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hicago’s “‘black belt,” so called, to-day holds at least125,000 persons. ‘This is double the number that samedistrict held five years ago, when the world war began. Chicago is probably the third city in the United States _ in number of colored persons and, at the lowest, ranks as fifth in this regard, according to estimates of FrederickRex, municipal reference librarian. ‘The four cities thatmay possibly exceed Chicago in this population groupare New York, which had 91,709 at the last census; Bal- _timore, with 84,749; Philadelphia, with 84,459, and Washington, with 94,466. The colored population in allthese cities has increased since the last census. New Orleans, which had 89,262, has decreased insteadof gaining, and the same will apply to three other largesouthern cities where the colored population at the begin-ing of the war was slightly above 50,000 and just aboutequal to that of Chicago. These are Birmingham, Ala.,Atlanta, Ga., and Memphis, Tenn., all reported to havedecreased, while Chicago has gained. During interviews with some forty persons more orless expert on the question the lowest estimate of thepresent colored population of Chicago was 100,000 andthe highest 200,000. The figure most commonly agreedon was 125,000. There is no doubt that upward of 150-ooo have arrived here. The number that have departedfor other points is unknown. b)
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