The daily sentinel., 1907-07-24
BACHELORS
ARE SCARCE
IN CHICAGO

q There is no necessity for a a
q higher tax in Chicago. The a
q young men of this city are x
q finding wives for themselves in q
q a way that threatens to leave q
q city bachelorless. In the month n
q of June of this year an aggre- *
q gate of 3,700 wedding licenses q
q were issued, and as this is 500 a
q more than were taken out for n
q the similar period of last year a
q it can be seen how rapidly a
O the marriage rate is increas- 4
q ing.
The state of affairs in the bust
ness presided over by Cupid and Lii
cense Clerk Morris Salmonson is in
dicated by the June weddings. Each
year finds the wedding rate increas-
ing faster than the population, and
this, if the present gain is MAIN
tanned, is destined to leave the city
without the surplus eligible list. In
June of 1904, 2,5SS marriage IL
censes were issuel. The next year
2,SO7 permits were vven out by
Mr.. Salmonson. Last June 4,2O3
couples were harnessed by Cupid and
June of this year saw 300 young
men before the window with an APP
plication for the all important pa
pers.
While the marriage rate rapidly is
increasing, it Is not likely that Cupid
will run short in his supply of raw
material for some time to come. Ac-
cording to the figures of the last gov
ernment census report there are
more than $4,000 single men in
Chicago. all of whom are between
the ages of 10 and A years. or
single women between the ages of l 81
and "a there remains an ample sup
ply of those who still are eligible
for matrimony.
Marriage License Clerk Morris
Salmonson says there is nothing the
matter with the marriage situation
in Chicago. Everything is running
along smoothly, he says and bach
elor tax, in his opinion, is the last
of the city's needs.
This is going to break all records
for Weddings said the author of
wedding permits. During the first
six months of the present year ap-
proNimately 5000 marriage licenses
We're issued as against a little over
1000 for the corresponding period
of last year, The last six months of
the year always are better for we'd
| dings as most young couples prefer
to be married in the summer time
and fall
Last year there were 24.3O3 Ii
| censes issued and at the rate that
has been maintained so far this sea-
son l would not be surprised to see
the total for the year reach above
the 80 900 mark. This will be more
than the usual rate of increase and
| surely indicates prosperous season
for my good friend, d. Cupid. In
| 1904, 21,1G5 permits were issued,
| The next year there were 22.754.
Last year the number was 24.303.
! These figures show an average an
nual Increase of about 1000 for the
three years.
This year has been an exception
ally good one for Cupid, as an ag.
gregate of 500, licenses have been
issued for the first six months. This
is an unusually large number fol
the first half of the year and II the
present rate Is maintained for the
next six months there will be {
smashing of records"
In addition to the eligible lis
there are .152 widowers and wild
ows in Chicago and 4,341 who have
been divorced. These. Mr.. Salmon
son fears, will hold the balance o
power against Cupid. The marriage
license clerk says II is easier to mar
ry man or woman the first tim,
than the second Having had on,
taste of matrimony they are couten
to wait awhile before plunging int
it again, and for that reason ther
is no way of making headwa
against this class of eligibles.
cago Tribune.