The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1851-02-06
NUMBERING THE PEOPLE OF
AMERICA.
From The London News. Jan. 2.


Like the drops of great shower, which
"fall heavy, one by one come upon US
the first returns Of the census which is
now being taken in America. In the
United States, both the general government
and the State governments take the num-
Der of the people every ten years; but
take ii alternately, SO that, every five
years, census is had, showing the pro-
gress and distribution of the population
That taken at the end of each decade by
the general government is by far the most
complete, exhibiting variety of results
in connection with topics of inquiry which
are not touched upon by those who take
the census of the separate States, under
the authority of their respective leglsla-
lures. The general cencus is, therefore,
invariably that which is taken both at
home and abroad, as the great basis of
comparison in estimating the progress
made by the nation. from time 10 time, IN
population and wealth.
Startling as the results have heretofore
been, they are destined to be cast COM
pletely into the shade by those about TO
be disclosed by The present census, which
will exhibit an instance OF material and
industrial deveIopement unparalleled IN
the annals Of nations. For this, two eau
ses NAV be assigned-irst, the uneXam-
pied prosperity of the country since l846,
when the tariff was, for the first time.
placed on a purely revenue basis, and
more especially since 1913, when the
stream of California gold set in broadly,
deeply, and constantly to the eastward;
and secondly, the universal extent 10 which,
within the last four years, famine, pestll-
ence, and political Disturbances have
drained both the British isles and the con-
tnent Of Europe of their redundant pop
ulation. 1t Is not TO be doubted, that
within the last ten years nearly three
millions of The subjects Of the British
crown have transferred themselves, and
virtually their allegiance too, to our trans
atlantic rivals. The emigration during
that period from Germany, Denmark, and
other portions Of the continent, has also
I been unwontedly great. The results of
! so sudden and extensive a transfer TO
/ America of what Is there the most desira-
| BILE of al! kinds of capital, viz: efficient
/ labor, can scarcely yet be calculated. But
/ it is not labor alone that has been thus
( transferred. Money has gone along with
I II III unprecedented tuditAit'CS' 'ii"0 "'''i
/ further enhancing the rapid acquisition OF
( the means by which free and industrious
people accelerate their individual fortunes
and national developement.
But if labor is the foundation of all
wealth, it is evident how great desidera-
tum it must be TO a country of boundless
resources like America, TO have an ample
aud steady stream OF effective labor direct
ed upon lis shores. How far America
has gained within the last ten years, IN an
element so essential 10 national wealth
and prosperity as population, II will be tol
the present census definitely 10 determine
But, Judging from the premonltory lndica
tions which have already reached us, we
cannot be far wrong in assuming that du
ring that period. nearly fifty per cent. ha!
been added to the population. By M
census of 1910 the population of th'
Union was little upwards of seventy
millions. BY the present census, it vii
fall but little short of, if it do not exceed
twenty-five millions. This is, for th
whole Union, more than doubling IL
twenty-five years, and when we consde
that in some of the States, population
actually, though slowly, on the decline
the rate of increase in other direction
may be conceived.
Take for instance the valley of IN
r Mississippi. In 1910 its population di
, not exceed 100000 souls. The censl
of the present year viii probably show
TO contain close upon thirteen millions
10