The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-09-10
Figures Show We Are Living
Longer Than Generations Ago.
THE CENSUS BUREAUS LATEST
Medical ScIsrc, and Improved Sanitary
Conditions Are Doing Much 10
ProIong EX'sisnca

Washington. Sept lo.-A few years
hence II will be possible for an American
TO turn to statistics compiled by the Fed
erai government and fgure out whether
the expectation OF life Of the children
that may come 10 bless his home 10 longer
or shorter than the one the fgure-malxers
gave his. when he was born. In other
words, the government is preparing to so
into the business OF compiling vital sta
tistics In more systematic manner.
Heretofore the only time when the gen.
compiling such figures was In the decen-
nial census year.
CENSUS BUREAU PERMANENT.
When the last congress made the CEN
ed for the preparation of certain statis-
ties every year and others every five
years. Director Merriam has decided that
he Gan prepare and publish vital statistics
every year. Preparations for work of that
kind are being made now under the d.
rection OF A w. King. chief OF the divi-
sion OF vital statistics.
Handbooks are being prepared for the
purpose OF having health officers all over
the country send uniform data TO the Of
flee In this city. At present each city has
its own way OF collecting the data. Me-
cessnrily there Is a great difference OF
opinion as TO what are the essential facts
to be reported. There is also great diff
ference Of opinion as to the classification
OF the cause OF death. IL VIII be the pur-
pose OF the census Office to bring harmony
out OF this chaos.
EXCEPTION OF LIFE.
The recently publ lhed statistics Of the
census have left an impression that the
expectation OF life Of the American citi-
zen has Increased 10 the extent OF over
four years. That Is an erroneous deduc-
ton from one fact ascertained by the
census office. That single fact is that the
average at the time OF death OF those
who died I'm the census year OF 1900 was
1852 years. whereas the average In the
census year OF 1880 was only n.1.
From that fact IL was inferred that the
census office had intended TO assert that
the expectation Of life had increased q
little more than four years. II had no
such intention. said Mr.. King, while dis
cussing the subject with a correspondent.
Such a deduction IL erroneous. for the
reason that the figures given include the
death occurring among those born In for
eign lands who came TO this country af-
ter they had reached the age of manhood
than those OF the infant a few hours old.
Had those who reported the deaths elm
mated persons of that kind. the deduc-
tion would not be far from a proper one.
But It was not done. SO the only true
statement Of what was discovered is that
sus year of 1900 were on the average III
years older than those who died In the
corresponding time in 1880
1T is INCREASING
But, as before stated. II 10 the purpose
of the census bureau TO gather data
from which II will be able to say with
accuracy whether the expectancy OF life
|of Americans is increasing. II is q popu-
lar impression that the expectation n
increasing. and that therefore the life in
|eurance rates should come down. But 90
far as the government 10 concerned there
are no figures TO prove or disprove the
|generally accepted notion that we are
living longer than our grandfathers.
The Investigations Of the Federal gov
|ernment will not be research OF an
|original character. On the contrary. they
will consist merely OF collection OF the
Figures that are obtained In all those cit
les and other areas Of population whore
the deaths are registered and an accurate
statement Of the ago and cause OF death
are required. Nearly all states require the
Keeping OF such registers. Heretofore
tnere mas Deen no way or Gettrng tnom
|all together 80 there can be an analysis
|comprehending the whole country in this
|ecope.
SCIENCE TO THE RESCUE
The statistics recently published by the
census bureau. while not showing that the
american citizen is living longer than his
grandfather. contain many facts tending
Ito show that medical and sanitary SCI
|ence are doing much to prolons human
|life. For instance. they show that IN
areas where the registration Of death 70
the death rate decreased
|neariy 10 per cent In the last decade. In
|1s9o the death rate In nj registration cit
Hes. each OF n population Of 5000 and up
ward. the. death rate was n per 1000 Of
persons. In 1900 the rate In 341 cities Of
1900 and upward was 1s.6 a reduction Of
la per 1000 The gross population OF the
cities comprehended was N.s6s254 in 1890
4