Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-02-10

II
fords l imagine, very approximation to the
TRUTH In regard to the three great districts extending
from the seacoast to the Allegheny mountain whose
respective increase may have been supposed to have
been little affected by immigration for many years
past and affected about much by emigration dur
ing the last ten years, as in the preceding ten.
The tidewatcr district, composed of 36 counties con-
tanned, in 1910, of white population 1891
1t contained, in 1920 16l ,s87
II it has gone on to increase at tho same
rate, it Contains ,in 1880 17o5ss
The middle dctrct from the falls of tho
river to the Blue RIDGE composed Of 20
counties contained, in 1910 1865
II contained. in 1920 137,I36
1t contains, at the rate Of increase so 18s 500
Total white population east of the ridge, in
1880 359o3l
1920 34ss73
Increase in ten years ii, o6I
The Valley district. composed of II coun-
ties contained, in 1910, of white popua
! ton I0S,s s5
1t contained in 1890 lei ,096
1t contains, in 1880, at the same rate Of in
/ crease *135 ,335
! There is, think, great reason to doub, whether
this mode Of calculation you'd lead correct results
( in regard to the trans-Aeghany population. In
1890 that great district contained white population
of but 33,s3i. 1t was new country, however, and
1t contained certain portion Of fine alluval land
as could be found in the world. The Kama wha bot
toms and the "Ohio bottoms almos, proverti
al Cor their fertility, though for the part exceed
ingly These fertile low grounds we're sought
Win avldty by to the west, who could
at that time neither beyond the Mississippi because
Louisiana belonged 10 Spain, nor beyond the Ohio,
which was occupied by the Indian tribes Through
the combined operation of these causes, the White
population of the ghany country increased,
III the ten years between 1890 and 800 FROM So sSI
to 1o,o4I-or at the rate of SO 81 per cen,
For considerable part of the mex; years, from
! 1890 to 1910, tho country beyond the Mississippi
gas still under foreign rule, and the purchases fror,
| the Indians beyond the Ohio were limited in extent.
So that the trans Allegheny country in Virginia still
enjoyed the benefit of large immigration; and il
would probably have gone on 10 increase at nearly
tho same rate the preceding ten years so great
was the current of emigration to the west, but fos
the operation of two causes. One vas, thst the
finest tracts along the rivers were to great extent,
already occupied-the other. that en,igrans began,
by this time, 10 discover that the titles land in that
cruntry we're not secure beyond the Ohio and
Mississippi IL nevertheless increased in white popu-
ation from 20 oia 10 I0I37I-or 1t the rate of az
per cent.
| From, 1910 to 1920, the causes retardinr its in
crease continued to operate, and of them with
Increased force. The best lands were still nearer
the point of being fully occupied, and the land titles
continued still Insecure, though perfa ps less so. II
accordingly increased, in these zen years but s7h
per cent, or from 1o4.37l TO 1919 I could NOT
help being struck, ocsamuiEr til subj c. with
the stcadiness and regularity with which the rc.e of
increase diminished from 800 to 1890. In the first
ten years of these twenty the rate of increase when
compared with the rate of increase the preceding
ten years, IS found TO have diminished 40 per cent.
and a fraction. In the second ten years of these
twenty. the rate of increase, when compared with
thai the first ten years is found have diminished
Al per cent and fraction. little rate of increase
IN the last ten years, from $50 1880, when COM
pared with that from Is 10 20 1870 has fallen OF as
much as the rate OF increase from 10 s 20 did
when compared with that from 800 to 1870 it has
been, IN these last ten years, but 10 IL per cent
i From the steadiness and uniformity With which
the rate OF increase diminished IN the two preceding
periods seems reasona Bile to infer that has gone
on diminishing in about the same proportion And
I reasons IN Hr,ifv
this conclusion The whole trans A Allegheny dis
trct consists of, first, small proportion of very
tine alluval soil; second, considerable proporton
particularly in the northern part OF it, of very
fine land, which is. however, very lnly; and third
very large proposition probably four times as ex-
tensive as both the others together, of mountain
land which will probably not be cultivated 10 any
great extent, for hundred years TO come Much
Of it, in fact being uncultivable according to ary
American notion of c::itivability In all new coun
trios even of an uniform surface and quality, tho
rate ofncrease continues to sink of course "a they
approach the point of full population But in coun
try ll!fe this, where each conner is every yeoy
compelled to content himself with worse and worse
land, the rate of increase from immigration nus
sink still faster If we add to these Considerations
the continually increasing facility Of emigration from
that connTy, IN consequence Of the increase of
! steam navigation on the western waters and the
prodgious quantity Of fertile land belonging to the
United States, and always in market at low price
IN tho western, southwestern and north western
states and territories shall still. further reasons
lot oeeVlng mat the rate OF increase IN the trans
Allegheny country has continued 10 fall OFF as i, did
IN the twenty years preceding the last census II is
one of the striking results presented by critical
examination ofthe tables Of population. and result
which throws some light the question of the pro-
bable future relatiUe increase Of population in the
cast and tho west, that while the rate of increase in
the trans Allegheny country between 1910 and 800
WIS d per cent Stoioer than il was bet ween soe
and Go the rate Of increase in the tide water coun
try, between 1910 and 1920, was more than fifteen
times IS fast as it was between 800 and 1910 But
this is apart from my present purpose, which is an
inquiry Into the actual white population of the trans
Allegheny country in 1890.
The inference which draw from the facts have
stated, and from others which cannot take time to
stntc because am not writing treatise on STATIC
tics, 49, that in all probability the white population of
Tie trans Allegheny region has increased in the last
ten years, about i6 10 per cent. II This conec-
urnl estimate be correct, and Of TINT You can isdre
from the premises stuffed, we'll as con the pre-.
sent white population Of that district is 15i,543