The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-08-17
PERSISTENT
DECLINE
IN BIRTHS

Washignton, Aug. 17.-That there has
in the United States since 1860 is the
conclusion reached in a bulletin issued
yesterday by the census bureau
The bulletin was prepared by Professor
Walter F. Wilcox OF Cornell university,
and It is explained that. although the
analysis made offers many suggestions
as to the probable tendencies in the birth
rate of the United States. It is, primarily,
not a study in birth rates. but as tudy
in the proportion OF children 10 the total
population or TO the number of women of
child-5earing age"
Between 1850 and 1860 the proportion Of
children 10 women between 10 and 40
years. the chlld-bearing age, increased,
but since 1860 It has constantly decreased.
In 1860 the number OF children under five
years Of age to 1000 women IS to ~ years
OF age was 634; in 1900 It was only 474.
The proportion of children to potential
mothers In 1900 was only three-fourth as
large as 1850.
THE RECENT DECREASE.
Considered sectionally Il is found that
"A
more or less regular decline, while ia
the South thee hange has been less regu-
lar and the decline less marked
In 1880 the proportion OF children 10 1000
women In the north and west was flve-
sixths OF what 1t was in the SOUTH in 1900
1t was less than three-fourths.
In 1900 the smallest proportion OF chill
dren was in the District of Columbia,
tfe-+4+ss4+ber Of children under five
was hardly more than one-fourth the
number Of women OF child bearing age.
The next smallest proportion was
lassachusetts, where IL was slightly more
than one-third. The largest proportion
was in North Dakota and Indian Terri
tory. in each Of which II was two-thirds
In the general decrease between 1890
and 1900 not a single state OF the north
Atlantic division took part In seven
other states, also, there was no decrease
In only six states. Maryland, Michigan,
Ohio, Illinois. Kentucky and Indiana did
the proportion decrease in each OF the
FIVE decades. and only Delaware Dis
trict of Columbia. Wisconsin. Minnesota
Iowa oregon and Colorado did Il follow
the tendency for the country as a whole
that is, increase from 1880 TO 1860 and de-
crease I'm the four succeeding decades
CHIEFLY IN CITIES
In 1900 for the United States as a whols
the proportion OF children was only two-
thirds as great in cities Al in the c0~1try
districts In the North Atlantic division.
however. II was almost as great I'm the
cities az I'm the country.
In the Southern divisions II Is hardly
more than half as large in the cities rs
I'm the country. while In the Far West tho
difference Is intermediate I'm amount.
"This." IL IS explained. "ls probably due
in a large measure TO the fact that tho
immigrant population who have been
swarming into the Northern cities Of re-
cent years especially into the cities of tho
North Atlantic states. have been multi
plying by numerous births with much
rapldity. while tho corresponding laboring
class which has immigratcd 10 Southern
cities from the surrounding country dis
tricts has not been thus increasing"
\ comparison Is made between the pro-
portion of children born Of native mothers
20 1000 native women " child bearing
age and the proportion ~ children horn
~ foreign born mothers to 1000 foreign
born women ~ child bearing age.
In 1900 the former proport hon was J69.
the latter 10. the difference Indicating
the greater fecundity Of foreign born
women.
The decrease in the proportion OF chill
dren horn 10 native white wo-nen was
confined chiefly 10 citieA