The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-09-05
North Carolina Filling up. Census
Statistics.

-ldIf IN hdNC We AdllCu 1
ton to the trickling rills of immigra-
ton, which are steadily, though as yet
imperceptibly to the casual observer,
filling VI oHP state, occupying our
waste places, opening cur mines, and
adding to our ta~N-paying, school-sup-
porting. land-Owning population. Capt.
Samuel A. Ashe has been holding a
newspaper discussion of the vote of
the state, with Judge A. w. Tourgee,
the craftsman of the &C. letters. We
take no part in the political points
made but quote from Capt. Ashes
last letter as follows, for the statistical
information therein
Cos third letter contained the start
ling assertion that there were only
22S, 70S voters in North Carolina, al
though the actual vote amounted to
ga, 600. And this he said was proved
by the census. | took issue with him,
and proffered to let the census figures
determine the question. He invoked
the census | agreed to let the census
decide between us.
quoted from the census. aud stated:
w lucIc WOlcS JU.SJ IldltS ONcI IL
years Of age In North Carolina in 1870,
who would have been voters in 1876
had none died.
(bl The census says 2,574 males owe
10 years of age died in North Carolina
in the year 1S69-'70 in six years, then,
i, Al of the 300, 293 males would have
died.
(c) There would be left pa, 800 to be
voters in 1876.
&c" does mo- deny that these figures
are correct acodrdtHg to the census, nor
does he point out any error in the rea-
sOning. He however, says that there
must be an actuarial error; but he re-
lied on the census to how that there
were only 22S, 70S electors in the State,
and the census showing that the num-
Der was 274, 800, he ought not to fly the
track. Having appealed to the census,
he ought to stand by its figures, not
seek to discredit them. But | will adj
NIT that the deaths reported in North
Carolina for 1S69-'7O show it to have
been a remarkably healthy year among
our people.
The number of deaths occurring per
annum among males over Is years Of
age, is probably, on an average, about
one and one-half per cent, or about
ten per cent: for six years. So that,
ignoring the census table, and making
an estimate in that regard, we would
have 20, O29 as the number to he de-
Quoted foom 900, 900, leaving 261, 264
votes in North Carolina in 1879, or a.
600 electors in excess of the actual
vote.
&C." however, in addition to his ac-
tudridl error, finds what he supposes
an actual error in my suggestion that
.'the loss by removals would be coun-
terbalanced by immigration"
And he becomes a little severe and
says sit will not do to guess at facts y
''that the proportion of our emigrants
to our immigrants is as ! to l."
alleged that the balance of migra-
ton for the six years beginning 1870
was inconsiderable, and need not be
estimated. &C. says it is as ! to l
against us. Let us see.
The census tells us that in 1860 there
were living in other States 81. 6O6
white natives of North Carolina, and
that in 1870 this number had decreased
to rs, 2O1. 1t does not then appear
that we lost many by migration during
that decade.
Before 1880, our gain in population
was steady between 1890 and 1910 Our
gain was only two per cent. 1t was
Cnen tnat we lOsC our population.
Before 1850 the balance of migration
was against us but between 1850 and
1860 1t changed to u favor. During
+ these ten years there was an excess OF
white imml grants over white emf
grant of II 81. (See p. 33, Intro.
. Census 1902 Up to 1860 we had only
2 % $40 non natives in the State; oil
: these there is reason FOR saying ZOO
8 We're here in 1850. That leaves 6.S4.
$ white immigrants received between
1850 and 1860. The excess of those re
ceived owe those lost was II, S14. Sc
S the number of white emigrants be
e tween 1850 and 1880 was about 1000
So for that decade the white immi
S grants stood to white emigrants a:
: four to one; and not emigrants to i'm
migrants as seven to one, as &C" mac