LONDON'S GROWTH.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 158, 28 March 1908, Page 10

LONDON'S GROWTH.

£ ABOUT «000 HOUSES ADDED EVERY. YEAR. ; , MORE VOTERS. ■ Tho annual Statistical Abstract for London issued iii February- by the London County Council again affords remarkable illustration of tho steady . growth of. tho world's largest aggregation, of human boings. ■-.When tho last census was taken in 1901 thq. population of the County of London 'was 4,53G,<133—a1m05t oxactly. double the total of fifty years before. ■ ■,'■ The natural growth of the population sinco then has been as','follows: : — Six years' births ... > ... .775,829 .■Les.s six years' deaths ... . ..., 443,892 ' Not increase \ ... 331,937, This.growth in the population is emphasised by ;the fact that each year since 1901 has seen about 4000, houses added to the list of those for which rates are being paid. The actual.figures are as follows:—' April 1901.- Rated houses ...- 603,118. April 1906. ~ ... .-.. 626,245 j' April 1907. ' ... -629,853"J ■Rateable value has a]so increased !in ' tho six,years by nearly £4,000,0001*._1n 1901 tho amount per lioad was £8 145., while last year it had risen to £9 Bs. 1 Another/sign of tha growth of .the metropolis may bo seen in the voting strength of the population. Here are. tho ligures:— ■ .. 1901. . 1906. - Parochial voters ..., 711,575 .840,736. Parliamentary voters... 529,913 686,994. Less ttiaiv half tbe : voters go to tliq poll in tho parochial elections, however, although it is noteworthy that at the-last election for the London County Council" the percentage rose to 55.5, or 10 per. cent, more than in 1904. At the - last Parliamentary election there was'a notable' increase fronl 65.4 per cent, polled in 1900 to 78.3 per cent. . '/It- is an ' interesting .fact that with the growth' of the population ■ and 'the increase in the number 'of houses, the agricultural land- in London is fast ' point. Six years ago 470 acres 'of land were placed under corn crops, but in 1906 the total was only 266 ' acres. Jti^t' under 1000 of the-5500.cattle :kcpt iu London six years ago have disappeared, while evqn the sheep have lost 700 of their number.,! 1 The- work done in .tho- county under '.the Food and 'Drugs Act is steadily increasing as the local "authorities become more and more in: earnest .in .their determination to protect the food of the people . from, adulteration., Hero is thos feoinparison:—.' •• •- . 1901.;.' .343 samples per 100,000 of population 1907... 474 : „ : „ , . '.There are many things which' show that the health, of: London' is improving. Among .these is the. fact that despite the growth in the population the number .of ' deaths 'per year has fallen from .78.058 to .7ij813 ; .. while ,the death rate, per 1000 of the population lias 'fallen from 17.1 to 15.2.v V ;..■