Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-04


The second Of the series ,rW appear
tomorrow.
The fact that 81 babies out of every
1000 born in the District of Columbia
in 1925 failed to survive the first year
of life, thereby giving Washington,
with two possible exceptions, an in
fant mortality rate for that period
higher than any city in the country
comparable with it, has aroused well
fare. business and social washington
to the point where plans are in the
process of consummatfon for an In
tensive campaign against the high
death rate.
The situation here in 1925-the last
available period for comparable sta
tistics for the entire Nation-had
reached the stage where it would have
been safer for a child to be born in a
New York East Side tenement house
than in the National Capital.
The causal factors of infant mortal
ity in the District, as far as can be de-
termined in the absence of an official
and complete survey, both theoretical
and practical, together with the RENE
dial steps necessary to reduce the fig
ure, have been investigated by The
Star with the view of not only assist
ing those interested in the gigantic
task of protecting the infants first
year of life, but also to emphasize the
necessity for thorough education on
this point by District of Columbia res
identS.
Comparisons Are Explained.
Although the National Capital has
a rate of 81 it does not possess the
highest infant mortality rate of any
city in the country, regardless of size.
Martinsburg. w. Va, is bowed down
with that handicap at a rate of 156
deaths per thousand. Shenandoah,
Pa, and Wilson, N. c., are tied for the
second highest figure at 1852 each,
and Paducah. KY, ranks third at 144
Statistics in this particular question
can be juggled about at will and there
fore no positive statement of the
standing of this community in COM
parison with others is made. To saw
that the local rate is higher than any
city "of its size" without oualifica
tion, leads up to the question of what
cities are equal to Washington. The
last official census ranks Milwaukee
thirteenth, Washington fourteenth,
and Newark, fifteenth. Milwaukee,
has population of. 457, 500 and an
infant mortality rate of 68; Wash
lngton has a population of 437.-
800 and rate of 81 and Newark has
a population of 414,500 and a rate
of 6S.
Ii all cities having a population be-
tween 100000 and over are to he
ranked as equal to the National Can
ltal, then the finger of scorn cannot.
be pointed at the District of Colum.
bia alone, for under that comparison
New Orleans and Kansas City, Mo.
would occupy first and second place.
The first, with a population of 3S7. 200.
Is given rate of SO, and the second,
with a population of $4,000, is cred
tied with 8S.
Then, if Washington is to be in
cluded in cities of 100000 or over. as
It has by some statisticians, available
1gures will show that for 1925 there
were three cities with an 81 rate and
nine with figures in excess of that
San Antonio, Tex, leading
with 125. The cities tieing Washing
ton and their population are: Will
nington, Del, 110,100; Camden, N. j.,
l16.300, and Scranton, Pa, 137,70O.
Those outranking Washington are.
Kansas City, Kans., 1O1, 100; infant
rate of SO per thousand:
Fall River, Mass, 12O,4 400, rate OF 90:
Norfolk, Va, 115, 700, rate of 81; Rich.
mond, Va, I'll 1000, rate of go: At
ANITA, Ga. 200,6O0. rate of 1O1: Mem.
Continued on Page Colunon 01