Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1909-10-27
Era OF Low Mortality


census Office gives interesting infor-
nation regarding the death rate in this
country:
The civilized world has indeed
arrived mt an era of low mortality"
This conclusion is stated in Census
Bureau Bulletin. 1O4, on mortality
statistics for 1908. prepared by Dr..
| Greasy l.. Wilbur chief statistician for
vital statistics under Director Durand
who has transmitted it to Secretary
Nagel of the Department of Commerce
and Labor. d.. 49,.
The death rate. of the registration
states in 1903 was 1913, per 1000 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 ev err
occurred in the United States. 49,.
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 1875 per, 1,O00
the latter including all cities having a
population of 5000 or more inhabitants
in 1900, and being, as usual, somewhat
greater than the rural rate. Such rates
would have seemed quite out of the
question IL few years ago.
The death rate of England and Wales
for 1908 was only 14.7 per 1000 of
population, and of London for the same
year, l5.S per 1000. For each year
since 1893 the death rate Of England
and Wales has been less than 16 per
thousand, with the exception of the
year 1904 for which year it was 1862 per
1000, while no rate as low has been
recorded for any previous years Of
registration.
the early publication of the data re-
lating 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 ana separate reg is
tIation cities in registration states
accepted by the Census Bureau as
haying approximately Complete regis
trationS of, deaths based upon the re-
quirement Of compulsory burial permits
For the year 1908, the registration
states were: California, Colorado,
Connecticut, Indiana, Maine. Maryland,
Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hamp-
shire, New Jersey, New Yopk. Pennsyl-
vania, Rhode Island, South Dakota,
Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin.
The District Of Columbia and seventy
four registration cities in non-registra-
ton states, together with the registra-
ton states IN 'ntioned, made up the
aggregate reg ,Stration area for 1908,
WHOSE total estimated population for
the year was 43,O29, 7G7 or oyer. one half
OILS per cent? of the total estimated
population of the continental United
States which was 1857 900. The
addition OF Ohio for the year 1909 has
still further increased the percentages of
the popu'nti II reporting to 552 per
cent, anti Oth'r areas may be included
for the calendar year 1910, for which
direct comparisons Of the mortality
statistics can be made with the popula.
tfon enumerated by the Thirteenth
Census .. ..-.
The total MI nbar Of deaths returned
for the year lD0S from the aggregate
Registration aret was 69t,574. For the
preceding year the number of deaths
was 6S1,0af, or only 1910 less than the
1908 returns, although the registration
area for 1908 was increased by Wash
ington and Wisconsin. The year 1908
was one Of remarkably low mortality
throughout tn" United States so far as
can be determined from the available
registration records and xvas ,norLed h,