The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-15
SUICIDES INCREASE;
OVER 1880 IN 1909
Statistics Show That "a Persons
in Every 900 Killed Them
selves Last Year.

New York, August 14.-suicides IN
the United States are excessive and
on the Increase, according to the fig-
5ures for 1909. issued by The Spectator.
1876 William Street. It estimates the
number at 1850 at least.
The government vital statistics for
the registration area, which includes
about one-half Of the whole popula-
ton" The Spectator says, return 8,332
suicides for 1908. or 1876 per 100000
OF population. The registration area,
however. includes all OF the large
cities. in which the suicide rate is
higher than in the rural districts. al
though the difference In the rate is
not as pronounced as Is generally az
sumed. Assuming that q rate OF only
among the 41,S45,O0O OF estimated
population In the non-registration
area Qncluding q large negro spopu-
llation), the probable number Of sui
cides in this area would be 4,185,
which, In addition to the 8,332 in the
registration area, gives q total OF H.
SIT suicides for the whole United
states for, $685.
Statistics show that poison Is the
sfavorite means for suicide, firearms q
second choice. and han ging third. ac-
cording to The Spectator.
The method of suicide" the rec
port says, has an important bearing
upon the subject in It's larger aspects.
for suicides are unquestionably. to a
considerable extent, the result Of sug-
Kestion. Granted convenient or easy
facilities for self the deed is
done before. there has been time for
reflection. It is nothing short Of an
Indictment OF our sense OF community
responsibility that facilities for sui
eide should be as common as they are.
AReEardless Of efforts which have been
-1nde to suppress the sale of poisons
and weapons. there is nothing easter
than to secure che means OF self
murder at a convenient drug store,
hardware store, pawnshop. etc. as the
case may be.
| pistols or revolvers with which "a
very large number OF suicides have
been committed In Philadelphia. and
which are on exhibition IN the corr
Ioners office. proves that most of the
weapons are cheap fairs. probably
bought in pawnshops for a few doll
lars, Including the necessary small
amount Of ammunition.
The general suicide rate IN the
registration area for this period was wa
14.0 per 100000. and In detail, accord Z:
PC
Polsons IA
Firearms 3. 81
hanging
Asphyriation ............ $500. ]. Il
Cutting Q.
|DroWnlng 10. q
Jumping from high places So. i. Ga
Crushing OIL
tI5sier m aa n q
The suicide rate for sixty-nve Amer
lean cities during 1909 confirms the
conclusion OF previous years that tho
rate Is decidedly excessive and on the
increase. In forty-two of the cities tho i
rate for 1909 showed an increase in sui
cides over the previous year against
I.hfty-four such cities in 1908. In the
remainder there was aSdecrease IN thaa
rate. but with few exceptions the cities
were comparatively small. and the ac-
tual decrease in the rate was CT rela-
lively slight Significance. The increase
22.2. followed by Salt Lake. with 22.1
and Hoboken. with 22.o
The highest actual rate during 1909
prevailed in San Francisco, or 500 per
100000 OF population, followed by Oak
land, Cal. with 55.1; Hoboken. with
52.6; Denver, with 1876, and Salt Lake
City. with 3s.1. The highest average
rate for the decade ended with 4 sos i
prevailed In San Francisco, or SIG. fol-
lowed by Oakland, with 1856; Hoboken,
with 3o.6; ST. Louis. asa Denver. 81 A.
Newark, NJ 24.6: Haverhill, as 237:s
|NIilwaukee, 23.7; 8Chica go. q !. 8; Cincin-S
l{nati, 21.8. and New York (Alanhattan
and the Bronx, 20,e..'