The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-12-27
The Growth or the United States-The Census
for 1890.

be hoped that the experience of the past twenty
years will not be lost in enabling ii to give US a
more perfect and satisfactory one, with regard
especially to the statistics of agriculture, manu-
features, and the wealth Of the country than any
we have had heretofore. In fact, the census Of
1850 and Of $780, the only two in which any at
tempt to furnish tables of statistics was made,
are far from being reliable-that Of l840 being so
imperfect as TO be almost valueless in this re-
spect Some approximation to the English
method of taking the census of the population all
over the country in one day would give the re-
turns more accurately and promptly. 1t is true
that some difficulty is experienced in this country
from the fact that our people are migratory, a
large portion Of the population being floating
one; but that is an argument in favor Of stimuli
taneous action all over the States and Terrific
ries, as Their could be no error as to the domicile
Of each iividual which often occurs when the
work is spread over many months, as at present.
We should not be surprised if the census Of
next year proved this country to be the second
in population among the civilized nations Of
the globe, and we have little doubt that at
a
far as mind predominates over matter.
We think the figures, if accurately rendered,
will show that this country, although behind
Russia in population, is at least equal to if not
ahead Of France, and certainly greater than
Great Britain. According to the census Of 1850
the relative population of the United States,
France and Great Britain stood thus
United Sts.es, 1850. lel sig
france, 1901
Oreat br~an ~ aI5,oOO
The estimated population Of this country in
1854 was 26,50O, 0O0-giving an increase in four
years Of 3,30S, ia But admitting that the i'm
migration has fallen of during the last six years,
yet the increase in the existing population has
been in IN equal ratio; therefore it is not unsafe
10 put down the total increase for the ten years
at from eight to ten millions This would bring
this country nearly up to the population of
France, and place her largely above Great Bri-
tain. Taking the increase from 1910 to 1850 as
a criterion--which was 6,l22, 423-this calcula-
ton is not unreasonable.
In the growth Of our manufactures, agricultu-
raj products, and the value of property, our ad-
vance over European nations has been immeasur-
ably greater. The returns Of 1850 showed, as
might be expected, a large Increase in these Ia
bles over ls4o but the census Of that year was
so defective that We are unable to make an accu-
rate comparison. In 1850 the tables were
Manufactures and mining ,ol3 ,33s 4sS
Agiicullura products .............. 600, 900
Real ana persona! estate. 1900 900 o0o
Since then the area Of our territory has been
greatly extended, and the proportionate increase
in agricultural products, manufactures and the
value Of real estate has been almost incalculable
Whole territories have been populated by
thrifty, productive people, and the soil has been
made to yield rich fruits to their labor. Cities
and towns have grown up where desert stood
before, while in the older cities property has in
creased almost fabulously in value. II is not
too much, then, to claim that in another decade
we shall be, five are not even now, in all save
population, the FIRST country on the earth.
While Russia can boast Of a large population,
il must be remembered that il IL in great de-
gree composed Of serfs, and In smaller proper
ton Of idle non-producing classes; but in the
United States we have no drones in the hive no
idle consumers and non-producers in the shape
Of an hereditary nobility, or lazy gentlemen Of
ease. Here all are active workers, scarcely one
Of whom docs not contribute during his lifetime
his quota to the wealth and prosperity of the
nation France herself, with all her intel
iectual activity quickness Of invention, and
proyerbial refinement, does not make the
same impression upon the civilization Of
the world at the present time as the
United States, either materially or metaphysi-
cally, The same is measurably true Of England.
AS one example let US take the list OF inventions
patented in the two countries within the same
periods The patents issued by the Patent Office
at Washington occupy from half column to a
column Of the advertising portions Of the HERALD
every week. while the same number taken out In
q month in England would not fill the same
space. And there Il hardly an invention patent
cd In the latter country that is not improved on
here as soon Is il appears. England France and
Prussia, indeed. make some show Of a claim 10
the invention Of the electric telegraph; neyerthe-
less, France and several Of the other Continental
nations have bestowed handsome gra,uity on
Professor Morse, nominally as remuneration
for the use Of his system, but really as we take
II, as an acknowledgment, Of his claim to The
merits Of the invention.
II II with no small measure Of pride that we
refer to the relative position Of this country TO
that Of the older nations Of Europe which
Is enhanced hy the reflection that our country.
since hr birth as an independent nation, has
only seen the number Of years allotted to mans
existence, while her rivals in progress have lived
for centuries. We repeat our desire that Con-
gress shall make adequate provision for having
the census Of 1860 properly taken.