The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-25
Birmingham's Increasing Population

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 Birmingham'S Increasing Population
 The new city directory, compiled under experienced management and with excep- tionai care, estimates the population of Birmingham and its immediate suburbs at 1e5, ,699 These figures seem conservative when it is remembered that the school census taken last summer indicated fully 14o,Ooo. The school enumerators found within the city limits between 5000 and 4O,oOo children of school age. In some cities the number of school children is multiplied by four in order to arrive at an approximate total population; but Dr. J. II. Phillips, superintendent of public schools, who has had long experience in assembling and analysing this class of 1 statistics. used three and one-half as the multiplier for Birmingham. This makes his estimate of 1400oO for the city's pop |
 ulation, as it appeared in July, strictly conservative.
 l It is natural to assume that Birming- hams population has grown rapidly since | the government census was announced. The large percentage of increase would of itself stimulate growth, for thousands of young people who are looking for new homes select as a matter of course cities of phenomenal progress and assured fu- ture greatness. It Is quite safe, there fore, to say that the number of Bir- mingham's inhabitants on January 1 was fully 15o,o0O This is the estimated popula- ton appearing in the table of municipal statistics in the New York Worlds AL manac for 1911. And the new city di- rectory figures-165, ,6sS-may be accepted | as accurate, for the directory compilation, as already stated, includes the immedi- ate suburbs forming as they do to all extent and purposes a part of Greater Birmingham. Last years census pepula- tion of this county of Jefferson was stated at 22s,476.
 | In many cities of "hot air" tendencies the directory census is far from reliable; hence newspaper paragraphers frequently refer to directory census totals in a jok- ing way, and never seriously. But padded statistics are going out of vogue, and it is hoped that in future directory makers in all important cities will follow an hon. est, painstaking rule. Such rule, at any rate, is followed in Birmingham, and outsiders may rely upon statements plac- ing the population of this city and its environs somewhere around the 170000 mark.
 In this connection a recent statement made by Secretary Babb of the Chamber of Commerce. is of especial interest. He says he is receiving letters daily asking for information about Birmingham. In- quires come largely from young college graduates or students who are about to graduate. "I will receive my diploma of graduation next June,' writes student of the Chicago university to Secretary Babb, land I want to know something of Birmingham. It is the talk of the town up here, and I am thinking seri- ously of moving to that city when I graduate" MT. Babb, in commenting upon the extent of advertising which Bir- mingham is getting by reason of its splendid showing in the census, and in referring particularly to the inquiries which come in his mail, said: Almost every day receive such letters"
 Many enthusiastic prophets have been predicting that Birmingham will have a population of something like 250000 when the next census is taken in 1920. But un- less signs now in evidence fail the 25o, ,OOC mark will be reached in less than five years. Tlre Birmingham district in it's in- dustrial development will expand on 8 scale of great magnitude, and this fact combined with the city's general com merce, based largely upon agriculture will in 1920 push Birmingham ahead oi some of the f1ourishing western cities now in the 3OO,OOo class. No wonder young men are coming here to grow up with the "Pittsburg of the South"
 Alabama As Peach State
 This state is making such rapid ad.