Georgetown weekly news., 1855-01-11
Interesting Statistics.

Under the head of Topics of the Day."
the San Francisco Herald gives US the fol.
lowing interesting information relative to
our California population. In speaking of
our prospects the Herald thinks it presents
anything but a satisfactory exhibit:
While the arrivals this year number only
47,730, the departures have amounted to
24,477, showing net gain of only 23,253
to our population during the year. There
are several features of interest observable in
these movements of population. The total
arrivals from New Grenada and Central
America, which represent those coming
from the United States on the Panama and
Nicaragua steamers, amounted to 29,663,
while the departures by the same conveyan-
ces numbered 1888, leaving an addition
of only l0,l35 Americans, or individuals
from American ports, to our population
This shows most alarming falling off as
compared with former years. To supply
the place of the 1888 inhabitants who
have left us for the Atlantic States, have ar.
rived Ii, 5,l0l Chinese, substitute far from
being desirable. For ports in China have
departed 1886 passengers, showing an in
crease Of ,565 Chinese during the year,
or more than one-hatf the total addition to
our population. The Mexicans seem to be
leaving us; for besides the multitudes who
return home over land, the arrivals from
Mexico have only numbered 59l, while the
departures have amounted to iii, showing
net loss of $50 during the year. Between
California and Australia, the account is
nearly balanced, 512 arrivals to 535 depar-
lures. The same is true with reference to
the Sandwich Islands, the record standing
397 arrivals to 1872 departures. Compar-
ing one quarter with another, it will be seen
that the arrivals in April, May and June
were the most numerous Within the last
three moths they have greatly fallen off,
California having gained during that time
but l76l inhabitants or an average of only
587 per month. One gratifying fact is ex-
hibited by reference to the table-the very
constitute of the whole addition to our pop
ulation. For every three men who have
reached our shores, two have departed;
while five women and children have come
amongst us for every one that has left. We
have thus far confined our observations TO
the movements of passengers by sea; 10
obtain the actual increase of our population
during the year, we must add the number
of immigrants who have crossed the Plains
during the past season. We have no very
accurate data to determine this, and must
therefore rely upon report. The estimates
of the number have varied between 25,000
and 100000, We do not think they have
exceeded the smallest number. Adding 25,-
600 therefore to the excess of arrivals by
sea. 23,253, and we may set down our in
crease of population from all sources at 49,
253 or in round numbers $4,000, This
will never do. If any further argument
were needed to demonstrate the absolute
necessity of improving the Emigrant Road,
and establishing a line of Stages across the
Plains, it would be furnished by study of
the exhibit we present to-day Everything
in the State is overdone Preparations
have been made for population of one mil
lion and unless we speedily adopt means to
laise the number of inhabitants to something
rlke that amount, we must retrograde,