The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-10-27
CoMMUNICATION-THE CENSUS.

COMMUNICATIONS CENSUS:
To the Editor Of the Kenosha 1slegraph:
! The statement of Waukegan newspaper
that the present census shows falling off in
the population both in this city and in the
county towns, needs in my judgment if any,
something more than the evasive reply con.
tanned in your paper of Oct. 18th.
Waukegan, Kenosha and Racine are all
cities handsomely and favorably situated up
on the lake, and all chickering's about relative
am cunt of population not add to. Or diminish
the importance of either of the places named,
or in point of fact, snake one hnir white or
black" It is due to the truth however to say
that the statement of the Waukegan paper is
incorrect The census of the present year
shows a moderate, but respectable advance
in population within the city limits of Keno
sha, since the U. s. census of 1860. There has
also been considerable additions since the
period named, to the population outside, but
immed lately bordering upon the city. ssg
The present census shows tnat there are
but few idlers in Kenosha, and that all are
engaged in active, and nearly all in useful in
dustries. The census also presents another
gratifying result, since it shows that more
than twenty-nine out of every thirty families
own the premises upon which they reside.
The Kenosha & Rockford railroad built to
o considerable extert by a great outlay of
means on the part of'the citizens of this place,
has been steadily and studiedly managed to
unfavorably affect the business of Kenosha.
The transferable stock of railroad companies
is quite likely to change hands, and the time
may come when the majority Of its stock
holders will prefer running the road with the
view of increased dividends, rather than for
the interest of few real estate owners in
Chicago. A change in the management of
that road that would bring business to instead
of taking from Kenosha, would soon fav6ra-
bly, effect the business and population of this
place, and also largely increase the dividends
of that road.
With direct line of railroad soon to be
completed TO st. Louis, fair management on
the part of the Kenosha g. Rockford division
would enable us to snatch an important
amount of business, even from the grasping
hands held out at Chicago
It may be proper to say that some of the
towns in Kenosha County show marked,
and all some increase in population since the
date of the previous census and all OF then
show an enormous increase in wealth.
Land has appreciated twenty-five per cent
and the augmentation of personal proper
ty has been considerably greater.
Increase of wealth has retarded
increase Of population because it has enabled
several farmers to add by purchase other
farms to their own, and the tendency has
been to larger instead of minuter divisions of
land. 1t is questionable whether farther
increase in population of the county towns, if
| it should occasion divisions of land, would
not be detrimental rather than the reverse.
Stock raising. wool growing and the diary
interests are at present in the ascendant in
Kenosha county, and these branches of agri-
cultural industry require farms of some size
to be successfully prosecuted.
During the ten years which have elapsed
since the previous census was taken the man
ufacturing and shipping business of kenosha
has increased more than four hundred per
cent, and there are but few cities perhaps
that can show greater relative degree of
progress. J
1t is rare that we find an individual who
feels more solicitous for the welfare of his
neighbors than himself, but the inhabitants
of both Waukegan and Racine have mani.
tested more interest in the enumeration of the
inhabitants of Kenosha, than they have in
the canvass of population IN the beautiful
cities in which they reside and if we can
confde in the sincerity of their ayowals there
is sorrow at both of these places arising from
the fact that the census at Kenosha did DO
develope a still greater increase of popula
ton. W. M.