The Washington times., 1902-07-23
Health Officer Woodward
Says Condition Not
Alarming.
MORTALITY IN NEGRO RACE
Large Colored Population-Effect of
Federal Institutions on Conditions
Figures Gathered by Marine Hospital
Service Said to Be Misleading.

report OIL the Marine iioSpllti ''SI WV
was shown to the District Health Off
Ger yesterday and his opinion asked
concerning the comparatively high death
late of Washington. Some OF the cities
contained in tha report are as follows:
New York, 20 per 1000; Boston, 1870,
philadelphia, 1927; Baltimore, 20-25;
Washington, 21.14; New Orleans, 21ii;
Louis. 1857; San Francisco. 1884;
Churlestown. 2e.11.
DR.. Woodward said that the death rate
N cities as given in such reports was
not ? satisfactory indication of the
healthfulness of such localities. He said
that certain considerations such as the
size of the city, the character OF the In
tabitants and their power of resistance
against the inroads Of disease should be
taken into account Not until the death
rate is analyzeI could it be properly un-
derstood. and Or. Woodward declared
that the practice of estimating the
health OF Z community by the death rate
was very misleading.
DR.. Woodward explained that the death
rate per thousand is greater in large cities
than in small ones. and that on this
point alone a comparison between Wash
ington and some other cities of the
country would be entirely misleading.
For example he thought it would be un-
fair 20 Washington to compare its death
rate with a city of 10000 people.
Bases of Computation.
Then Dr. Woodward said that a great
deal of confusion results from the dif
ferent bases from which the death rate
is computed. He said that in the large
cities the Federal census is frequently
much lower than enumerations taken
by the police. lie said that the report
of the Marine Hospital Service would
not show whether the Federal census
or the local enumeration had been fol-
lowed, and he said that the low death
rate reported by some cities was due
to large estimated population upGG:
which it was based.
Sfes king further upon this point, DR..
Woodward presented some figures taken
from his las annual report III which
the res Its Of the Federal Census were
contrasi eq with TIE police census Of
previous ears.
The Federal census of 1907 he said.
has shown 4 disappointingly small pop
uiation FOR this District. The total
number OF inhabitants enumerated vas
Tut zT2,17S; OF white, 1872, ,016, of color
ed Sf.1G2. Recent police censuses have
justified belief that the population OF
the District would be not less than
2S5,Q 600.
The results Of such censuses, shown
in the following statement. had been
consistent with one another and with
the Federal census of 1890. The Fed
eral census OF 1880 showed white pop
ulation Of 158S2G and q colcrod popu-
lation OF 75,572: total. 230, 392.
Population OF tie District of Column
bia. Police Censuses:
June. 1887. white, 145, ,635: colored.
1922; total. 2iS.157 June. 1892 white.
1850; eolored, S4.S41; total. 2jS, AL
December, 1894 white, 1895; colored.
S6.99S; total. 270,514. April 1897. white.
1ss,457; cclored, SS,32@; total, 277,7S2.
Disappointing Figures.
The increase from year TO year
while not great had been reasonably
large. and. foc a community of the
character OF Washington, satisfactory.
When. therefore, the Federal census Of
June. 1900. shows on comparison with
the police census Of April, 1897, an in
crease in the white population OF but
> 2,559. and a decrease in the colored pop
ulation Of 1923, making total increase
OF but 63c in somewhat more than three
years, 1t is apparent that there have
been some very unusual and remark
able factors n work to modify usual
conditions. or that one or the other o.
these enumeraYons OF the population is
incorrect.
- careful consideration having failed
TO show the presence of any factors IL
able 10 cuitail the usual increase in the
population the latter hypothesis Is at
least reasonably well sustained. As 10
which Of the enumeratious IS in error
there may be honest differences Of opin-
ion, bat as the police census was made
by men familiar with every nook and
Granny % the District. and whose uni
forms commanded respect, and the sum
ming uD Of the returns done by men
whose gradually increasing experience
up 20 the last enumeration insured ac-
curacy. IL would appear that the chances
Of being correct were much in favor OF
the police census. the Federal census
Of June. 1900. showing probably less
than the actual number Of the inhabi-
tants"
Federal Census Figures Used.