The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-08-05
Correspondence OF the Richmond Dispatch.
WASHINGTON, August 3, 1870,

WASHINGTON, August ), 1870.
The demonstrating, now in active opera
ton, and which the superintendent llna-
cines will be completed about the first of
next month, will. without doubt, produce
a number of new ideas concerning this
country and its growth and prosperity,
which will be prominent topics OF consl-
deration for the next half decade at least.
Most of them are of course yet to be de-
Yeloped, but there are some points which
were suggested to your correspondent du-
ring an interesting interview with Superin-
tendcnt Walker to-day, with regard to
which attentive observers of the course OF
events for the past two or three years have
bestowed rather earnest consideration:
Among them arc the very cXtravagant and
exceedingly buncombe rhapsodics of elo-
quent statesmen from the western country
(not the remote western country, but in
those States which the jewellers along the
line of the Union Pacific call "Way East,
and which we in this section called the
"far West " about five years ago, regarding
the enormous growth of their population.
Now, in this particular, an estimate, un0Jt-
ci0t al is true, of so careful Il StatiSticlan rs
General Walker that the result of the pre-
sent census taking will show 4 falling off in
the population of many western localities,
should be taken with every confidence. 1t
is already evident from partial returns that
such falling off in the population from
local estimates of large western cities
take Chicago for an eXample-will be
shown. Many of the people who have emil
grated to that section, and to surrounding
States, have upon the completion of the
great railroads that span the continent ira
yelled still onward with the " course OF en-
pire," while European emigration, which
years ago was content to finger about the
banks Of the rivers and OH the fertile plains
that wash the lands and beautity the States
of Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Minnesota,
and the western States generally, HE " now
to the golden prairies further and further
from the East, and as their means and dlspo-
Sition allow, drive nearer and ever nearer TO
Red Clouds setting sun. These gradually
deplete the old West Of the magnifcence OF
its population. and in all probability the
census report will put forth that fact in
startling truthfuIneSs. How agreeable this
may be to the western people may be judged
by the fact that letters to the Superintend-
ent are of very frequent occurrence from
parties complaining of errors in the reports.
Official statements, though, plainly assert
that the cities do not come, in many in-
stances. near the estimates which have been
INDUCED.
In New England it is about the same, and
| in the old cities where Puritanism lived and
tiourished and dictated crceds and principles
with relentless energy. the same dcpetlons
| of population will be seen. Even the Old
homestcads and iarp'S To which rlSld dcVo-
| ton had been features for years, VIII be
| found to be effected and where the bluest
| bloods of Miles Standish types lived ana
toiled in hopes of making sterile plans
bloom with the beatty and fragrance OF the
fertile valleys that deck old Virginia, there
will be found 4 decay Of interest anf loss
of population. The great West has Its
claims upon the East. and is daily and con-
tinually gathering them in.
| Judging from the few remarks dropped
concerning the South, it does not appear
that there will be by any means this immf.
grafton. II draws alike from the west ana
| from New England, and as every one well
enough knows, particularly lin fact: almost
exclusively has this been the case since the
war. The census report will produce some
very interesting facts concerning thls sec.
| ton. 1t is Thought at the office here that
there will be shown small absolute In
crease in the negro population, though not
a relative increase. In those sections Where
the United States armies did not make oc'
cupation during the war this condition o.
matters will, it is thought, be demonstrated
Asa general thing the fact appears Ger
tain that the negroes will be lnadequately
enumerated, not being able to talk fol
themselves, not knowing their ages, nor e
tell ANYTHING concerning others living II
out-of-the-way places, as many or them 90
| etc. -,
| Another matter with reference to tht
South will be the statement of the great in
| crease, ef firms and energy Of farming ope