Worcester daily spy., 1860-11-16

We give below a summary statement of the
aggregate of the returns made by the assessors
of the several towns and cities of Massachu.
sets, as they have been revised and tabulated
by the valuation committee, now in session.
To the aggregates of 1860 are annexed for the
purpose of comparison, those obtained in the
same way in 1850; but it is necessary to
consider the changes which have been made
in the form of the returns, in order to make
just comparison. Many establishments which
in 1880 were returned as "Shops within or
adjoining dwelling houses" or as "other
shops, have this year been more specifically
returned rs "boot and shoe factories" &C.; so
that the number Of the former seems to have
diminished, while great number of various
kinds OF establishments are this year returned
under separate heads, to which nothing cor
responds in the return for 1850 In this and
! other re pects, which we need not now specify,
the reader must be on his guard not to make
hasty differences from superficial examination
Of the figures Of the two periods, as they are
contrasted in the table
The returns indicate most satisfactory and
solid increase III the prosperity of the state.
The number Of dwelling houses, which per
haps affords the iairest index Of the stability
Of any people, has increased from 1874 03S in
1880, to l75O07 i'll 1860, which is a slight
fraction more than tue rate Of thirty per cent.
| The rateable polls have increased from 233 094
in 1885, to 289, 1884 in 1860, which is something
more than the rate of twenty four per cent
1t is gratifying to observe that the number
of paupers (male polls supported by the town)
has decreased from 1866 to 1886. The mum.
Der OF barns has increased from 4764 to
1892 of horses, from 74,060 to 9O,7l2; Of
cows, from 1921 to 1905 ,9S2 The number
of oxen, sheep and swine appears to have
diminished.
We ought to say, however, that the state
census Of 1855 returned as many as 1881
dwellings" i'll Massachusetts at that time,
which is few more than the valuation returns
OF the present year. In precisely the same
way, the census of 1850 returned 1872 S35
dwellings; while the valuation returns OF the
same year counted but l34,038 as stated in
the preceding paragraph. This fact, we pre-
sumo, is only 10 be explained by the different
principles upon which the census and valua-
tlon tables are constructed. The latter, hay-
ing exclusive reference to the basis OF taxation
are apt to diminish the number 1t is suffic.
lent ior our present purpose, however, to call
attention to the percentage OF increase exhibit.
ed hy the comparison OF the valuation returns
Of 1850 and those of 1860.
Tie view of these returns stimulates our
eagerrcsS to become possessed of the T. s.
unfinished in the hands OF the marshal and his
assistants. The population Of Massachusetts
in 1850, acco ding to The United States census
of that year, was 9945l4. If the increase in
ten years proves to be equal to that in the
number of dwelling houses, as stated above,
namely 80 per cent, the population at the pres
ent time cannot fall far short OF 100000, at
which ii has sometimes been estimated In
this case it is possible that Massachusetts
might retain her present representation in con
gress, as it is not supposed that the population
of the whole country has increased in very
much greater ratio than this The popula-
ton of the United States in 1850, according to
the last published tables, was q, ,19l ,S76, which
increased by 30 per cent becomes very nearly
thirty millions. Some persons, however, have
estimated that the whole population will prove
to b. as high as thirty three millions.
Valuation Ret,pnS.-Sun,ma,y Of Aggregatcs for
H.