The population of Monterrey has increased as follows:
Census of 1851 14,621
" " 1861 26,000
" " 1871 33,811
" " 1881 39,456
" " 1891 41,154
" " 1901 73,508
(Estimated) 1909 86,000 to 90,000
The greatest progress, it will be noted, was between 1891-1901, with an
increase of more than 22,000 in 10 years. In designing the new works,
provision has been made for the future requirements of a city of 200,000
persons.
The actual area within the city limits proper is 960.5 hectares (2,374
acres), forming the area to be provided with water and drainage, but the
municipal district extends to many surrounding suburbs, and covers an
area of 33,758 hectares (83,426 acres).
TABLE 1.--POPULATION AND DEATH RATE OF MONTERREY, N. L.,
MEXICO, FROM 1901 TO 1909, INCLUSIVE.
============+========+=========+========+=========================|
| | | |DEATHS FROM TYPHOID FEVER|
| Popu- | Deaths | Rate +----+----+----+----+-----+
Year. |lation. |from all | per | | | | | |
| | causes. | 1,000. |Jan.|Feb.|Mar.|Apr.|May. |
| | | | | | | | |
------------+--------+---------+--------+----+----+----+----+-----+
Census 1901 | 73,508 | 2,965 | 40.3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
Estim. 1902 | 74,500 | 3,338 | 44.8 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
" 1903 | 76,000 | 3,825 | 50.3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
" 1904 | 77,500 | 2,905 | 37.4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 |
" 1905 | 79,000 | 2,951 | 37.4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
" 1906 | 80,000 | 2,935 | 36.7 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
" 1907 | 82,500 | 3,269 | 39.6 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
" 1908 | 84,000 | 3,188 | 37.9 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 8 |
" 1909 | 86,000 |[4]3,477 | 40.4 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 13 |
============+========+=========+========+====+====+====+====+=====+
============+=========================================+==============+
| DEATHS FROM TYPHOID FEVER. (Continued) | Deaths from |
|----+----+----+----+----+----+----+------+ Typhoid fever|
Year. | | | | | | | |Total | per year per |
|Jne.|Jly.|Aug.|Sep.|Oct.|Nov.|Dec.|for | 100,000 |
| | | | | | | |year. | population. |
------------+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+------+--------------+
Census 1901 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 40 | 54 |
Estim. 1902 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 36 | 48 |
" 1903 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 49 | 64 |
" 1904 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 35 |
" 1905 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 37 | 47 |
" 1906 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 32 | 40 |
" 1907 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 50 | 61 |
" 1908 | 5 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 57 | 68 |
" 1909 | 11 | 15 | 12 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 87 | 101 |
============+====+====+====+====+====+====+====+======+==============+
[4] Excluding deaths due to drowning in the great flood of August 27th
and 28th.
Table 1 gives particulars of the death rate for 1901 to 1909, inclusive,
and data relative to the mortality due to typhoid fever. The high death
rate is caused by the excessive infantile mortality, which is so
prevalent throughout the whole of Mexico. The climatic condition of
Monterrey, with its exceptionally healthy subsoil, ought to make it one
of the healthiest of cities, if proper care were taken to enforce
sanitary laws. The data regarding typhoid mortality are probably
understated, as they were compiled by the writer, in the absence of any
official publications, from the actual death certificates, but no
special care is taken by the authorities to insure accuracy in such
certificates. Attention is called to the typhoid rate in May, June,
July, and August, 1909; this high rate coincides with a scarcity of
rainfall and the greatest period of drought experienced in 30 years, and
immediately precedes the great flood of August 27th. It was probably due
to the lowering of the ground-water throughout the city and the
consequent contamination of the private wells, which were largely in use
during that time. Throughout the city the wells are sunk to a depth of
about 12 or 15 m., in order to reach the subterranean waters, and the
cesspools are often in dangerous proximity to them and at a much higher
level. The nature of the subsoil, which is often much fissured and open
in the conglomerate and sillar strata, would make the passage of
contamination an easy matter, and this alone would account for a high
mortality due to water-borne diseases.