Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-02-04

4 tion, was compiled last April in the
attendance department of the city
schools under direction Of William A
Hacker This was based on the per-
csntage growth of the city for several
years back and a review of industrial
advances. Building activities, new in
habitants and general expansion were
also considered. The estimate was made
for tho United States government.
SCHOOL CENSUS SHOWS
66l44 PUPILS.
The school enumeration, taken last
April was 66,144. This includes every
juvenile in the city between the school
ages Of and 81. 1t is estimated by
government statisticians that one out of
every five Inhabitants is within the school
age. Figuring from the school enumera-
tion the population IS 330,720.
Guy A. Boyle, commercial engineer Of
the Bell telephone company, estimated
the city's population at $4,000. he has
kept close tab for years, as a matter Of
record, and his count of city Inhabitants
is a vital factor in the work of the
telephone company. 1t is necessary for
the telephone company not only to know
how many people live in the various sec
tions OF the city, but also to know, as
accurately as possible. how fast the pop
ulation Will increase IN order that prepa-
rations can be made for a proportionate
increase in telephone service. Mr.. Boyle
has estimates of the population prepared
up to 1850 He bases his estimates on
percentage increases, also taking into
consideration school enumeration, indus
trial advances, territorial expansion and
the volume Of telephone operations.
AVERAGE REPRESENTS
TEN YEARS FIGURES.
The estimate of 314,907 represents an
t. h. och -, III,
greater than that Of the preceding decade.
During the period from 1900 to 1910 there
was an increase of $1,000 in the popula-
tion, according to figures compiled by the
United States census bureau. The popu-
1ation increase infthe last ten years rep
resents a growth Of 81, 900, based on the
census Of 1910 and The Times estimate.
This increase is in keeping with the
growth Of the city for years The popu
1ation record as kept by the Bell Tele-l
phone Company follows:
Eighteen hundred and seventy, 4s,244;
1880, rs 600; 1890, $4,000; 1900. 16T 600;
1910, 233, 900.
The number of telephones in the city
is also taken into consideration in the
estimate made by Mr.. Boyle. Both com
panies here have approximately $4,000
phones. The number of telephones repre-
sent about % per cent Of the population.
L AC la III duQ uGdLu FIdtt 4dh Sluuu H.
6uence on the population increase, ac-
cording to local statisticians, new inhab-
1tants taking up residence here being re-
sponsible for the rapid growth.
INCREASE MOST
STEADY IN COUNTRY.
Indianapolis has enjoyed the steadiest
increase In population of any city in the
country, according to past statistical rec
ords Even adverse years in the history
NJ ~4f ~ 4uf f1aA 20 4 a.,1g
steady growth. It was predicted, IN 1890,
4 when the supply Of natural gas here be-
came exhausted, that a decided decrease
Sn both population and industrial life
would follow, but the introduction Of
= traction lines at that time saved the day
and added a new impetus to civic de-
Velopments. The fact that the gas sup
1 ply gave out gradually Is also pointed to
as saving feature. The loss Of natural
gas had disastrous effect on several In
diana cities, many of which have never
! recovered.
During the past great war a large
per cent Of the population was taken
from the city. In addition to the thou
sands Of men taken into military serv-
ice many entered war work in other
cities, including both men and women.
However, many government contracts
obtained here brought an influx of work
ers from other cities and the ultimate
3 result OF the war was much to the ad-
& vantage Of indianapolis Practically all
who left to engage in war activities
either military or civil, returned at the
end Of the war, while those who came
here for the most part remained.
HOME BUILDING OFF
DURING WAR YEARS.
During 1917 and 1918 there was
marked decline in home building activi-
ties. However the beniuuin1 of 1910
FOUND practically every house in the
city occupied and also brought about a
congestion in housing facilities.
Families in Indianapolis arc small IN
comparison with other cities, the aver
age being ~ members per family. The
average American family Is composed Of
4.6 persons, according to government fig.
ures. Larger families are found in ru-
raj districts, where the average Is six.
The reason for small families in In
dlanapolis is attributed to the small
r percentage Of foreign inhabitants, and
also to the fact that few extremely
wealthy people reside here. In counting
families, every member Of the household,
Including servants are counted as mem
hers of the family and in districts in,
habited by people employing large num-
hers Of domeStics the average size of
families is greatly increased.
1t is estimated by the Chamber of
Commerce and other civic organiza-
tions that the population will reach
haf-miilion at the end of the next ten
years. Estimates of the Bell Telephone
Company are not as encourag ging, how
ever. A table of estimates showing the
future of the citys growth has been
compiled by Mr.. Boyle and gives the