The evening world., 1908-11-26
DR.. Guilfoy's Figures Do Not
Support Doleful Prophecy
of Ithaca Professor.
BIRTH RATE GROWING
Foreigners Keep Average High;
Why Questionable Sections"
Have Few Babies.
BY Ethel Lloyd Patterson.

The earth will be deNopuated in two
hundred and fifty years If the present
average decrease in the birth rate con-
tinues. says Prof. Walter F. WILCOX. of
Ithaca. That is Prof. Wilcox SAYS that
'if the decreased birthrate continues
unchecked. in one hundred and fifty
years there Will be no children born"
Even a gentleman devoted to statistics
and research. however. realizes that II
there We're no children to grow up"
a hundred years would see the race
wiped out.
So. what's the use? BY the time air
ships have been made safe and practi-
cal damp clouds and haloes and harps
will be ever more practical. And this
IS lust bound to happen before they
finish New York. and nobody ever will
know what 1t was going to look like
II is depressing to think of lying on
a rainbow and observing Broadway
unshadowed by human form. or the
entrance 10 the Brooklyn Bridge or
the subway without a soul in sight;
but. after all. there is something cheer
Ing in that last thought
But F 'ures Don't Agree.
But then learned gentlemen do not al
ways agree. There are some who ven
ture 10 prophesY that our great-grand-
children will still he merrily slowing
away brolled lobster or Saturday
nights hundred and fifty years hence;
that in five hundred wears there will
still he enough people left 10 finish the
sky-scrapers and subway, and some
even Insist there are even going to be
ever so many more of us and that the
birth rate is actually on the increase.
DIR. W. II, Guilfoy. of the Health
Department gives statistics TO confirm
his statements along these lines.
In New York City there has been an
increase OF S,99S births this year over
last year" DR.. Guilfoy remarked. I'VE
must take into consideration, too that
not only in this city but throughout the
country 1t is impossible to get abso-
lutely accurate figures on the birth rate
This Is due to parents lack of knowl-
edge OF the laws. the lack of some
needed laws, and difficulty in enforcing
some OF those we have. The true birth
rate is probably larger t, an the record
ed. The past year has shown in New
York City the highest birth rate yet
placed upon the statistics, with an in
crease Of fur points in ten years Last
year sos twins were born here and seven
triplets.
Foreigners Keep Up Rate.
'In New York City last year s.. ssl
women who became mothers were for
aiFnnre againSt n pf
or course IT is true that the poor class
foreigners are the ones who keep up
the high average. The Italians have
the largest families, the Jews are next
and the Irish are third.
I'm one Italian block, with a population
of 5000, there were PA births. on the
other hand In ten blocks of private
dwelling houses on the upper west side.
with a population of 5,7l9, only thirty
births were recorded But there are
several explanatory circumstances .or
this startling comparison.
ITO begin, consider the number of
unmarried domestics in the latter neigh
borhood. Then again. people do not
live In a fashionable part of the city
unless they have money. Comparatively
few people are born rich. so by the time
they have attained sufficient means to
take up their abode IN portion OF the
city where the rents are highest their
families are already in existence
Il do not wish 10 imply there Is no
foundation for the sermons that are
preached concerning the selfshness of
many of our American wives. Unfortu-
nately, much that is said Is founded
on shameful fact. / simply wish TO
show, however, that the human race
is In no immediate danger of becoming
extinct"