Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-03-26
Vermont and the Census.

'Deming" has been looking up Vermont's
interest in the coming census. and writes to
the Boston Journal us follows concerning it ::
Vermonters will await with great interest
the report of the approaching census. A
few weeks ago a correspondent of the J0ur-
nal, writing from the headquarters of the
supervisor, Col. Butterfield, and apparently
speaking by authority, said that the super
visor was determined upon an accurate CEN
sus. 1t is hoped that he will aim at it, and
use every available precautiOn to secure it.
Cnimportant and small as the State is, and
sending ont her children by hundreds to peo-
pie the cities and towns of the West, 4 very
great desire is felt that the new census shall
make the State appear to no greater disad-
vantage relatively than the circumstances de-
mand. In the enumeration of 1860, and also
of 1870, there was strong impression of
gross laXity-that the population of the State
was really larger than would appear by the
returns. In 1860 so unsatisfactory was the
result that ia bill was introduced into the
Legislature providing for recount of the
population; and though it failed TO pass and
become law, there were recounts in some
towns, made at town expense, and the re-
suits were such as to fully confirm the i'm
DIcSSlDuS NlllCu ODtulucu III buC toW II
returning population of about $500 a re-
count was had and resulted in finding an
error of 1885, In some cases whole neighbor-
hoods were not visited all. As striking
evidence of inaccuracy it may be stated that
while the increase of population from 1850
to 1860 was only !, IFS, the increase OF polls
was reported at s, OH; avery unlikely occur
renee, considering the fact that the polls, the
voters, are naturally the more likely to re-
move TO other States. The census of 1870
was more satisfactory, but even that showed
gross blunders, as the attorneys of the State
were returned at IS. while probably several
single counties would show as many.
Some results of past accommodations of popu-
lation are given here, which it is not doubt
ed will prove interesting. In 1890, when the
first census was taken, the population of the
State was found to be S5,425. In the next
ten years the gain was &c. 040, or little
over so per cent. In the next decade the
gain was 63. 430, or little over IL per cent.
Between 1910 and 1920 a gain was made of
1901, or per cent In the next ten years
the gain was 10 per cent. In the next. 1910,
at which time the State was little over 60
years of age, the gain indicated was per
cent and tho population Of tho Sto.e eVf,-
94s Between 1910 and 1850 the gain was
%, 40. The next count showed only small
advance, TO wit, 1,l7S, or less than per
cent from 1860 TO 1870 very good progress
was made, and We gained Is, 453, or nearly
per cent.
The figures of the last census are interest
ing also as indicating the fact that while the
agricultural districts lost materially, the
cities and larger towns invariably gained,
and it was in these latter localities that
81. 4 a
county, which IS almost exclusively n farm
ing county, lost 526 Bennington county
gained 1879, 1871 of which was made in
the old town of Bennington. Caledonia
county showed gain of 527, while St. Johns
bury, the leading town of the county, gained
about 200. Chittenden county made an az
gregate gain of 1900, of which 1914 was
made in Burlington. Essex county, much
of which is comparatively new, gained
l ,025, but more than half of this was
made in Brighton, in which is the village of
of Island Pond. Franklin county gained
:. 0G0 only, while St. Adams gained 3,317.
Grand Isle county lost 1874. Lamoille coun-
ty gained the moiety of 1877 on count of
IL, 81 in 1850. Orange county, grand old
farming community, lying midway between
the Northern and Southern extremities of the
State, lost 1906. Orleans county gained
8. 044, much of which was made in the towns
Of Barton and Newport. Rutland county is
in that while the town of Rutland
gained 2, 257, the county lost only gaining
l, 105. Washington county lost l,O92, 9l9
of which was in the town of Mortified. 1t
was during the decade, 1860 to 1870, that the
railroad shops were removed from Mortified
to ST. Albans a circumstance which will ac-
count for this decrease, as well as for the
gain in st. Adams. Montpelier gained 6l2,
Or % per cent on her population of 1860
county lost $40, though Brattle-
boro gained l.07s. Windsor county lost
/, 13O.
1t is not worth while perhaps to attempt
any forecast of the approaching census, but
it is not improbable that st. Adams,
Burlington, Rutland, Bennington, Brattle-
Doro, Montpelier and St. Johnsbury
will show considerable increase in num-
)ers, while the agricultural districts general
y will show loss. 1t is safe to predict that
Burlington. Rutland. St. Johnsbury and st.
Adams will show the largest growth, while
Braitleboro and Bennington will
Indicate healthy increase.