Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-12-29

'"riIE NEGRO MIGRANT IN
PITTSBURGH"
We have received ca Study in So
c;al Economics" published under the
supervision of the School of Eco
Monies, University Of Pittsburgh, and
entitled "The Negro Migrant in Pitts
burgh," by Abraham Epstein, b. S. in
omics. Prof FRANCIS Tyson
writes the introduction and says
This little study OF the Negro MI.
grafton to Pittsburgh was first sug-
gested as a. thesis subject In a uni
versity class in Social Economy in
May, 1917. Our great steel city OF
the North calls many unskilled
workers to It's mills. The migration
OF Negroes to fill THE gaps in tho
ranks Of this labor force, opened up
by the cessation of European immi-
grafton following the war has been
under way for, nearly eighteen months.
Expanding steel production continues
to call for more workers. From the
first labor agents of railroads and
steel mills as we'll as private employ
mont agencies have been at work
gathering In the new army Of laborers.
BY last spring newspaper reports
OF housing congestion, and OF suffer
Ing from pneumonia and other dis.
eases, and tales Of the increase OF
crime and vice were being spread.
There was spoken comment Of the
new situation on every hand. But
these reports were inaccurate;. they
gave no concrete estimate Of the mum.
Der and character of the newcomers;
and no definite .stateture Of their life
here or the problems of community
adjustment created by the influx of
strange people. <.t ,-.,s,
Prof Epstein says:
The Negro population OF the Pitts
burgh Districts in Allegheny County,
was 27.753 In the year. 1900 and had
Increased to 34,217 by the year 1910,
according to the latest United States
Census figures available. The In
crease during this period was 1913
per cent, Assuming the continuation
of this ratetof increase, the total No
gro population in 1915 would be about
.;38, 900,
From canvas Of twenty typical
industries in ;, the Pittsburgh district,
1t was found that there wore 1850
Negroes employed in 1915, and 1895
In 1917, an increase OF SITS or 227
per cent 1t was impossible to oh.
tain labor data from more than ap.
prodmately sixty per cent OF tho Ne
gro employing concerns, but IT ia fair
to assume that the same ratio of in.
crease holds true OF ths remaining
forty per cent. Or this baeis the
number OF Negroes now employed In
the District may BIO Placed at $4,000,
Inns leans TIT there ARE aboi,t $3.50
more Ne8roes worhins ii. I ~ 5,tfstrictI
today than there were In 1916 an adj
dttion due to the migration from the
South. NJ
81 The following description Of con.
gested conditions In Pittsburgh Will
tend to cause those rof us, who have
remained at home to stay There's:
a schedule study Of over five hun.
dred Negro migrants Indicates that
thirty tIli Per cent. Of THE new corners
have their families with them, aud
that the average family consists OF.
three persons, excluding the father,
Adding to the total number of new,
workers, 1850 !, the product obtained
by multiplying thirty per cent. by
three, (ayerage family we find q
total new Negro population
of 1850 in 1917. M & 4 SO, !
4 This sudden and abnormal increase
IN the Negro population within so
short q time, Of necessity: involves a
tremendous change, and creates a
new situati lon; which. merits the at
tention OF the whole community. Be.
fore this great influx Of Negroes from
the South, the Negro population
which constituted only 3.4 per cent.
of the total city population, lived IN
q half dozen sections gof the; city.
Aflthotlgh not absolutely segregated, |.
these Districts were distinct
We shall continue this review In
our 'ii next Issue, for. Mr.: Epstein. has
approached the subject in manner
that that commands respect and shows
the true condition of the army OF
colored folks who have left the South
land i \, J; The cost OF this treatise. Is only
fifty cents per copy: and may be OBJ
tanned by sending the J am cunt tos the
author author at 1880 Center Ave. Pitts
burgh, Pa. g NJ {,