The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-12-03
MANY SEEK DIVORCE
Reports Of U. S. Officials Show
22,667 Divorces Granted
in This State
RATE FOR DIVORCE GROWING
Interesting Statistics Gathered by
United States Government Show
Growth of Divorce Evil in
Twenty Years

There have been 22,867 divorces
granted in the state Of Wisconsin from
the year 1887 to 1906, according to the
United States report on divorces Just
completed This number for the Bad
ger state is only fair ranking, mum
erous other states running much higher
while some, notably the less thickly
populated western states, have much
smaller number, although having as
high pro rata. In 1880, the divorce
rate for Wisconsin was Al for each
100000 people. By 1890, this rate had
grown until it was IS for each 100000
Of the population. Montana ranks the
highest at present with record of
167 out of every 100000 people. Maine
is in line with III, Indiana with 142,
Arkansas with 1876, Colorado with 158,
and Illinois with an even 100. South Car
DINA is the leader for few divorces, all
laws permitting divorce being repealed
in 1878. Consequently it has none to
REPORT. Delaware is next with only Is.
The southern states, as a, rule have a
lower pro rata than in the north, their
laws being much stricter on the sub
ject
The total number Of marriages record
ed during the twenty years from 1887
to 1906, inclusive, was 12,832,O44. The
number annually reported increased
from $4,000 in the year 1887 to $685.
300 in the year 1906. The increase
year by year was by no means uni
form. The marriage rate is quickly re
sponsive to changes in economic condi-
ftions A small increase shown in 1898
and an actual decrease in the succeed
ing year reflect the influence of the
/ panic of 1892, and normal conditions do
not appear to have been restored in
the matrimonial market until the year
1899.
The marriage rate in the United
| States in the year 1900 was 90 per
| 10000 population. Based upon the
adult unmarried (single, widowed, or
divorced) population, the rate becomes
321 per 10000, indicating that in each
| year something over 3 per cent. of the
unmarried adult population marry. The
marriage rate based on the total popu-
lation is higher in the United States
than in any other country for which
reliable statistics are available.
| The total number Of divorces report
ed for the twenty years, 1887 to 1906
inclusive, was 945,625. For the earlier
investigation, covering the twenty
years, 1867 to 1886, inclusive, the num-
Der reported was 328,716, or hardly
more than one-third of the number
recorded in the second twenty years
At the beginning of the forty-year
tions, divorces occurred at the rate of
| 10000 year; at the end of that period
the annual number was about $4,000.
This increase, however, must be con-
sidered in connection with increase in
population.
An increase of 80 per cent. in popu-
lation between the years 1870 and
1880 was accompanied by an increase
of 70 per cent, in the NUMBER of di-
vorces granted. In the next decade,
1880 to 1890, the population increased
25 per cent. and divorces 20 per cent.
and in the following decade, 1890 to
1900, an increase of 81 per cent in
population was accompanied by an in
crease of Sc per cent in the number of
divorces. In the six years from 1900
to 1906, population, as estimated, in
creased 10.5 per cent. and divorces 1913.
per cent.
The divorce rate per 100000 popula-
ton increased from 90 in 1870 to 80 in
1905. In the former year there was 1
divorce for every 3,441 persons and in
the latter year l for every 1928.
Since it is only married people who can
become divorced, a more significant di
vorce rate is that which is based, not
upon total population, but upon the
total married population. The rate
per 100000 married population was 81
in the year 1870 and 200 in the year
1900. This comparison indicates that
divorce is at present two and one-half
times as common, compared with mar
ried population, as it was forty years
ago. A divorce rate of 200 per
100000 married population is equival
ent to 2 per 1000 married population.
Assuming that 1000 married people
represent 500 married couples, it fol
lows that in each year married cou-
pies out of every 1000 secure divorce.
A number of Kenosha Masons went