Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1918-03-22

While 81 per cent of the people of
Ohio own their homesteads, the per-
centage of home-owners decade by de-
cade is declining, according to a re-
view which has been completed by the
Health and Old Age Insurance Com
mission. The facts as to home owner
ship and as to the aged population OF
Ohio has been compiled, analyZed and
compared as a part of the study Of
the necessity and desirability Of old
age pensions or old age insurance.
The Commission gives now the first
favorable installment of economic
conditions in Ohio and later will give
an installment of the darker side of
the picture. 1t is part of the bright
side that the whole number of aged
people is steadily increasing and the
percentage is growing, too, with i'm
proved living conditions and advance
in medical sanitary sciences. Thus,
| for instance, in 1880, the percentage
was 40, and in 1918, it estimated to
| be 5.8, the intervening years show
ing a steady gain. 1t it be true that
the assurance of provision for old age,
with the removal of any cause for
worry, tends still further to increase
that duration of life, this fact will be
considered in connection with any rec
concentrations that may be made.
AS the duration of life is increased,
the cost of pensioning aged must in
crease proportionately and if pen
sions, in turn, tend to lengthen life,
this fact will make an added cost.
Even granting there be but little fur
ther improvement in living conditions,
it is estimated that in 1925 there will
be 341 900 people in Ohio more than
65 years of age. Ohio has, indeed, a
larger percentage of old people than
has the United States as a whole.
Of those over IS years Of age, 129-
598 were men, and 1922 were
women.
Some interesting data has also been
gathered with relation to the marital
condition. Most old men are married,
while the majority of old ladies are
widowed. Apparently, conditions of
life are not favorable for longevity
of single persons, as only 6 per cent
of the men, and 6.3 per cent of the
women more than IS years of age
are single; on the other hand, 64.9
per cent of the men over IS years OF
age were married, and 28 per cent
were widowed; 35.5 per cent of the
women were married. and 57.3 per
cent were widowed.
While $50 per cent of the people
of Ohio are classed as urban, and only
AL per cent as rural, the rural popu-
lation of more than 65 years of age
constitutes 7 per cent of the entire
population; that of the urban, 65
years OF more constitutes only ABB
per cent of the population; indicating
that rural surrounding produce on
the whole longer span of life.
In connection with the statement
that SIP per cent of the people own
their homes, it is pointed out that
34.6 per cent own them free Of in
cumbrance and 1876 per cent own
them encumbered. The figures ap-
plicable to the state as a whole,
however, do not apply to the urban
part in which the greater number of
people live. While 71.8 per cent Of
| the farm homes are owned, and 51.2
per cent are owned free of debt, only
As per cent of the other homes are
owned, and 29.4 per cent of them are
owned free. In other words, taking
good conditions with bad, only one
family in every three in the cities
owns it's homestead.
Interesting figures are given as of
1900, of the people 65 years of age
and more, who own their homes. The
total is 86,656, or Alb per cent of the
total number of aged people in Ohio.
The real per cent is probably some
what larger, because the figures, in
some instances, represent husband
and wife as a unit, and hence, really
mean two people. The number of