The total number of divorces returned by the investigation, covering the twenty years from 1887 to 1906, inclusive, was 945, 625. In the preceding investigation, covering the twenty years from 1867 to 1886, inclusive, the number reported was 328,716 DIVORCES BY STATES AND TERRITORIES: 1887 TO 1906.

State or Territory.

1887

1906. 1906. 1905. 1904. 1903. 1902. 1901. 1900. 1899. 1898. Continental U. S. 1945,625 172,062 67,976 66,199 64.925 61,480 60,984 55,751 51,437 47,849

1.876 1,555 1,365| 1,467 1,299 1,057 1,133 215 185 136] 179 158) 142 122 2.390| 2,107] 2,041| 2,288 1,810 1,511| 1,278 716 862 1,733 1,782 1,649) 1,506) 1,411

Alabama

22,807 2,162 1,925

Arizona

2.380

Arkansas

29,541

214 226 2,428 2,192

Californía

25,170

1,813] 1.660

7431 663

450

424 437

Dist. of Columbia.

2,325

82

211 18

97 659 589 545 499 394 366 283 694 626 663 612 527 543 533 281 296 223 243 204 136 162 5,592] 5,653 5,393| 5,252 4,698 4,666 4.176 6,751 998 935 722 585 505 507 4191 4201 358 60,721 4,048 3,839 3.473] 3,978 3,758| 3,622) 3,586) 3,587| 3,276 34,874 2,385 2,209 2,149 2.268 2,247 2,275 2,118 1,922 1,787

The act of May 2, 1890, creating the Territory of Oklahoma, gave the United States Court in Indian Territory jurisdiction over divorce; prior to that date there is no record of divorce. 2Organized from part of Dakota Territory, November 2, 1889. Divorces granted in the counties then comprising Dakota Territory are distributed between North Dakota and South Dakota according as the counties are now located in one or the other of these states. Organized from part of Indian Territory, May 2, 1890. All laws permitting divorce were repealed in 1878.

MARRIAGE AVERAGES IN THE UNITED STATES. The following table shows the number of marriages per 10,000 unmarried adults and per 10,000 population in the United States in 1890 and 1900:

WORLD'S AVERAGES OF MARRIAGE.

The following table shows the average annual number of marriages in the leading countries of the world:

*For the United States the rate is based on the average annual number of marriages, 1888 to 1892 and 1898 to 1902; for Switzerland, for the earlier period on the average annual number, 1884 to 1893, and the census of 1888; for Canada, on the number reported in the year 1901; for Russia, on the average annual number, 1893 to 1902, and the census of 1897; for the Australian states, on the average annual number, 1900 to 1902.

1 For the five-year period of which the census year is the median year. • Organized from part of Indian Territory, May 2, 1890.

The act of May 2, 1890, creating the territory of Oklahoma gave the United States courts in Indian Territory Jurisdiction over divorce; prior to that date there is no record of divorce.

• Organized from part of Dakota territory, November 2, 1889. The divorces granted in the counties then comprising Dakota territory are distributed between North Dakota and South Dakota, according as the counties are now located in one or the other of these states.

All laws permitting divorce were repealed in 1878.

DIVORCE RATES FOR PRINCIPAL COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD.

The following table shows how the divorce rate in the United States compares with that in certain foreign countries. This comparison is affected slightly by the fact that the figures for foreign countries include, as a rule, only absolute divorces, while those for the United States include both absolute and limited divorces. This difference is, however, of almost no practical importance, for in the United States less than one divorce in one hundred is a limited divorce. If it is assumed that exactly one divorce in one hundred is a limited divorce the ratio of the United States would become 72 per 100,000 population, instead of 73, an immaterial difference.

1 For the five-year period of which the census year given is the median year, except for Bulgaria and Servia.

2 Average annual Inummber of divorces 1896-1900.

Annual average less than one. Only one divorce granted during the five-year period.

• Annulments included with divorces.

Legal separations.

Exclusive of Maoris.

DIVORCES GRANTED IN THE UNITED STATES, 1867-1906. The following table shows the number of divorces in the United States annually from 1867 to 1906 and the increase per year:

DIVORCES GRANTED TO HUSBANDS AND WIVES IN THE UNITED STATES.

The most common single ground for divorce is desertion. This accounted for 38.9 per cent of all divorces granted in the period 1887 to 1906; for 49,4 per cent, or almost one-half, of those granted to the husband in this period, and for 33.6 per cent, or one-third, of those granted to the wife.

The next important ground for divorce is, for husbands, adultery, and for wives, cruelty. Of the divorces granted to husbands, 28.7 per cent were for adultery of the wife, and of those granted to wives, 27.5 per cent were for cruelty on the