original: by the early 1880s the population was in decline .
simplifications: by the early 1880s the population was in declension . by the early 1880s the population was in decline . the population was in decline by the early 1880s . by the early 1880s the population was in decline . by the early 1880s the population was in decline . by the early 1880s the population was becoming smaller . the population declined before the 1880 's . by the early 1880s the population was in decline .