The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1904-07-23
WASHINGTON.
THE CITY. or MAGNIFICENT DIS.
- %>.. TANcES. . #.
A Collection of a Few Of the Events
. Occurring Among the Afro-Ameri-
cans Of the Capital Of This Great
and Glorious Nation for Our Many
Readers

Special Correspondence, THE APPEAL
washington, July Fl, l904.-Bulletin
Nc. 8, "AfrO-Americans in the United
States" just published by the Bureau
of The Census, is very interesting
publication from the fact that it is the
nrsf authenticated statistical cOmpi-
lation of it's kind, showing in detail
the result of various investigations
conducted under governmental author
ity. It is to- DC regretted that the
bulletin does not include tables show
ing the value of homes, other than
farm, owned by the Afro-Americans in
the various states and territories, the
number of newspapers. their value,
character and circulation, the number
and value OF the churches and the
value OF property owned by the nu-
merous *socieaies of our race; but this
information will probably be supplied
in the near future and our status as
a race; admitting unavoidable inaccu-
racies. will be fixed to a degree here
tofore undetermined
For the compilation and publication
of this valuable information Director
S. N. D. North. of the Bureau Of The
Census, is to be congratulated byilead-
ers of our people and by those who
are interested in the study of the de-
velopment of the human race as
shown by the Afro-Americans whose
progress during their forty short
years of freedom. is without parallel in
the history, of races.
Among every 1000 Afro-Americans
10 years of age and over, ASP are en-
gagged in gainful occupations. The
proportion among the whites is 373 to
every 1000. The proportion for both
iaces has increased since 1890, but
the increase has been greater among
the Afro-Americans.
In the Southern states about 10 per
cent more of the Afro-Americans than
of the whites are reported as having
some gainful occupation.
About two Afro-American women
out of five and one white woman out
Of six are breadwinners.
In 1900 there were n occupations
which gave employment to at least
10000 Afro-Americans; the ten show
ing the largest number of employees
are as follows, and in order named:
Agricultural laborers; farmers. plan
ters and overseers; laborers. not spec
flied; servants and walters; launder-
ers and laundresses: draymen, hack
men, teamSterS, etc.; steam railroad
employees; miners and quarrymen;
saw and planning mill employees and
porters and helpers in stores, etc.
In the state of Illinois. where we
had total population OF 95,O78 Afro
Americans in 1900. it is interesting to
note that 41,4S2, or So per cent of the
71,184 persons 10 years of age and
over were engaged in gainful eccupa-
lions, 9,725 of whom were females.
Deducting the employed we have 49,
702 persons, or the remaining AZ per
cent, which of course includes the
1858 attending school, the large num-
Der of children not attending school
and the men and women unemployed
Classifying the occupations, we find
that 1888 persons were engaged in
domestic and personal service; 5,303
in trade and transportation, 500 were
busy in manufacturing and mechan-
ical pursuits and 1886 in professional
service Under the head of "Profes-
sional Service" there were 245 actors.
actresses, professional showmen and
show women; 236 clergymen; 8 den
lists; "a lawyers; 800 musicians and
teachers of music; IS physicians and
surgeons; 221 teachers and professors
in colleges, etc.; % officials govern
ment) and 1874 other professional peo-
pie not classified.
lit is to be hoped that prorrietors
Snowden and Motifs will not reduce
the wages of their Palm Garden" per-
formers because of the apparent over
supply of actors and actresses
The nomination of my old friend
William r. Scott of East St. Louis,
Ill:,.fo President of the United States
by the National Negro Liberty" party
is. a source of joy to me, as | little
thought the day would ever come when
my list of acquaintances and friends
would include presidential candidates.
But in these strenuous days one must
be prepared for surprises and to read
and hear of things not even dreamed
Of heretofore.
When BILL was in business in
Cairo and lived over the saloon on