Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1855-08-11
From The PrOyidsnes Journal.

The unexpected results Of tue late census infhe
State Of New York, which shows falling of in
the population of the agricultural districts as we'll
IS of many of the smaller towns, had led manyto
wonder why such IS the care. We see nothing
mysterious in It, and have NO doubt that il CEN
suS OF New England was taken II would exhibit
similar results.
With such rapid increase of population as we
have had for many years, time must come when
this ratiu of increase will cease from natural
causes, and not from any decline in the prosperity
of the country. Events may take place which al
time may tend 10 swell the population Of asri-
cultural districts and at another 10 lessen it. So
of large towns anu cities. If commerce, trade,
and manufactures flourish, they must increase in
population.
We consider the high Puce of living in the ole
States, consequent on high rents the great rise in
lands aud real estate generally, have induced
thousands OF persons Of small means 10 seek new
homes in the West, where lands and living are
both Cheap, Mechanics, agrcuituriSts, laborers,
and small traders have thus lett their homes, be-
cause they could not support themselves. These
are the people who are filling up Michigan, Illi-
nolS. Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, AMI Kansas
There are besides numbers OF foreigners, who have
been employed upon railroads ia New York and
The Eastern States, who now, finding leSS.empluy-
meut, push on West, where there Is better de-
man1 for labOr.
Another reason why population has not been
sustained Is ludl lHeIe n5S OetH great Iailnk Oh
in en'g:stion, potion oil which has heretofore
remained in the old States but which has Iatterly,
in Consequence OF high prices and a lessened de.
mand for labor, sought homes IN the West. The
rapid increase OF population IN the States referred
10 show this 10 have been the case. With the facts
before us, therefore, OF an increased emigration 10
Tue West, we must expect dimInutiOn in some
portions Of the East. All the great commelciai
aud manufacturing cities aud towns in tue East
have, notwithstanding been increasing.
The falling off in Tue number OF elnigrnnts from
Europe is quite natural, aud cannot be attributed
TO any polricaI movements M the United States.
Fist the war has taken away many thousands of
aboEerS, small farmers, and ariizanS, thereby ill.,
cIeasing the rates OF laGUr Of those that IeInau;
next, the demand for large supplies for the fleets
and armies, in addition TO what is requied for the
usual consumption and for expectations, gives en-
ployInent 10 lnOre hands; so that ii may he said
that Great Britain anu Iceland have no mole men
10 spare Nur can it be expected that people will
emIgEats when they can 10 so well by remaining
at home. Should the war continue, which is al
together probable, we shall expect less 1mgTa-
ton next year than this, particularly from Great
Britain and France. The German emigration will
continue; but even in Germany labor has advanc-
ea and many more find employment than former
". An active commerce and hUurshing manu-
actures may preserve the population OF the larger
towns and cities, but there will continue 10 be a
iiminutIon the agricultural districts Of the East
ern and Atlantic States.