The Washington times., 1903-08-21
GUARD RIFLE SHARPS
READY FOR SEA GIRT
STATISTICS INDICATE
NEGRO IS DYING OFF
Mortality Exceeds Births in
Cities.


OF the race problem. attention has been
called to the supposed decrease of the
negro population in the cities cf the
United States. by the failure of the birth
rate to equal the death rate. This ques-
tion has been answered affirmatiyeIy by
statements of those who have taken part
IN the race discussion, but their state
ments have been based on assumption
and personal observation, in no case
supported by statistics.
Decrease in Cities Shown.
An effort has been made in a number
or cities to obtain accurate statistics of
the births and deaths among the ne
groes. but while the death statistics are
fairly accurate. the birth records are
far from satisfactory. The statistics
that have been furnished tend. however.
to confirm the statement that in cities
the birth rate among the negroes fails
to keep pace with the death rate. and
that If there were no increase in the
urban population by the influx OF ne
groes from the rural districts, consid-
cradle falling off would be shown.
The vital statistics of the Twelfth Cen
sus all point toward Justification of
the theory that the population of the
negroes in the cities is on the decrease
when the influx of country negroes is
left out of the calculations.
Statistics in Washington.
The excess Of deaths over births
among the negroes was especially no
ticeable in Washington There were
2.704 negro deaths in Washington In
1900. and only zoos negro births, an ex-
cess Of 701 deaths, or more than one
third more deaths than there were
births. In the same year white births
were 3.6O9, and the white deaths $3.50, or
an excess OF deaths of only 81.
Out OF ffty-six cities reported by the
census, in all parts of the country
North, South, East, and West - the
death rate among the negroes is found
TO be greater than the birth rate IN
fifty cities The remaining six cities
are nearly all places with very small
negro populations, where the small ex-
cess OF birth rate reported might be ae-
counted for by an accidental falling of
in the death rate for that particular
year.
Records in New England.
There is no part OF the country in
which the registration OF vital statistics
is so nearly perfect as iz New England.
For this reason the figures for Boston
are particularly interesting They show
that during the census year there were
1891 births and II ,2T7 deaths among the
white population. making an excess of
AHA births. Among the negro popula-
ton Of Boston in the same year the
births numbered 24O and the deaths 327,
making the excess of deaths ST.
In Greater New York there were sc, ,Ie4
births and 1929 deaths among the white
population, making the excess Of births
1895 Among the negro population there
were 1870 deaths and ], ,430 births, max
ing the excess of deaths $40.
In Buffalo there were 1927 births and
5.157 deaths among the white population,
making the excess OF births 4,070. Among
the negro population there were 29
births and 80 deaths. making the excess
of deaths 81.
Decrease in Chicago.
In Chicago there were 43, ,09s births,
and q, ,533 deaths in the white popula-
ton. making the excess OF births IL, ,565.
Among the negro population there were
ss9 births and 679 deaths, making the
excess OF deaths 290.
In ST. Louis there were 1850 births
and 10. 800 deaths among the white popu-
lation, making the excess of births
:. $40. Among the negro population there
were 594 births and 1.155 deaths. max
ing the excess of deaths 561.
In New Orleans there were 5,224
births among the white population, and
4,977 deaths, making the excess of
births 247. Among the negro population
there were 1,735 births and 1910 deaths,
making the excess OF deaths 1875.
About the same proportions were
shown IN the other cities, but the above
examples are sufficient to demonstrate
that II the births among the negro popu-
lation of the registration cities are
recorded with any approximate degree
of accuracy the negro population in
those cities is not increasing through
he birth rate.