Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-09-03
South Carolina Census.

| South Carolina Census.
The denial concerning the census of
South Carolina are provoking some
very critical examination into the facts
with curious results. Those who hastily
denied the frauds will doubtless be sur
prised themselves at the strange devel-
opponents which arise in the census if their
statements in regard to the increase of
population be true. While population
has increased. everything else which usu-
ally increases in proportion TO popula-
ton has decreased. There are less pro-
ducts, less houses, less wealth, and a
large increase of people. if the census be
correct. The New York Times in an
article. shows up this curious state of
things in a very clear and interesting
manner. Ten years ago, for example,"
says the Times, there were 7O5. COG people
in South Carolina living in l24 $40 houses
Unless figures lie there are now 2,610
fewer houses than then. while the popula-
has increased to 996. 1924. 1t will be seen,
then. that the energies of South Carolina
have been concentrated upon the product
of population, regardless of the decay Of
houses. For not only are there 2.6l0 few
er habitations in the State now than in
| 1869, but the value of this diminished
number of houses has greatly shrunk
In 1869 the houses were worth S7,76S,37S
more than they are now. Wealth does
not accumulate in houses, but in men,
Where do the 29l.2lS men, women, and
children, brought into South Carolina
since 1869, have their habitationp In
stead of building more houses to accom-
modate the increased population, the peo-
pie of South Carolina have actually de-
molished, by fire or other means, 2,6l0 OF
the houses in which their smaller popula-
ton lived ten years ago. OF course, since
the attention of the people has been SO ex-
clusively directed to the problem of tn,
reproduction of the species. it could hardl,
be expected that much vitality should be
wasted in mere house building. The tax
able property in the State has decreased
from S63. JOG. 72O to 36,574.S5s. showing
a loss OF S26. 1881 ,SU2 in ten years. The
simple explanation of this is that the de-
cay of wealth and the accumulation of
man which has been going forward in
South Carolina has necessitated the
doubling up" of the population in
houses. SO that nearly twenty people live
where there was only room for ten when
the census of 1870 was taken.
Then. again. although the population OF
the State has increased II per cent, every
thing owned by this population has run
down in value. The horses and mules re-
quired l'y the large number of people now
living in South Carolina are worth $751;
S92 less than they were in 1870. To sup
ply the inhabitants with hog meat ten
years ago. 590055 animals. valued at
81 .0SS.l3S. were necessary. Now, not
withstanding the extraordinary increase in
the reproductive powers of the human
species. 3il, l04 hogs, valued at S653. 7S1.
suffice. Is the decrease in hogs. amount
ing to l5S,95l in number and S3S4.3 in
value. due to general foreswearng OF
pork. or to a reduced capacity for all food
in the South Carolinian stomach? But re-
trenchment seems to have been in the |
order of the day in every branch of human
activity in South Carolina. Notwithstand- |
ing the readiness with which, the people |
of the Palmetto State have obeyed the d. |
vine commsnd TO increase and multiply, |
this observance of natural law has not been |
permitted to sheep. aspecies which is usual |
ly most prolific. There are 1916 fewer
sheep in South Carolina now than in 1869. |
and the consequent decay in this branch |
of the wealth of the State is precisely
Sll6.6 Is. The same gloomy state of facts
obtains in the meat-market Whether
the largely increased population ate up
much of the beef before the census was
taken, or the beeves were sacrificed in
order to facilitate the production of
voters. is not made clear. But it is GER
tain that, while There are 29l, 2l9 more
people in the State now than there were
ten years ago. there are l0S 257 less
horned cattle. Then again. this largely
population carries $50 fewer
watches than in 1869, and plays on I66
fewer pianos.
What has become of those loo pianos
that have gone out of the State since
1869 and how do the 29I.219 new peo-
pie amuse themselves since the disap
pearance of this large number of musical
ms truments
But while horses. mules, sheep. cattle,