Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-01-17
Growth Of the United States Tho Census
for 1850.

CROWN OF the United 6teee9-Tne census
: for 1850.
Congress has taken the initiatory steps towards
procuring the census Of 1850. and il 10 to be hop
cd that the experience Of the past twenty years
will not be lost in enabling it to give us more
perfect and satisfactory one, with regard especial
ly to the statistics Of agriculture manufactures
and the wealth of the country than any we have
had heretofore. In fact, the census of 1850 and
of 1910. the only two in which any attempt to
furnish tables of statistics was made, ia far from
being reliablc-that of ls40 being so imperfect Ms
to be almost valucless in this respect. Some ap-
Proclamation to the English method of taking the
census Of the population all over the country in
one day would give tho returns more accurately
and promptly 1t is true that some difficulty is
experienced in this country from tho fact that
people are migratory, large portion of the popu-
lation being q floating one; but that is nm argu-
ment in favor of simultaneous action NIL over the
States and Territories as there could be error
an to the dolhicc of each indi, dual which often
as at present.
We should not lie surprised if the census Of
next year proved this country to lie the second in
population among the civilized nations ofthe globe;
aud We have but little doubt that at the pres
ent moment we are the first rs far rs mind pre-
dominates 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 Uni
ted States, France aud Great Britain stood thus
United States. 1886
France. 7S3,WO
Great Britain, ls5l $4,000
The estimated population ithis country in 1884
was %. 500. 0O0giving increase in four years
OF 3.30Sl24 Blu, admitting that tho immigra-
ton has iaen of during tho last six years, yet
the existing population has been increasing in
equal ratio; therefore it is not unsafe to put down
the total increase for tho Ten years mt from eight
u ten millions This would bring this country
nearly up tn the population Of France and place
her largo " above Great Britain. Taking the
increase from 1910 to 1850 az II critcron-which
was 6, l22 I23--this calculation is not unreasona-
BILE.
In the growth Of our manufactures agricultural
products and the value OF property, our advance
over European nat ons has been immeasurably
greater The returns of 1880 showed, as might
be expected. large increase in these tables over
1870 but the census Of that year defective
that we unable t, make an accurate compari-
son. In 1850 the tables were
Manufactures and mining .....,....Sl DOB 1896 iG3
Agricultural products l,Gob 0oO0 600
Real and personal estate .............. 6,noOOon,m
Since then the of our territory has been
greatly extended and the proror,ionatc increase
in agricultural products. manufactures aud the
value of real estate has boon almost incnlculnblc
Whole territories have been populated by thrift
iy, productive people and the soll has been made
IT, Yield rich fruits 10 their labor. Cities and
towns hate grnwn up whcfr de- scrt stood before.
walc in the older e,tic, property has increased
almost fabuilusly IN snluc. Ii :, MOI too much
then to claim that an another drcale shall
be. il we nrc not evel noW ia al save pprulal,on
the first country on the carh.