THE CAUSES OF THE DECLINING BIRTH RATE 155 
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; in 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 1915 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 
Birth Rate Death Rate 
1916 IgI7 1916 1917 
Whole State.............. 21.9 23.4 14.41 14.75 
Clevelanidie.333c2se0c8e048 27.4 29.2 14.6 15.5 
CiGhnath: sce veieeyecens 18.4 19.0 16.5 16.5 
DaytOte.csicsrerseereses 22.0 23.8 14.2 14.7 
"Poled Ove: esesaiccaou shale 29.0 30.4 19.4 19.0 
Columbus..............-. 20.0 19.9 15.4 15.2 
AN CitieSceee. “sabe eseade 23.7 Af i5.5 16.1 
The state of New York gives statistics of the birth rate of 
native born 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 
