Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1879-03-08
THE TENTH CENSUS.

the United States will be taken in
June, 1880. The census, it is well
known, embraces much beside a
mere enumeration of population.
1t shows, or attempts to show the
condition Of the country in its va
ried aspects. By comparison of
the results of one census with those
Of that one Immediately preceding
it, we ought to be able to form a
tolerably accurate idea of the pro-
grcss Of the country in population,
in wealth, in commerce, in manu-
features, and in agriculture, as we'll
as of the variations in the relations
to one another, in those respects,
of the various parts Of the Union.
The census of next year will be es
pecially interesting, inasmuch as it
will show whether or not the coun-
try has regained the normal rate of
progress which was interrupted by
the war. It is true that perfectly
correct estimate on this point may
be prevented by complications aris'
ing ont of the disturbing forces due
to the commercial revulsion Of 1878
but an account accurate and in
telligent reasoning may overcome
this difficulty. Up to 1860, the
percentage Of increase ia the popu-
lation of the country had been res
markably regular wAen measured
by decennial periods. The follow
ing table, including the decade be-
tween 1860 and 1870, gives inlor-
nation on this point:
Decade: Per cent: Decade Per cent:
1890 to l 500 -35 ,02 1880 to 1S40- 80 81
1900 to 1910 SO A. 1910 to 1850 81, 81
1910 to 1920 33 10 1850 to $780, 30, So
1920 to 1880 80 40 1860 to 1870 %, 90
Averaging the whole term up to
1860 by years, we End that the an
nual rate Of increase was 81 per
cent. Except for the war the pop.
ulation of the country would have
been more than 100000 in 1870,
and more than 57,0OO,OO0 in 1880,
According to estimates made by
what is considered competent au-
thority, it will fail short Of 5O,OOO,-
900 by the census of next year.
The population Of Lonisiana-ac
cording to this estimate, will be
9S6, 600.
1t is to be hoped that in provid-
ing for the next census, some amend>
ments to the existing method will
be made. Our census returns form
an immense volume, the result, ev-
identity, of great labor, but there
has never been thorough confidence
in the result as thus formulated.
The totals are, perhaps, approx
imately correct, as far as the main
points Of inquiry are concerned---
but some attempts to collect iEfor,
nation are conspicuous failures
and in the details of all the differ
ent schedules there are gross blum
ders. Perhaps much of this in
accuracy is due to an imperfect Or
erroneous system. 1t has been
taken for granted that the best and
most accurate results were to be OBJ
tanned by the most expensive and
most laborcus methods. This
appears to be a mistake if we COM
pare our methods, and our
results with the methods
employment and the results ar
rive at in England. AS we arrange
it, several weeks are devoted to
the process of census taking. The
work is done by officials who are
furnished with big books and pen
ellis, and who go about from house
to house and are often mistaken for
assessors and ta1-gatherers. After
this work is done, the task Of com.
pilation is undertaken, the two pro-
cesses requiring hundred and
twenty. five weeks for their compile