The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-05-13
SOME FIGURES
On Canton as Shown
by the Govern ment.
STATISTICS FOR YEAR
Have Been Completed by De-
part ent Of Com missioner
of Labor by Special Rep
rcsentativo.

George b. Washington. Jr., of the
department of the United States COM
mission of labor. finished his work of
gathering Canton's municipal statis-
tics Friday and left for Akron, where
he will compile the statistics Of that
city. II
MIR. Washington is forbidden by his
chief, Carroll ID. Wright, to reveal the
showing of this city made by the re-
port he has compiled here. This will
be printed in a bulletin issued by the
government next September, but some
figures taken from last years report
NAV be of interest to Canton citizens.
These bulletins are printed by the
labor department to show the relative
standing, growth and progress OF the
cities Of the country. They set forth
the comparative cost of government,
the improvements, sanitary methods.
death rate, tax assessments, and other
matters under the head of local gov
ernment, and give excellent COMPARE
sons between the standing of various
cities.
Only cities of 10000 population or
over are considered, and of these there
were 1856 last year, Canton being num-
Der 131 on the list with 30,667. In this
connection 1t is interesting to know
that this city was included in the list
of 1876 cities two years before its pop
ulation really entitled 1t to be so
classed.
Between the years of 1897 and 1900
the populations were estimated, and
Canton was believed to be entitled to
a population exceeding 10000. The
1900 census showed that Canton had
not had that number of people in the
years '98 and '99, but in the census
year there were 667 people to spare,
so the city was kept on the list.
The most striking feature in last
years bulletin was Canton's health
showing in the comparison of deaths
during the year in various cities. The
death rate table shows that in the en-
tire United States there were only
three cities over 10000 in which the
deaths were fewer than here. Can
tons number was only 327 for the en-
tire year, or 1886 in 1000 of popu-
lation. -i
Charleston. S. G. shows death rate
of 1886 per 900, about three times as
many as Canton. This would indi-
cate that very few towns can, COM
pare with this in the matter Of health.
In point Of the number of saloons,
the bulletin gives Canton less than
the average, but some must be over
Industrious, as the number of drunken
men arrested was about normal.
The fire department showing is ex-
cellent. Canton's department conf
pares with any city in the country,
both in efficiency and economy OF
operation.
Canton evidently Is not marrying
town, judging from the bulletins table
on marriage statistics. Butte, Mont,
slightly smaller in population had
nearly twice as many of its young
people bound with the golden chain
last year. in spite of the fact that
brides are popularity supposed to be
far and few between in that sec
tion.
Canton's report on street sprinkling
looks dry, but II they are not well
sprinkled they are at least we'll light
ed. The city last year had by long
odds more street lamps than any city
of its class in the country-792 in all
The tax rate Is somewhat above
other cities, having the same popu-
lation, $50 per 1000 of valuation being
the rate for all purposes. including
state and country. Still, the city OF
Rockford. H., slightly larger. has o
rate of SCOTS per $1,000, which makes
Canton's look Insignificant.
The only really unfavorable showing
for Canton In the whole book is the
one of tax-rate, and when it is re-
membered that the city has been max.
ing improvements of all kinds at 9
wonderful pace during the past few
years this feature Is quite clearly ex-
planned.