BERLIN.  %
It  appears  from  these  figures  that  while  the  birth-rate  is  much  larger  in  the
working-class  districts,  it  has  also  fallen  there,  during  the  four  years,  to  a
greater  extent  than  in  the  residential  districts.
I  he  marriage-rate  for  the  whole  city  in  1905  was  22’16  per  1,000  of  the
population,  which  was  a  higher  rate  than  for  the  preceding  four  years  and
above  the  average  of  the  preceding  12  years.
The  death-rate  in  1905  was  17*1  per  1,000  against  17*0  in  1904.  There
has  been  a  steady  decline  in  the  death-rate  for  many  years  ;  in  1895  it  stood
at  20*24  per  1,000,  and  in  1885  at  24*40.
As  part  of  a  systematic  crusade  against  the  needless  sacrifice  of  infant  life,
the  municipal  authorities  maintain  a  series  of  seven  dispensaries  established  in
working-class  districts,  at  which  advice  is  given  to  mothers  as  to  the  right
nursing  and  feeding  of  their  children,  and,  if  necessary,  pure  sterilised  milk  is
supplied  either  gratis  or  at  a  reduced  charge.  The  dispensaries  are  conducted
independently  of  the  Poor  Law,  so  that  pauperisation  and  civil  disqualifications
may  not  be  involved  by  the  acceptance  of  assistance.
Other  dispensaries  serving  the  same  end  have  been  established  by  philanthropic ­
  societies,  which,  indeed,  led  the  way  in  the  matter,  and  very  encouraging
results  have  been  achieved,  though  the  institutions  in  operation  are
held  to  be  quite  disproportionate  to  the  great  existing  need.  The  town
of  Charlottenburg  has  four  similar  agencies.  There  the  rate  of  infant
mortality  was  156  per  1,000  births  in  1905,  against  rates  of  171  in  1904
and  226  in  1895.
In  1905  the  mortality  from  tuberculosis  in  Berlin  was  2*56  per  1,000  of
the  population,  viz.,  3*0  in  the  case  of  males  and  2*1  in  the  case  of  females.
The  death-rate  from  pulmonary  consumption  was  2*1  per  1,000  (males  2*5
and  females  1*7).  A  good  work  is  being  done  by  the  various  dispensaries
which  have  been  established  in  Berlin,  Charlottenburg,  and  Schöneberg  in
the  interest  of  consumptives.
Among  the  undertakings  carried  on  by  the  town  are  waterworks,  gas
works  (though  the  English  company  which  introduced  the  gas  supply  still
serves  an  exclusive  area),  a  cattle  market  and  abattoir,  a  series  of  14  market
halls,  a  river  dock,  a  fire  insurance  society,  baths  and  swimming  establishments
on  the  river  and  elsewhere,  a  savings  bank,  libraries  and  reading  rooms,  and
gymnastic  halls.  The  electrical  power  and  light  works  and  the  tramways  are
still  in  the  hands  of  private  companies,  but  the  Municipal  Council  is  now
constructing  several  tramway  lines,  and  it  intends  to  extend  this  department  of
public  enterprise  as  opportunity  offers.  Meantime  it  derives  a  large  revenue
from  both  the  tramway  and  electrical  companies,  and  in  its  contracts  with  the
former,  as  well  as  with  the  elevated  and  underground  railway  companies,  it
provides  for  the  properties  being  acquired  by  the  town  at  a  future  date.
The  municipality  maintains  many  institutions,  which  do  not  come  under
the  Poor  Law,  for  the  special  benefit  of  the  working  classes  and  the  poor.
There  are  six  Convalescent  Homes,  situated  in  the  country,  admission  to  which
is,  as  a  rule,  by  payment  ;  there  are  public  rate-supported  hospitals  and  asylums
for  the  afflicted  of  all  kinds  (chief  amongst  them  the  new  Rudolph  Virchow
Hospital)  ;  there  are  refuges  for  the  homeless  of  both  sexes  ;  and  the  town
also  subsidises  labour  colonies,  labour  registries,  people’s  kitchens,  and  a  large
number  of  miscellaneous  philanthropic  agencies.  In  addition,  26  paid  School
Doctors  watch  the  health  of  the  children  attending  the  elementary  schools.  The
work  of  Poor  Law  Administration  is  carried  out,  under  the  direction  of  permanent
officials,  by  4,380  voluntary  almoners,  who  are  divided  into  382  committees.
The  entire  cost  to  Berlin  of  poor  relief,  both  indoor  and  outdoor,  was  in  1905
nearly  a  million  pounds.
Occupations,  Wages,  and  Hours  oe  Labour.
In  the  course  of  the  past  20  or  30  years  Berlin  has  developed  a  large  and
many-sided  industry.  The  census  of  December,  1900,  enumerated  410,314
persons  resident  in  the  city  who  were  engaged  in  trades  and  industries  as  wage-