The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-09-10

added only one hudred and eight Thousand to
our population. We see nothing extraordinary
in this, and nothing which is not susceptible
OF easy explanation. The increase from 1910
to 1850 was two hundred and three thousand
which is precisely equal to the entire popula-
ton of the city in 1880. The alarm is caused
by the fact that the percentage Of gain is not
as great in the last five years. This is so, in
the face Of confident predictions that it would
be nearly double. Well informed persons re-
garded our population as likely to exceed
eight hundred and fifty thousand; whereas the
figures reduce it to G24,l79; and this is looked
upon as an alarming fact. Hence inaccuracies,
and blunders, and carelessness, are freely
charged upon the persons entrusted with the
enumeration.
1t is one os the wisest and best ordinances of
the day, that of massing periodical returns of
the number Of our inhabitants IT IS the log
book and the dead reckoning of the snip be-
fore the discovery Of solar computations sud
such is the estimate of the publc for On ap-
parent falling off in our population has alarm
ed our sensitive property holders-as we IT,.
for no svod reason. Without an accurate cen
srs, no well founded estimates can be made of
the worth ofreal estate, and its improvements,
which in this and all other rapidly advancing
cities, is fixed upon an ascending scale of va
luation. A landlord regards his rents and the
appreciation Of his estates as part of his in
come-a buyer comes to the same conclusion;
and although we must find the end of this way
Of settling values, it is certain that we have
yet discovered nothing to indicate an approach
to it, To great extent the large fortunes
in this city are the results Of appreciation
Of real property. That is the chief element
of wealth and the basis Of very extended ope-
rations, in which there are employed vast sums
of money. Perhaps to some extent values
may be influenced by the peculiar confguration
of the city and the points Mt which its chief
improvements were first made. For instance,
from the Battery northward, extending to the
East and Hudson rivers, and up as high as the
City Hall, peculiar commercial advantages are
enjoyed-the effect Of which is to concentrate
there the most active and wealthy Of our bust
ness men. Real estate within that range has
gradually but certainly risen in value up to
the present time; and it is remarkable, as illus
tratiye Of the effect Of crowding population
upon real property, that it is most appreciated
precisely where it is most uselessly employed.
For instance in Wall street it is higher than
in any other part Of the city. The actual pro
ductiyc uses of that street are not equal to
those of any good butter-farm in Orange
county. 1t is q large hive of spectators, and
they are SO clbowed in with each other that
property has become infinitely subdvided by
their pressure, and any price can be obtained
for it, Precisely the same law of supply and
demand governs values in other parts Of the
city, The question is, whether property is
needed for business purposes? 1t is manifest,
for instance, that should the union of the
States be dissolved, and the constitutional free
trade now existing be followed by restrictions
upon commerce, the adoption of high tariff
by one, and acountervailing policy by another,
at least one.thrd of the business now done in
the city would be lost to us. One-third, or
somewhere in that proportion, of the inhabi-
tants would be thrown out of employment. In
mechanical pursuits the proportion would be
somewhat greater, because there would be
little use for the hordcs of carpenters, cabinet
makers, ship workmcn, and many others, who
would-the population being reduced SO much
have supply Of their productions on hand
for ten or fifteen years to come That the
effect of reducing business would soon be TO
reduce the number Of our inhabitants no one
will question.
We alludc to the subject in this light for the
purpose of showing the importance of being
accurately posted by the census, md also to
impress upon our people the nature Of the
tenure by which, in fact, they hold their
estates. New York is to very considerable
extent political production owes her
metropolitan strength to benefits derived from
the political union Of the States.
In regard to the returns of the Census Mar
shals, we have word to say. We see no
ground for charging them with neglect of
duty or inaccnracy The time has come when
we should begin to estimate the population
of this city in connection with those
of the surrounding suburban towns, which in
reality constitute as much part of New York
part of the human body 1t is the heart of
the system, and sends out to the cytremities
whatever Of life and animation they possess
How else do We maintain seventeen or eighteen
ferries in connection with Brooklyn, Staten
Island, Jersey City, Hobokcn aud other points.
and perhap. as many steamboats, whose bust
ness il is to carry New York passengers to
and from their residence short distance in
the country? IL we add to this the Hudson
River, The Harlem, the Flushing aud the New
jersey railroads, all of which do an iudepcn-
dent business in connection with season city
passengers back and forth, we shall have
some idea Of the thorough samcness of New
York and is suburbs For instance, il is esti-
mated that twenty thousand people cross at