The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-01-26
BIRTHRA ATE IN FRANCE.
Figures Show That Deaths Almost Ex-
coed Births.
GOndOn ~Telegraph.)


While France has painfully but
successfully regained her old position
among the nations of Europe, she IS
today confronted with a danger the
result of which, unless a remedy be
discovered, is automatically certain
and is only a question of time. DR..
Justin Jacques Bertillon gives under
the heading THE Man-Devouring
Town some very startling statistics in
lie Journal. Not only, he tells his
readers, lis the birth rate in French
towns rapidly ~dWindlhg. but in most
of them more of the people depart
this life than enter it It is not that
the death rate is rising, but hat the
birth rate is incredibly low and
steadily diminishcs. DIR. Bertillon's
researches extend over twenty years.
In Paris between 1887 and 1890 the
average annual mi of births was
$4,000. The total has fallen in 1907
to 5O,S11. although the census of these
twenty years shows an increased pop
u%lation, mainly due to influx from the
country. of 500. 900. In 1887-96 the
birth. rate was twenty-five per 900
inhabitants. today it is etWec eigh-
teen and nineteen.
The following are the tables for
towns with over 100000 inhabitants:
Births per 1000
Years. Inhabitants.
loSI-l89O ........ 25.5
1S91-1895 .. o4S
lS96-19G0 ...... 22S
1901-1905 ........ 21.1
1906 ............. 21.1
In towns with between 10000 and
10000 Inhabitants the same decrease
IS taxing place. The figures are:
Births per 1000
Years. Inhabitants.
1SS1-189O ........ 23.3
lS9l-lS9J ...... 22.7
1S96-1900 ........ 22.a
1901-19O3 ........ 21.3
l906 1890. .,.... POS
In nearly all the large towns more
die than are born. Paris itself is an
apparent exception, but the exception
IS only apparent. Out of 51.191 chill
dren born in Paris in 1906 nearly a
tnlfd. 1881, were sent out of the
city to be reared. Such of these in
fants as die are registered and count
ed as belonging to the villages where
theyp are nursed, and are not included
IN the Paris death rate. They are. 50
to speak, credited to the capital,
where they are born, but are not
debited to it if they die.
There are in France l12 towns
With a population exceeding 20. 0oG,
sssf.. Iy.to @l>@.1s.q ye.nt4
birthP. Mining and manufazturina
this rule. Lens and LEVIN, for in
stance, compare favorably in this re-
spect with foreign towns. and Lille.
Tourconing, Dunkirk, and CalAis also
yield an excess of births over deaths.
1t is frequently said that Brittany re-
deems the sterility of the rest of
France. But this superiority -. dis
appearing. Most of the Breton towns
show an excess of deaths over births,
and the adjacent districts are no bet
ter off.
Well may DIR. Bertillon ask: 'rWhat
will become of France if this state of
things develops, as it threatens to do
Cor twenty years past deaths have ex-
ceeded births in most French towns.
The towns have set a bad example to
France, which is only too truthfully
followed
France loses comparatively little by
emigration, but unless the rural dis
tPictS save France, as they have saved
France before, OF unless this %unnatur-
al restriction of the town population
is topped, q time must come when
French influence Will cease in the
world, for there will be no French left
to exercise IL