THE CAUSES OF THE DECLINING BIRTH RATE 



iSS 



on record since 1880. With the exception of Cambridge which 

 contains a rather high percentage of native born stock all the 

 cities with over 100,000 inhabitants have a birth rate higher 

 than that of the state as a whole (Boston, 25.8; Worcester, 29.6; 

 Fall River 29.2; Lowell, 30.3; New Bedford, 31.0; Springfield, 

 30.8; Cambridge, 24.5). In Maine in 1916 the general birth rate 

 was 20.45; ill 20 of the largest cities it averaged 21.27. In the 

 towns with a relative large number of foreign born the birth rate 

 is, as a rule, relatively higher than in those with more native born 

 inhabitants. The general birth rate for Michigan in 19 15 was 

 26.6 (death rate 13.3). In all the cities it was 27.6 (death rate 

 14); in cities with over 50,000 inhabitants it was 31.6 (death rate 

 16.4), and in cities under 5,000 it was 23.2 (death rate 14.5). 

 Statistics from Ohio tell much the same story as may be seen in 

 the table : 



Rural and Urban Birth and Death Rates in Ohio 



Whole State 

 Cleveland. . 

 Cincinnati. . 

 Dayton. . . . 



Toledo 



Columbus. . 



All Cities . . 



Birth Rate 



igi6 



21 .9 

 27.4 

 18.4 

 22.0 

 29.0 

 20.0 



23 -7 



igir 



23 

 29 

 19 

 23 

 30 

 19 



251 



Death Rate 



igi6 



14.41 



14. 



16. 



14 

 19 

 15 



iS-5 



igiy 



14 



15 

 16 



14 



19 

 15 



75 



5 



5 



7 



o 



2 



16. 1 



The state of New York gives statistics of the birth rate of 

 native bom and foreign born women in cities and rural districts, 

 and hence enables one to obtain direct evidence on the point in 

 question. In 1916 the birth rate of the entire state was 23.4. In 

 New York City which is notorious for its high percentage of alien 

 population the birth rate was 24.5; in the rest of the state it was 

 22. Taking all cities of the state together, it was 25.6, the birth 



