The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1880-01-13
THE NEXT N 8
General Walkers Estimate Of the In
crease Of Population West and south. y

General Walker, Superintendent of the
coming census will viii show the population
of this country to be between forty-seven
millions and folty-eight millions. Lately
when asked to make a sort of forecast of The
increase of population by sections and States
he declined to do so. While the information
he said, to give nearly an exact idea Of the
probable figures he preferred now that the
time for taking the census was SO near to wait
for the true figures rather than to guess at
them. However, without attempting to go
into details, he said that there would be
found to be quite Il large increase OF popula-
ton in the Western States, particularly in
Kansas, Iowa and Minnesota. The Southern
States, he said. would also show an increase
in population. The largest relative increase
perhaps in any State in the Union would be
found in Texas, while Missouri, Tennessee
and Northern Alabama woHld also show de-
cided increase. The relative increase in some
of the Southern States would probably be
small, but not remarkably so, no more so,
perhaps, than i'll sOnc Of the Northeastern
States. He did not believe that there WOuld
be any actual decline in the population in any
vi eng |" ~ u vi ''ttii ''f- ~
these views of the Superintendent Of the cell
Sus the greatest increase Of population will be
found in the three Western and four South
err States, and assuming that all the Southern
States may show an average relative increase,
it would seem that tie greatest Increase OF
Congressional representation will be %giyGNtO
seven Western and Southern States.
General Walker feels an especial interest
in the subject Of accumulated wealth. He
l,nI ,I,rir,b : ~ .ri,-n htv ,,arynrnl nttnl,tin, to
this branch OF the work, but as the scope Of
he coming census has been considerably
widpned it will be impossible for hun to take
DlmelIate charge Of any OF the subjects.
" nth references II accumulated wealth moth
iug has yet been done, although it is expect
ed that when completed it will he one OF the
most interesting branches Of the census,
giving the fullest details possible regarding
sections, States, counties and cities. and show
ing Tie contrast in tie increased capital of
each. Notwithstanding that a great deal las
been said concernig the political complexion
of Tie census supe rvisors to be appointed ltNt
month";, General walker said to-day that he
expected no serious -differe. C in Congress re-
Sarding the appointments. On the contrary
lie hopes that the perfect understanding which
seems to exist between the Census commit
tees of the Senate and House and himself
will pre"ent any trouble about the matter.
lie sad that no man would be appointed TO
any branch of the work for political reasons
alone, and certainly no supervisor would be
appointed who was conspicuous either as a
politician or a partisan. He III turther that
it was not designed to make the coming CEN
sus report a partisan document, to benefit or
to prejudice either political party. On the
contrary, he is determined that only the most
competent persons shall be employed, espec-
tally as supervisors, and the report of these
officers, when made, will be closely scruti-
nized and subjected to every test known to
statisticians. "And," he added emphatically,
eff | find that any supervisor is using his po-
sition to advance one party or to prejudice
another, | shall Immediately recommend his
removal. | do not propose to conduct this
census with the view ofhelping or perpetual
ing any political party" The list Of super
visors is not yet completed, and it is believed
that an effort is being made to appoint such
persons as will be satisfactory to both parties
in Congress.