Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1909-10-29
Era OF Low Mortality


The civilized world has indeed
arrived ut an era of low mortality"
h conclusion is stated in Census
Bureau Bulletin. l0I. OIL mortality
statistics for 1908. prepared by DR..
Cressy l.. Wilbur, chief statistician for
vital statistics under Director Durand
who has transmitted it to Secretary
Nagel of the Department of Commerce
and Labor.
The death rate of the registration
states in 1908 was 1913 per LOCO of
population which was slightly lower
than that for the entire registration
area, 15.4 per. 1000, and it is the lowest
on record. DR.. Wilbur states it is prob
ably the lowest death rate that has ever
occurred in the United States.
The death rate of the rural portions
of these states WAS still lower. being
only IA per 1000. while that of the
urban population Was lG.5 per 1000;
the latter including all cities having Il
population of 5000 or more inhabitants
i'll 1900, and being, rs usual. somewhat
greater than the rural rate. Such rates
would have seemed quite ont of the
question Il few years ago.
The death rate of England and Wales
for 1905 WAS only HI per 1000 Of
population, and of London for the same
year, lis per 1000. For each year
since 1891 the death rate of England
and Wales has been less than 10 per
thousand, with the exception of the
year 1901 for which year it WAS 1872 per
1000, while no rate ~ low has been
recorded for any previous years of
registration.
The early publication of the data re-
latin3 to the mortality of the year 1908
for the registration area of the United
States WAS only made possible by the
increased promptness of the returns
from the state and city offices, most of
which now make monthly reports.
The registration area embraces the
registration states aud separate reg is
tration cities in non registration states
accepted by the Census Bureau rs
having approximately complete regis
tratiOns of deaths based upon the re-
quiremcnt of compulsory burial permits.
For the year 1908, the registration
states We're: California, Colorado,
Connecticut, Indiana. Maine. MARYLAND,
Massachusetts. Michigan. New Hamp-
shire, New Jersey, New Yopk. Pennsyl-
viiia, Rhode Island. South Dakota,
Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin.
The District of Cplumbia and seventy
four registration cities in non.rcgistra-
ton states, together with the registra-
ton states III 'ntiuncd. made up the
aggregate registration area for 1908.
whose total estimated population for
the year was ID. 02S, 1G7 or over one half
OILS per cent of the total estimated
population of the continental United
States, which WAS q, 1874, 800. The
addition of Ohio for the year 1909 has
still further increased the percentage of
the population reporting tn j52 per
cent and other areas may be included
Tor the cllcidar year 1910, for which
direct comparisp of the mortality
statistics 4 b. made with the p1pula-
ton emu ncratel by the Thirteenth
Census.
The total number Of deaths returned
for the year 1908 from the aggregate
registration area was SOL, 514. For the
preceding year the number of deaths
was 6SI,O3i, or only i,5i0 less than the
o D returns, although the registration
area for 1908 was increased by Wash
ington and Wisconsin. The year 1908
was one OF remarkably low mortality
throughout the United States so far as
can be determined from the available
registration records and was marked by
Il general absence of severe epidemics
aud Of unusual mortality from other
causes.
Females contributed Il slightly larger
proportion of the deaths in 1908 than
they did in 1907. but the actual number
Of deaths of males registered for 1908
was less than for 1907. The percentage
of males was 52.3 and of females 40 Z
The figures for age periods show a
somewhat increased per cent Of deaths
of infants under 1 year for 1908 hut the
ratios for each Of the individual years
from ! to I are identical for 1907 and
1908. y close agreement appears in the
subsequent five year periods. although
there was Il slightly more favorable
showing for 1905 for the age periods
from IL to 80 years.
Nearly II fifth Of all the deaths that
occurred were those Of infants under one
year of age and over onc.fOurth are of
children less than five years of age.
For both 1907 and 1905, 03.3 per cent
OF all deaths were those of white persons
which shows the unequal division of the
registration area in this respect. Mary
land is tho only registration state with
q considerable proportion t2a.G per cent
of culOrcd population.
Nearly one. fourth Of all deaths reg.
istcrcd were those Of persons born out.
side Of the United States. The states
having the largest proportion of native
born Americans Of native stock. are.
DIR. Wilbur states, the ones in which il