used for the rest of the county
we must continue to estimate populations
upon It for these towns also.
Il beg leave tosremain,
Very respectfully yours,
&c. J. ROONEY, Jr., Clerk. =
Clerk Rooney is preparing tabulated
statement of the vital statistics of the
county for the past twenty-five years for
DR.. Samuel W. Abbott, special agent of
the hygienic section of the Paris Expo
Sition