The union Democrat., 1869-03-20
WESTWARD THE COURSE OF EM-
PIRE TAKES ITS wAYn
Extent OF Territory ofPopu.
lniion-RatiO of ACKNOWLEDGMENT
TO Immi Migration.

Following the boundary hae between Min
nesota, Iowa, Missouri. Arkansas and Louis
lana on the east, and Texas, the Indian Ter
rtory, Kansas. Nebraska and Dakota on the
west, we divide the United States nearly
upon the Goth degree of ofiongitude west from
Washington, or the 94th from Greenwich
The initial point of this line upon the Gulf ot
Mexico is at the mouth of the Sabine river
which at that terms the boundary line be-
tween Louisiana and Texas and the extreme
northern limit is in the Red river of the
North, where it enters the British posses
sions, and forms the boundary line between
Minnesota and Dakota. This subdivision o:
territory leaves upon the east of this line
thirty of the United States, covering an area
of one million one hundred and sixty thou
sand two hundred and lightweight square
miles. with a population, according to the
last census returns, of thirty millions one
hundred and six thousand nine hundred and
niDetyseven, while west of it there are six
teen States AID Territories, including Alaska.
covering an area Of two million FIVE hundred
and eighty-nlne thousand two hundred and
ninety-one square miles, with a population,
according to the same returns. Of ono n,ill;a-
,brae brndrod ord -tb;rtp SO tfuusuuu thIee
hundred and twenty-five. Taking the ratio
of increase, which the census returns for the
last two decades have established at thirty
five per cent, to be the probable ratio of in
crease from 1860 to 1867, we now have o
population within the bounds of this Eastern
domain of forty millions, while in the Wes-
tern, we have less than two millions. Ad-
hitting the above to be fair estimate upon
which to base the ratio Of increase for the
whole country. it is evidently unjust to the
western subdivision of eur territory as the
statistics of the last census report conclu-
sively demonstrate.
In speculating upon the probable move
ments of population for the next thirty years.
it does not require any great stretch of the
imagination to see the present great disparity
in numbers between the two districts over
come, and a preponderance in favor Of the
western side of the Goth meridian of long-
tude established. To show that this idea is
not entirely hypothetical. we have only to
glance back to the westward march of 'the
course Of Empire" for the last twenty years
Take. for instance. the ratio ofincrease of the
six New England States. where never within
a period from 1910 to 1860 did the increase
amount to over A.. 10 per cent. that of Con-
necticut; while ir the case of Vermont it
sank to less than one-half of one per cent.
with an average for the whole, during the
decade ending 1860 of Is so per cent. TAX
ing the States of New York, New jersey,
Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland. we
have an increase over that of New England
of Is 81 per cent, which a rate of increase
amounting to % 64 per cent. AS we move
westward the increase becomes of astonishing
magnitude. Taking twelve Western States
and Territories, we get the enormous sum
of 345 90 per cent as the average: while the
extremes stand. Ohio, 1914 per cent, and
Minnesota, 2,I60S1 per cent. The above
figures prove the injustice of basing the in.
crease of the Western territories on the basis
of the general average for the whole country
of 35 per cent. for we see that taking twelve
States and Territories we get 345 per cent. as
the average; which. as basis for estimat
ing our present population, will give US in
| 1870 upwards of six millions.
Superficial areas of the two divisions are
not equally balanced, the preponderance be
ing largely in favor of the Western but her
| we strike balance of the arabic lands. We
shall find a small surplus in favor of the
Eastern domain for while not FIVE per cent
of the lands east of the Goth meridian art
waste. upon the west more than ifty per cent
are mountain heights and desert plains wholly
unfit for cultivation besides We include
| Alaska, valuable alone for its fisheries, fur,
ard timber, which are elements not likely t
draw permanent population. Also withir
the limits of the Western domain, we hav,
embraced many millions Of acres of broken
t,eeless upland over which the Indian anC
buffalo alike roam during the summer season
in search os subsistence. wandering from th,
sheltered parks of the Soath TO the borea
plains of the North. and returning as the sea
sons and elements permit. This wide terri
tory of the Platte and it's tributaries canno
be made TO figure to any extent in our esti
mates Of the movement of population. couse
quently. we must look to other and more
available resources which offer indueement'
to enterprise and labor commensurate with
tie risks of emigration. To the east of the
twentie meridian we now have over eighty
| five per cent of the present population. anc
at least ninety-fve per cent. of the wealth anc
established manufacturing interests of th'
| Union.
To establish an equilibrium between these
two domains within three decades, We shsl
have to offer Inducements to immigration of {