The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-18
FLATS 70 BLAME
Charged With Being Responsible for
Decrease In Birth Rate

From the New York Journal
The panic of 1907 was given today as
the cause of the decrease In births dur
Ing 1909. according to Prof. +. H. Gid
diIgs of Columbia, one of the world S
foremost sociologists as he reviewed the
vital statistic for the past year, just is
sued by the health department.
Although the financial depression be-
gan in the fall of 1907 he explained at
was not generally felt in the industrial
and commercial world until 1908. Every
one was hard up, and the immediate eff
feet was the postponement of marriages.
Commissioner Darlington's figures show
that the number OF marriages went from
1899 to Al ,4S3 in 1909 an increase of 1854.
This is not due to any unusual popularity
of marriage, but to the number who de-
layed weddings in 1908 until times should
get better
Now this decrease of marriages dur
ing 1908 had little effect upon the number
of children until 1909. And for that year
we flnd very naturally. a fall of 1923, from
total of 1856 in the previous year. 1t
is by no means coincident that the in
crease of marriages in 1909 Is approx
mately equal to the decrease of births
during the same period.
1.-The figures prove how closely mar
risge follows prosperity, and how there
preston upon the birth rate.
Apartment houses are partly respon-
sble for the decrease of the birth rate
noticeable in all the larger cities, par
ticularly in New York.
Children are becoming unpopular to q
certain extent. But we have to put the
blame very largely upon the movement OF
the city population from single houses
into those where a dozen and more fami-
lilies are gathered under a single roof.
THE landlord objects to large fami-
lies. He even hesitates to lease suites
to persons with one or two small chill
dren. Yet, in doing this, he merely re-
fleets the attitude OF the tenant. In
congested quarters children are not want
ed, and the tenants have come not to like
other peoples children.
still, / believe the ordinary person
is as fond of having children of his own
as he ever was Only he wants fewer Of
them.
1.-THE rise in prices of goods, the more
varied desires of people. are responsible
for the conditions today. People cannot
afford too many children. 1t costs more
to rear them, and the people want to rear
them better. I don't think it is due to
individual selfishness that people have
so few children compared with the con-
dition common a century ago, and still
seen in some country districts.
parents know that three children will
not have the same advantages that two
would have. OF course. not long ago
children were considered definitely as
part of a mans income. When they
reached certain age, they would assist
the father with his farm or business.
Now the child goes out into the world for
himself and at much earlier age that
heretofore.
I'VE find the decrease In births preva-
lent everywhere. 1t began in the eighties.
and has continued markedly ever since.
It Is not local to New York or even to
the largest Cities
Prof Emil Boas Of Columbia. who has
Just completed one investigation for the
United States immigration commission,
has evidence that the decrease in the
number Of births per family effects imme-
date Improvement in the ability and
nh ,rsical deuelnnment of the children.