The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1939-03-16
REDWOOD CoUNTY's BIRTH RATE,

REDWOOD COUNTY'S BIRTH RATE,
like that of the state and nation, is on the
decline, fact brought out by 1888 statistics
showing fewer babies were born last year
than in any other year of this decade. The
decline started here in 1885 when 408 births
occurred compared with 434 the year before
In 1887 the number was 800 and last year
372. Deaths have followed more irregular
lne the low being 1913 in 1882 and the high,
167 for 1888.
These trends already are being felt in
the economic picture. Numerous schools in
districts where children once were plentiful
now are closed or face closing because en-
rollment has declined. In the 20 year per-
iod from 1929 to 1949 it is estimated the
number of pupils in elementary schools OF
the nation will decrease by 2,37l,OOO. Inc
decrease will not be uniform. In some COM
munities where parents rear and educate
their children and remain on the land the
decline Will be more pronounced. In others
there may actually be gain.
In Redwood Falls births declined IL
last year, which means-other things being
equal-that Is fewer youngsters will enroll
for the first grade in 1914 than enter in
1913. Should that decline continue, school
enrollments will fall off sharply or districts
will consolidate into wider areas. In either
instance, fewer teachers will be needed, to
mention just one phase of the question.
Today high schools and colleges have
the greatest enrollments of all time, due to
the birth date crest reached early in the last
decade, but the number of youngsters under
10 will be % million in 1880 compared with
48 million in 1880 if the trend continues.
Statisticians also reveal a constantly
expanding term of life. The number of per-
sons past 65 years of age will increase from
612 million in 1880 to % million in 1880.
The United States News points to these fig
ures as economically significant, particular
ly to industries supplying baby things and
foods, particularly milk and at the other end
of the span, to clothing and furniture max
ers Most of all it stresses the need for
pension provisions.
Trends of this kind probably are of lit
lie concern to the small business man.
whether he be farmer or merchant, but they
are exceedingly interesting.
A SLEEPY EYE DoPEsTER HAD
the district ten tournament doped right
from start to finish, except that he missed
the Sleepy Eye upset of Gaylord. Home town
loyalty usually spares forecasters apologies
for such oversights.
JUST A SUGGESTION TO TOURNA-
ment officers: Saturday night games are a
headache to merchants who have to keep
their clerks at work and then try to sneak
out unnoticed. Friday night windups would
be more generously attended.
TALK ABOUT TAKING A GAMBLE
man spends $4,000 sending his boy through
college, and he might not even get quarter
back.-Elysian Enterprise.
THE SIX STATES WHICH DO NOT
have death penalties show lower record of
killing according to population, than those
where the death penalty is operative-De-
troit Lakes Record.
A FARM EXPERT ADVISES THAT
when an animals appetite is poor it should
be fed with prunes. This must be on the
theory that after prunes, hay and silage
must taste delicious. -Minneota Mascot
.
THE DOWNFALL OF MANY AN AM
bilious and promising politician can be trac-
ed to the time when he thought it was good
politics to favor his enemies at the expense
of his friends Springfield Advance-Press.
AN EXCHANGE REPORTS THAT A
representative introduced bull in the
house," which may be neither fiction nor
ANYTHING unusual.-Grand Rapids Independ-
ent.
WHO ARE THE BIGGEST CONSUM-
ers of gasoline in our transportation pic
ture? Is it the farm population, or the resi-
dent of the small town? No, it is the big
trucking companies, the travelling man and
the bus companies. The present four-cent
tax is not unfair to them. We build the
roads for them to use and they get darned
sight more use out of them than any of the
inhabitants of rural community
son Independent Press.