DIGEST OF A SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS SURVEY OF BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT, MADE BY THE M en and Religion Forward Movement. I. The Community.— Bristol has an area of 25 square miles. The estimated population is 14,100. It was 13,502 by the U. S. census of June 1910, and increased 40 per cent from 1900 to 1910. The city includes two separate communities; Bristol proper with a population of 10,000 ( 9,527 in 1910) within about one square mile; Forestville, 2)4 miles distant, population about 2,000: the remaining 2,000 in the suburban and semi-rural portions of the city. Foreign population. —There are no available statistics as to the present foreign population. In 1900, foreign-born residents in the borough were 28 per cent; children of foreign-born 27 per cent; total 55 per cent. On the same basis the present foreign population, including those born abroad and their children, would be 7,755. It is thought probable that the proportion of foreign-born does not vary greatly from that in 1900, but that the proportion of children of for¬ eign-born is somewhat increased. Foreign=speaking population. —The most numerous groups of foreign-speaking residents are Italians, Poles and French Canadians. These three groups are believed to be approximately equal, but the Italians and Poles are increasing most rapidly. Possibly these races may each include from 1,500 to 2,000. Lithuanians are included with Poles in this grouping. Next come the Swedes, perhaps SCO or 1,000; Germans somewhat less; still fewer Hebrews; Armenians and Per¬ sians a small group. The six foreign-speaking churches, and one foreign-speaking school will be mentioned hereafter. 2 Voters. —The registered voters are 3,168. At the'last state elect¬ ion, the vote for Congressman at large was Rep. 1,019, Dem. 895, Soc. 85, Soc. L. 16, Pro. 58. At the town election October 1911, the vote for town clerk was Rep. 1,070, Dem. 803, Soc. 217. At the non-parti¬ san city election on the same day the vote was for Wade, supported by the conservative voters, 1,157; Hull, a Socialist leader but not run¬ ning on a party ticket, 1,147.- The Socialist party holds frequent meetings, and conducts an active propoganda. Congestion. —There are no strictly foreign sections; the slum development is slight. The most congested section, 737 x 253 feet on Meadow and Laurel streets, has 43 houses, 97 families, 425 persons; being 10 houses, 22 ) 4 . families, 100 persons to the acre. II. The Government. —A newly chartered city government be¬ gan October 2nd, 1911; prior to that the town covered the entire area, and a borough about a square mile in Bristol center. The present government is substantially a commission government, though not exactly following the usual type. A Mayor and City Council of 6, elected for two years, appoint all other officers, and have power to remove them at pleasure with a few exceptions. The charter pro¬ vides for the Initiative on the demand of ten per cent, the Referen¬ dum on demand of five per cent, and the Recall on demand of twenty per cent, of the voters. Taxes, Assessments and Debt. —The grand list for 1911, not yet fully completed, will be very near $10,600,000. The tax rate differs throughout the city, as a special tax is to be levied on the center (former borough), and the school taxes differ between the districts. The total tax will probably be 16 to 18 percent in the center, 11 or 12 in the rural sections. Debt. —The city debt, taken over from the town and borough, was $337,224.77. During the prior ten years, the town debt increased $73,426.90, the borough debt decreased $14,080; net increase $59,346.90. During this time there was paid on construction of town building $13,956.70, and on High School addition $36,274.28, leaving net in¬ crease of debt $9,015.92. Against this may be set considerable ex¬ penditures for state roads, improved fire equipment, etc. Police.— The police force includes a chief, a captain, 4 patrolmen, 6 supernumeraries. The police force is believed to be efficient; and no accusation of complicity with vice or law-breaking has ever been made against it. The arrests in 1911 were 525. No record was kept • > • > of the age or sex of prisoners, but such a record is to be kept hereaf¬ ter. “There were very few women and girls; not many boys.’’ Schools. —The last enumeration of children of school age (4 to 15 inch) was 3,082. Total registration in public grammar schools 2,287; 1,123 boys, 1,114 girls; high school registration, 242; 108 boys, 134 girls; total registration of public schools 1,231 boys, 1,248 girls, total 2,479; attendance at parochial schools 489. Total cost of public schools $73,091.20. Public Library. —The Bristol Public Library is wholly supported by the city, and its support has been adequate and generous. Its reg¬ ular expenses in the last fiscal year were $6,258.48. By general sub¬ scription of the citizens, and from several legacies, it has acquired a lot and building which cost about $58,000. The number of volumes in the Librarv January 1st, 1912, was 20,545, besides many manuscripts and pamphlets. The circulation of books in 1911 was 79,469, or nearly 6 volumes per capita of the population—a very exceptional circulation. Of the 3,429 subscribers 778 are men, 689 boys. Users of the reading room in 1911, estimated 40,000, a majority men and boys; of boys under 18, 15,000. A beautiful children’s room, with special attendant, provides entertainment and mental cultivation for the younger boys and girls. \l \Ny ) III. Health and Vital Statistics. —The deaths in Bristol from January 1902 to January 1912 were as follows: 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 Deaths, 145 169 180 167 170 133 162 156 186 180 Death rate per 1,000, 14.3 16.3 17.4 15.5 15.4 11.8 14.1 13.3 13.8 12.9 Deaths under 5, 44 51 49 58 56 44 57 55 65 64 Deaths under 1, 30 34 35 41 40 34 50 38 50 42 by tuberculosis, 11 9 11 19 13 12 15 11 15 16 by typhoid feve r, 2 12 Q o 2 o o 5 5 1 2 2 Deaths of children under 5 by tuberculosis only ten for the entire period. The principal cause of death for the entire period was pneumonia. For the purpose of comparison, the state death rate for 1910, the latest year reported, was 15.7; that for deaths by tuberculosis 1.29; and that for death by typhoid fever 0.146. If the Bristol rates had been those of the state in general there would have been 212 deaths in 1910 instead of 186; 17 deaths by tuber¬ culosis instead of 15; two by typhoid fever, which was the actual number. V 4 Births in Bristol October 1910 to October 1911, boys 166, girls 200; total 366. IV. Public Charities. —Town expenditures in the last year for charities were: care of the insane $2,429.07; in poor house $1,191.74; outside aid $6,731.08; medical aid $215.75; total $10,567.64. Aid was furnished to 116 persons, not including casual aid to tramps, etc., nor persons dependent on those enumerated. \ There is no municipal lodging house, and no hospital. A considerable amount of relief by churches and lodges to their members is not publicly reported. Visiting Nurse Association. —A visiting nurse association has been in operation for four years, employing sometimes one and sometimes two nurses, and incidentally doing much other charitable work. This organization has been extremely useful, and is supported by all classes of the community. Public Welfare Association. —A public welfare association was organized in 1911 with the principal purpose of developing parks and playgrounds. It has just received a deed of a tract of land on Root’s Island, which it intends to develop as a public playground as fast as its resources will permit. This committee has recommended a charity organization society, or social service worker, to be under the control of the visiting nurse’s association. V. Industrial Facts. —The manufacturing products of the town are very various. They include clocks, iron castings, brass goods, knit underwear, silver plate, coaster brakes, bells, ball bearings, springs, steel fish rods, trunk hardware, brass hinges, counters, cutlery, and other articles. Number of Employees. —Seventeen industries have reported to ^ this committee, including all the large factories. Those reporting employ 2,890 men, 669 women, 81 boys under 18 (of whom 62 are under 16,) 46 girls under 16; total 3686. Wages and Conditions of Work. —The average wage paid to men in the factories is $2.25, the scale running from $1.25 to $5.00; only a few receive $1.25, on very simple and unskilled labor: the average wage of women is $1.50, the scale $1.00 to $2.00, nearly all the children employed receive $1.00 per day. The usual factory hours are 50 to 59 per week. In late spring and summer the Saturday half holiday is general. There is no Sun¬ day work in the factories, except for watchmen and casual repairs. 5 The conditions of work are exceptionally sanitary and healthful; there is much press work, but it is carefully guarded; no occupational diseases are reported. There is no central labor union in Bristol, and factory work is not generally unionized. The building trades are unionized, and the eight hour day prevails in building. VI. Amusements and Social Forces. —There are two moving picture theatres, each giving daily performances, with two matinees per week, with an average attendance for the two of about 900. There is one bowling alley and six poolrooms. In summer, Lake Compounce three miles distant, is a popular resort with boating, swimming, billiards, a cheap summer theatre and other amusements. Liquor is sold here, but the resort is well managed and not disorderly. Band concerts are given every Sunday afternoon. A professional basket ball team and a high school basket ball team have games each week. Invitation dances are given once each week by private individuals. These are orderly and respectable. There is no public dance hall. There are about 40 lodges in town with membership of about