Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1872-10-16
The Testimony Of the Census.

The Testimony OF the Census.
A study of the details Of our recent
census will show other facts quite as
satisfactory as the increase of popula-
ton. Indeed, though our advance in
the latter respect is extremely graft
flying, it is not quite up tothe enthusi,
astic anlicipauons expressed before
the truth was made known. Many
believed that instead of thirty-onc and
u half millions as the round number at
which the census Of 1860 allowed US
to put our population, the census of
1870 would give us at least forty mil
lions instead of which, we are not
allowed TO state the round figures
above thirty-eight and half millions,
or an increase OF not quite twenty-five
per cent. But not so our prodgcts.--
Many Of them have advanced far be-
yond any relative proportion which
wc should have expected TO this in
crease of population. Among others,
this is true of our agricultural pro-
ducts. Going back, not ten, but TWEEN
ty years for our standard of COMPARE
son, it is seen still more plainly
Knowing that our increase OF popula-
tion within the twenty years had been
but about sixty per cent, we believe
no one would have ventured to put
the present production of some of our
largest staples, on whose relative
abundance we have always prided
ourselves, at two, three, or fve-fold
that Of 1850. And yet, unwarranted
as this would have seemed as an esti-
mate, il is established as q fact by the
figures of the census. The Bure,.a oc
Statistics, in giving some of the sum
marics of returns, tells us that in
twenty years the Wheat crop of the
country has trebled. Barley has in.
creased six-fold Flax, six-fold. Flax,
seed, thrce.fold. Hops have increased
sevcn-fold not so cncouraging] Oats
have doubled. Live stock have trobled
in estimated value,if not in numbers.
Now they are reckoncd at the some
what startling sum of fifteen hundred
and twenty-five million dollars-or
nearly TWO hundred doiiars io,,- eyeIy
family in the nation. Slaughtered ami
mails have nearly quadrupled in value,
and are now estimated at four hundred
million dollars annually. Wool has in
creased from sixty to hundred mil
lion pounds. Cotton is half million
bales above the crop of 1850, though
it has not yet returned TO the great
crop Of 1S60-the palmy days when
Cotton was called King. Irish pota-
toes have only increased third, while
sweet potatoes have decreased one
half Corn has increased largely
within the period, though, il seems,
the crop of 1866 was larger than that
of 1870 by seventy-eight million bush
els, or ten per cent. OF the whole. One
dra wback to the cultivation OF corn, is
the fact that The cost OF its transpor-
talion from the region Of its most lux
uriant growth to the sea board too
often takes away all the profit of pro-
duclion, The farmer sometimes al
most feels that the more he has of it
the poorer he is. Not so, however,
with wool, and wheat, and beef, and
some OF the other products TO which
the attention of farmers is turned, and
by which the country is growing rich.
Examination would probably show
, some similar rates OF increase in other
lines OF production. Most of the lead.
ing manufactures have been advanc-
. ing as fast, probably, or faster than
our agricultural interests aud mining
/, has grown up from comparative in
, significance to a place in the very front
rank in our industrial pursuits
Doubtless the increase in the money
, value of this production has vastly
. outstrippcd that Of every other. The
resources Of the country are beginning
to be developed And, with our bet
, ter understanding Of what these really
, are-our better methods whichscience
. is teaching, better machines which in
venton is giving, improved facilities
Q 10 every respect which every day is
d multiplying the increasc of produc-
, ton for the next len or twenty years
I will be still creator. Another census,
liz all signs do not fail, will show a
d much higher ratio Of increase in our
8 population. Butthe disparity between
d this and the increase Of production
d will be even greater than tho surpris-
il ing one which we now record IN Y
IS Mercantile Journal y 9' "
ia m A Johnstown servant transformed (
"a quiet homo into q Babel, and lost 4
|. good homo nv merely straipjnc fOuI