Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-18

meet the new SlCuaLlOu 20 dIlSdu.
Washington has lost its honor
standing among the large cities
in the matter Of traffic fatalities
for the year Just passed. The city
now ranks third on the list, with
Baltimore and Boston occupying
first and second places, respec-
lively. This is true despite the
fact that local traffic authorities
show that there were rs people
killed on the streets of the District
of Columbia in 1890 against "a IN
1929.
According to the Department Of
Commerce report, with figures for
the SO weeks ending December n,
1880, the death rate per 100000
population gives Washington
percentage Of 1877, Baltimore, 1873,
and Boston, 14.1. For the So
weeks ending December %, 1923,
the figures were Boston, lab;
Washington, 1873, and Baltimore,
IT'S. Second at that time last
year, Washington held first place
for several months at later date.
However, Washington's rate at
present can still be explained by
the changed population figures
for the city. A year ago the death
rate was based upon a population
for the city larger than actually
existed. Lowering of those figures
by the official tabulation by the
Census Bureau makes the death
rate proportionately higher, al
though the actual increase IN
deaths were lower. This SEEM
ingly unfair result can be dis
regarded with the knowledge that
the city was given credit a year
ago for what it did not actually
deserve. Such was probably the
case in other cities.
Nations Traffic Fatalities.
The Department Of Commerce
announces that during the four
weeks ending December ~, 1880,
70 large cities in the United States
reported 8l2 deaths from auto
mobile accidents. This number
compares with 646 deaths during
the four weeks ending December
%, 1929. Most of those deaths
were the result of accidents which
occurred within the corporate
limits of the city, although some
accidents occurred outside Of the
city limits.
For comparison, the number Of
deaths due to automobile acct
dents within city limits is de-
sirable. Such figures are avail
able for the four-week period
ending December az, 1880, and for
the corresponding four-week
period of 1929 for all of the 70
cities, the four-week figure In
1880 being $50, as contracted with
$50 for the corresponding four
weeks in 1929.
Considering by four-week pc
RODS since May, 1925, total deaths
from automobile accidents for IS
cities, regardless Of place Of &C
cident, the lowest total (S46) ap-
pears for the four-week period
ending March q, 1925, and the
highest (842) for the four week
period ending November 2, 1929.
The numbers in the IA periods OF
four weeks we're as follows:
For the 52-week periods ending
December 81, 1890 and December
%, 1929, the totals for the IS
cities were, respectively, 1857 and
8,403, which indicate a recent rate
of 25.2 per 100000 population, as
against an earlier rate Of 24.8, or
an! increase Of 2 per cent In the
rate during the year.
Three cities reported no deaths
from automobile accidents for the
last four weeks, while four cities
reported no deaths from auto
mobile accidents for the CORE
spending period Of 1929.
For the last four-week period
reports as to whether deaths oc-
CURED from automobile accidents
within city limits or outside were
received from all of the 70 cities
reporting. In these cities in this
four-week period the total num-
Der Of deaths from automobile
accidents was 812, but only $50
Of these were due to accidents
within city limits.