The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1919-08-19
THE LANCASTE,


for the burial of the dead. During
the disturbance there had been no
funerals in the Black Belt.
Presumably Chicago has learned a
lesson such as she never drew from
the numerous surveys of negro condi-
tions in that city, or from warnings.
Whether other American cities will
take the lesson to heart remains to be
seen.
Chicago's negro population is diff
ficult to estimate. The estimates run
from $4,000 to 175,O0O. There is no
authentic information OF recent date
on the subject. The United States
census taken in 1910 reports popu-
lation of 44,1O3 negroes in Chicago.
In the last three years, however, the
increase has been enormous. The col
ored population has grown more rap
idly in proportion to it's numbers than
ton.
Junius b. Wood of The Chicago
Daily News, who made an extensive
survey Of the negro problem in Chi
cago, estimated the colored popula-
tion in 1916 at $4,000. The steady in
fluX Of thousands of negroes from the
South and the continuous spread of
the colored section of the city indi-
Gates that the population is more than
100000 at present. 1t is a difficult
population to count. Probably more
than so per cent are dodgers.
Chicago's Black Belt is an average
of half mile wide. although it flares
to one and two miles in width at GER
tain points. From Twenty-second
street it runs south beyond Sixty
third street. South State street is the
backbone. The south side elevated
railroad runs through the heart of the
district it's entire length. The South
State street surface car line is patron
lied almost exclusively by negroes.
Most of the other surface car lines
connecting the loop" Chicago's bus
mess district, with the south side, run
through part Of the negro district.
The eastern edge of the Black Belt
is handsome residential district, on
which the negroes have encroached
steadily for years. Its western boun-
dary is railroad and industrial dis
trict. There are other colored sec
tions in the city, two on the south
side and one on the west side, but
they are restricted in area.
Advantages of Negroes.
For years negroes lived in Chicago
without friction and without disturb
ances of any kind. Leaders OF the
race held positions Of true. Thou
sands of them bought homes. Many
| Of them achieved success as lawyers.
| physicians, and in business. Their
children went to the public schools
segregation. Some negroes held pub
lie office. both elective and appointive.
| Twelve negroes have served in the
| Illinois state legislature.
1t has been said that churches
probably WELD more power among
negroes than with any other single
class in the United States The col
ored people in Chicago have sixty
churches, which had a membership in
1916 of $3.50. Their membership
! is probably much 'larger now. They
are financially prosperous and most
| of the larger ones maintain employ
ment agencies. Many of them CON
duet day nurseries where children are
careffor while their mothers work
Chicago has two institutions con-
Quoted by colored people for members
OF their own race, which are models
of their kind. One is the Provident
| hospital, at l6 West Thirty-siXth
street, which has figured prominently
| in the days news concerning the riot
| ing. The other is the Wabash Ave
nue. department OF the Young Mems
Christian association, at 3.763 South
Wabash avenue, conducted exclusive,
| ly for colored men
The Provident hospital is the lead
ing institution of its kind in the Unit
ed States. With the Nathan NJ Freer
$4,000 homes for nurses, the plant
represents an investment of s125, 900.
| and is free of debt. Its affairs are
conducted exclusively by negroes, and
about one-third of the sufferers cared
for there are charity patients. Money
for the establishment OF this institu-