The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1859-01-13
GROWTH OF THE UNITED
STATES-THE CENSUS FOR
1860.


steps towards procuring the census of
1860, and it is to be hoped that the ex.
perience ofthe past twenty years will
not be lost in enabling it to give US a
more perfect and satisfactory one, with
regard especially to the statistics OF
agriculture, manufactures, and the
wealth of the country, than any we
have had heretofore. In fact, the CEN
'sus of 1910 and Of 1850, only two in
which any attempt to furnish tables
of statistics was made, are far from
being reliable--that of lS40 being so
!imperfect as to be almost valucless in
this respect. Some approximation
TO the English method of taking the
census of the population all over the
country in enc day would give the re-
turns more accurate; and promr%'.v'
1t is true that some difficulty is expo-
rienced in this country from the fact
that our people are migratory, large
portion of the population being
floating one; but that is an argument
in favor Of Simultaneous action all
over the States and Territories, as
there could be no error as to the domi-
cie of each individual, 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 coun-
try to be the second in population
among the civilized nations of the
globe, and we have but little doubt
but that at the present moment we
are the first in as far as mind predom-
mates over matter. We think the
figures, if accurately rendered, will
show that this country, although be-
hind 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 States, 1850 o3.ioi,s16,
France. 1851 35,1s3,OOO,
Great Britain, 1851 T,F5'Ooo'
The estimated population Of this
country in 1854 was 26.5Oo,OOo-glv-
ing an increase in four years Of 3,3Os,-
1874. But admitting that the immi.
grafton has fallen off during the last
six years, yet the increase in tie eA-
listing population has been in an equal
ratio; therefore it is not unsafe to 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 Britain.
Taking the increase from 1910 to 1850
as a criterion which was G,l22,423--
this calculation is not unreasonable.
In the growth of our manufactures,
agricultural products, and the value
of property, our advance over Euro
mean nations has been immeasurabIy
greater. TlNrctu,ns of 1850 showed,
as might be expected, a large increase
in their tables over 1910, but the CEN
sus of that year was so defective that
we are unable TO make an accurate
comparison. In 1850 tables we're
Manufactures and mining 1913 ,a3s, ,iG3
Agricultural products 100000 100
pc,l and personal estate 9O00OOO,0OO
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 meal
culabIe. Whole territories have been
populated by a thrifty, productive
people, and the soil has been made to
Weld rich fruits to their labor. Cities
and towns have grown up where d
deseft stCC.yu pctore, while in the oder
cities property has increased almost
fabulously in value. It's not too much
sthen to claim that in another decade
we shall be, if we are not even now,
jim all save population, the first country
Jon the earth.