The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-07-09
NATIvE.soRN POPULATION
10 STEADILY INCREASING
Has Risen Twenty-Five Per Cent In
Past Ten Years, as Compared With
Foreign increase Of IL Per Cent.

Notably interesting and significant
are some Of the figures presented In
an abstract Of the tenth census, Just
published by the department Of COM
merce.
Few realize that the native born
population In 10 years rose 20 per cent
and the foreign born less than IL per
cent II IL apparent hard times'
were the chief cause OF the compare
tive decrease in the foreign popuia-
tloD.
As q matter OF fact the actual NUM-
ber Of English, Irish. German and
French residents decreased In these 10
years. while Poles. Hungarians, RUS
SLAMS and Italians increased by large
percentage.
Not entirely disconnected with the
decline in immigration Ii the pleasing
demonstration by figures that litter
acy In the United States Is decreas-
Ing. Even with the increase In pop
uiation OF more than 20 per cent from
1890 to 1900, the number OF illiterates
fell nearly 10000 in the decade. Yet,
even In 1900, there were 6,1sO,00O per-
sons 10 years old or more In the Unit
ed States unable to read or write.
Many iIIitsrate Whites.
While the negroes In the south are
largely responsible for this huge total
there are still 100000 whites in the
iliiterate class. or foreign born Hitter
ates New York state has 25s.0oo, or al
most 20 per cent OF the total In the
country. But the Empire state has In
addition $4,000 natives who cannot read
or write. In view OF the immense
throng OF immigrants that settle In
New York state, II Is one Of the SUR
prIslng facts that the percentage Of
increase OF native born in 10 years
slightly exceeded the percentage Of in
crease OF foreign born. The showing
Is contrary 20 that OF nearly every
other populous eastern state.
What might be called family statis-
tics present some novel phases. An ex-
hlbit pleasing TO the social reformer II
demonstration that the average mum
Der Of persons TO a dwelling is falling
Thus in 1900 1t was 6.s persons, while
In 1890 II was 5.5.
New York Homes Crowded.
New York state has the unpleasant
but natural eminence OF having
more persons TO dwelling (seven)
than any other state in the union
This, Of course. is due TO the tenemen,
houses OF the metropolis.
Not so agreeable as a national show
Ing is the fact that the number Of fam
lilies owning their houses Is decreas-
Ing. II is worthy OF note that the per-
centage OF homes owned rises gener-
ally with the increase OF the farming
population and falls with the grow
ing preponderance OF the Industrial
classes
The average number Of persons to
a family In the United States is ~.
In 1900 the per centage Of married
among all persons Is years or over
was 555; Of single IS; of widowed. al
most per cent. and OF divorced, four
tenths Of per cent.
Coast Women Marry.
Judging from the figures, the Pa
cifc coast states are the best for mar
rIageable women, so per cent being
wives. against 50 per cent in the CEN
trial west and 81 per cent In the east.
Contrariwise, the Pacific coast shows
the smallest percentage of married
men-45 per cent against general
average of SO per cent in the east and
middle west.
The mortality statistics show that
the increase in pneumonia deaths from
1890 to 1900 was per cent; of heart
disease, ~ per cent; of kidney dis
ease, A per cent, of apoplexy, II per
cent; Of cancer, 12 per cent.
On the other hand, the figures show