New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-08
riding to the Census OF 1870

Or an aggregate area OF $50 97 square miles and an az
gregate population Of 47 while in the 1850 they
had population of only 100000 persons. According to
This the population has increased $4,000 persons within
period of ten years but this increase belongs for the
ost mart TO the state Minnesota onlV the popu
aton of that State has grown from $4,000 10 l35,jOO
during the period IN quesonan increase OF 263 600 per
sons There is hardly any room for doubt that 6O0OOO
people scattered of 10000 German square
niles even If all taken contributing to the success
| OF the Northern Pacific Railway, will not be able to
insure a traffic that will produce annual income OF
| $20OOOOOO.
H. The enthusiastic adherents OF the undertakers Of
the Northern Pacific Railway will not deny the truth
of tins assertion and they are only able to hold out
homes for the future by pointing to possible rapid
crease OF population the adjacent districts
| CONSEQUENT upon the completion Of the line,
and corresponding increase Of the income Of
the Company. willing / am 10 acknowledge
respeotng America. the well approved fact that,
trary 10 what we 10 Germany, where railways are
the product of already cultivated and wellpopuated
regions the railways In America have hitherto drawn
cuture and population after them into uncultivated
regions and thereby drawn an income TO themselves,
vet the deductions from these facts must always be
made with certain reserve. We must not forget that
though growth OF the population IN regions newly
trayersed by railways is certain, IL is not sufficiently
rand 70 cover tbinly inhabited regions within few
wears with and densey peoped settlements OF
commercially agricultural or industrial character, par
tcuarly when is question of filing region Of 1900
miles with such settlements.
GROWTH OF POPULATION.
We learn, by way OF example, from comparison OF
the population United States in 1870 and 1900 that
in that decenra period the population increased from
81 100000 20 Ss5OOOOO increase OF 7,00CO0-yery con-
siderable in ITSELF but not OF very great Importance
compared with the proportional Increase Of railways.
when We bear mind that the railways in the United
states increased during the same period from 81 ,2s6
miles to 49, 400 miles Even the most favorable rate of
increase population during the last ten years,
namely that OF Minnesota, about $50 per cent, would
extended over the whole region OF the Northern Pacific
Railway during another ten years. only result In an
eregate population OF 900, onethird OF the
ent population of the State Of New-York That such
populaton-whch by the way, would not exist at the
time Of the completion OF the line. nor III: ten years
afterwardw not yield the required income TO pay out
Of the net profits interest the capital invested In
the enterprise think according to my conviction,
bound to maintain.
or course an increase OF population beyond the per-
eentage mentioned is possible consequence OF aocee
rated exerons and efforts to direct Immigration toward
the hitherto neglected States OF Dakota, Idaho and
Oregon and Washington Territory; but we must not
ignore the fact that such exertODs and efforts will always
have TO contend with great difficulties. The stream Of
immigration has hitherto flowed VIGOROUSLY and pre-
feraby In the direction OF the Southern States
diversion nOrthward, particularly In the States OF
Dakota Idaho and Montana where the Indian tribes
are still hostile, will not succeed until after
years OF struggle and perseverance,. Take, for IN
stance Minnesota which has only Just succeeded in at
tracing the influx of population already mentioned
though It's emigration agents have for years raversed
the length and breadth Of Europe and though the State
has for q considerable time been provided with rail-
WAYS To rely confidently and strongly upon the ex
erons and efforts In favor OF immigration the results
OF which must he reserved for future day, ana 70
deduce with certainty that they will necessarily prou
"a considerable local traffic for the Northern Pacns hN