The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-11-05
SUICIDE INCREASING
SAYS CENSUS REPORT
Gain of Nearly Two Per Cent
Shown in Number Who
Ended Lives Past Year.

The United States census bureau
has just made public an interesting
report on the causes OF death in the
United States which shows that sui
eide is on the increase. In 1913 the
death rate from suicide in all parts Of
the United States for which registra-
ton figures were available was fifteen
and eight-tenths per 100000 popula-
ton. In 1914 the suicide death rate in
creased to sixteen and siX-tenthS per
100000. The report contains many
statistics of interest 10 West Virginia.
Among the registration states the
highest suicide death rate in 1914 was
that for California. thirty-three and
four-tenths per 100000 population.
Next in order were Montana, with
twenty-eight and nine-;enths: Wash
ington. twenty-one aud dve-tenthS;
Connecticut twen;y-one. and Missouri.
twenty and eight-tenths. Various
states had suicide death rates as fol-
lows: Ohio. sixteen and oue-tenth per
100 900: Indiana, seventeen and three
| tenths; Colorado. eighteen and one
tenth: Utah. fifteen and rwo-tenths. The
lowest suicide death rates were:
| North Carolina. SIX and slx-tenths;
/ Virginia seven and one-ffth: Ken
! lucky, nine and nine-tenths: Kansas,
eleven and three tenths; New Hamp-
shire, twelve and five-tenths. Among
the registration cities OF 100000 popu-
! lation or over. San Francisco had tho
highest death rate from suicides in
I9l4-ffty-two and fOur-tenths per
cent per 100000. Ather high rates
were in Kansas City. forty and four
tenths: Oakland and ST. Louis. each
| ,hirty-six md six-tenths; Omaha. thir-
/ ty-six: Los Angeles. thirty-four and
two-tenths.
Suicide Rate Varies.
Suicide death rates vary greatly in
different sections Of the country. Ana
conda. Mont, had a rate Of thirty-three
per 100000, and Billings. Mont. rate
Of thirty-three and eight-tenths. These
we're exceptionally high rates. Often
there is a great difference between
cities close together. which Is hard
10 explain. Denver is given a suicide
death rate Of twenty-five and eight.
tenths for 1914 and Trinidad a rate OF
twenty-nine and thTee-tenths whereas
the suicide rate OF Colorado Springs
was only Inc and hve-tenths. Ordinar'
Ily negroes are much less given to sui
eide than whites. For instance. the
suicide death rate among the whites
for Jacksonville. Fla. was forty-thre'
and five-,enths per 100000 accordint
10 the census bureau. while the sui
eide death rate among the negroes o
tho came city was only two and eight
Tennis per 100000.
White Plague Increases.
The great white plague also showe'
: up with an increased death rate. TIL
lowest rate per 100000 population TO
tuberculosis Of the lungs in 1914 wa
:, shown by Utah. forty and e!ght-tenths
: which also bad the lowest mortalit,
; for all forms OF tuberculosis com
> bined Kansas ranked second, Wash
. lngton third. and Michigan fourth Il
respect 10 each. OF the cities OF 100.
: . 900 population or over the five whicl
> had the highest death rates for pull
monary tuberculosis in 1914 were
e Memphis. 273. New Orleans. 270.5
, Cincinnati, 219.S. Among the cite
with notably low death rates from pull
monary tuberculosis we're Spokane
y fifty-thFee and eight- tentEs: Portland
sixty-one and four-tenths: Seattle
: sixty-six and eight-tenths: Gran
Rapids, sixty-eight and two-tenths
scranton, seventy-six and four-tenthi
While negroes seldom commit suicide
consumption kills many Of them.
Tho highest state rate Tor Tiolen
deaths exclusive Of suicides was tia
OF Nnnt1ns, 1265 pG1 10Q00o. ,-Ea.