New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-25
CHIcAGo's ERRONEOUS CONCLUSION.

NA44C-1OOc LhhOA LOCO JOhCLC HAON.
The second city of the country shall not be
deprived, with our consent, of any praise which
it may deserve as a health resort, nor have we
the slightest wish TO fitch from citizens of Chi
cagO the credit to which they are entitled for
maintaining their residence there; but we can
not rest quietly under the reflections cast upon
the healthfulnesS of the first city of the country
by THE Chicago Post" That journal, while ad-
hitting that New York has made highly re-
spectacle showing in the reduction of lis death
rate year by year, points out that ChicagO's
death rate for a single week was something
like two in thousand less than that shown
by New York for the entire month upon which
the comparison was based.
Without regard TO the manifest unfairness of
The Posts" statStician in taking the shorter
period a basis for comparing Chicago's
healthfulness with that of New York. there are
one or two points which ought not TO be- but
frequently are. overlooked in making such
comparisons. Other things being equal. an old
city is, III a measure, at a disadvantage as COM
pared with a young one in respect to its death
rate; for in the case of a city which has become
a metropolis almost within generation, those
who came with youth and strength TO share in
its upbuilding have hardly yet reached an age
at which they may naturally expect 10 be
gathered to their fathers. The failure of this
rule 10 operate more largely against New York
is due in no small degree to its increase in
population through immigration for rigid in
spectiOn admits only those whose general health
promises long life. This gives New York & much
lower death rate than is shown by many cities
which are rghtfully recommended as health
resorts. Chicago in addition to receiving many
of the best of the picked immigrants-thOSe
who have the courage and stamina 10 penetrate
still further inland-receives every year tens of
thousands of the strongest and most capable
young men and women of the great agricultural
region of which il is the commercial centre
If comparison of death rates were made
the absolute standard of measurement for the
healthfuiness of various cities, many a New
York or New England city or town which from
the number of its citizens far past the allotted
threescOre years and ten must be regarded as
an eminently favorable place for the living of
long lives would be put on the defensive: for
from many such regions the younger element
has gone away in search of larger oppOrtuni-
ties, leaving behind those who must in the
course Of nature, succumb much more rapidly
in proportion TO population than if the natural
balance between youth and age We're main
tanned. Though we should like TO believe there
fore, that there is truth in the report of the
dietarian that smoke and other like substances
are wholesome enough to bear the o. X. of the
governments food expert we cannot let the
matter stand our Western contemporary
would like TO have it, ana can only add as
testimony To the general impression on the part
of the people of Chicago that New York is their
best choice as place of residence that so soon
as they are permitted by wealth and freedom
from care 10 do so they hasten to establish for
themselves home address at the Eastern end
of the eIghteen-hour run.
But of both cities. and others. this must be
said: Their constantly decreasing death rates
speak unequivOcally of the efficiency of their
sanitary departments. and we may hope to see
sun greater progress made along this line with
DetterIaWs better enforced Low as their death
rates now are Chicago and New York will have
reason TO feel keenly disappointed if they are
not still lower ten or twenty years hence.