Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-05-12
u TAET.

The census returns of Utah present some
curious facts in relation to the population
Of that unique and anomalous Tcrrltory.
The whole population is sc, 605-which l.
marvellous considering the isolated posi-
ton of the country, its Rtcrlie and unyleld-
ing soil ard generally fotbidding aspect
and its distance from civilization. Moth
ing less than persecution. q moral expul-
sion from ordinary society and civil asso-
Citations, could have suggested or SUSTAIN
ed such an emigration and utter secluslon
from the business, social intercourse and
ympathies of the world at large; and
nothing but i igious enthusiasm, farati
cism, determination of viii, intrepid
pers everancea and indomitab!e energy could
have preserved such II community intact,
and carried it forward to such point Of
success and prosperity as that which this
Mormon settlement ba7 attained. The
population is almost wholly white, the
native born being about two to one o.
foreigners. There are 11S colored GER
sons, 178 Indians and 445 Chinese, who
compose all the anti-Wbite population
! The question as to the proportions OF the
sexes, in q polygamous country like Utah,
| will naturally enlist attention and inquiry.
In the Territory at large the males and fe-
males are about equally divjded-the males
exceeding the females by $50 only. In
Salt Lake City the females are ia excess
about 500, and in two or three other coun,
ties they are slightly in excess. The poly
| gamous wives arc evidently furnished III
greater part from the foreign population:
for in Salt Lake City there are some 800
more foreign females than foreign males,
while the native males are about 100 in ex-
cess Of the native females. The number
of families in the Territory is 1920,
which would give an average of about five
| tn hn n nj LAX
whore polygamy chiefly prevails, the sin
gular fact is exhibited that the families
average only two and a half persons.
| The. inference would seem to be that
there is many family which is divided
against itself and numbered accordingly.
1t is true. undoubtedly, that polygamy re-
ceives its accretions and derives its sup
port mainly from foreign sources. Although
| Mormonism Is indigenous to this country,
it is notorious that bat for foreign nutri
ment, which it has received chiefly from
English ignorance and superstition, the
plant would nave ,withered and died out
long ago. More than third Of the pOpu-
latIOn, as Is seen, are foreign born, with a
considerable dispropogtion of females.-
This foreign aid he's been obtained through
the constant agency Of missionaries sent
abroad and su tanned by the community
and SO large an immigration to poiEt So
dist mt and isolated has necessitated and
stimulated the energy and thrift which are
distinguishabie in the opulation of Utah,
where there are exam pies of industry,
economy and general prosperity such as
few more favored settlements can exhibit.
There are nineteen EQUITIES in the Terri
tory, Salt Lake, with about 18, 600 iuhabI'
tauts, being much the largest. The Chi
nese, of whom only 16 Of the whole num-
Der of 445 are females, arc confined to one
locality, that OF Box Elder county. The
Territory is now brought by the Pacific
r 4ilroad in to immediate connection with
and LAID open to the enterprises of civil
zatlon-the result of which will be that the
peculiar institution of the country will be
modified aud changed, and it's peculiar en-
ergi probably abated.-Boston Post.