Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-09-16
New York Times.I
Curiosities Of the Census.


Ouriosities Of the Census.
South Carolina is evidently not that un-
happy land referred to by the poet as one to
fastening ills prey. where wealth accumu-
lates and men decay. On the contrary, il
we may believe the census takers, it is man
who accumulates. and wealth which decays,
Ia that remarkable portion Of our beloved
country. The returns show that. while ev-
cry species Of property has receded and de-
teriorated, the population Of the State has
enormously increased. Ten years ago. for
example. there were 705 ,6O6 people in South
Carolina living in l24,5i6 houses. Unless
figures lie. there are now 2,6iO fewer houses
than then, while the population has increased
TO 996.S2i. Ii will be seen then. that the
energies Of South Carolina have been con-
centra,ed upon the production Of population
regardless Of the decay Of houses. For no,
only are there 2,6i0 fewer habita,ions 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
e. ,16s 1878 more than they are row. Wealth
does not accumulate in houses, but in men.
Where do the 29l ,2ls men, women and chill
dren brought into South Carolina since
1869. have their habi,aiion2 Instead Of
building more houses TO accommodate the
increased population. the people Of South
Carolina have actually demolished by FIRE or
other means, 2,6l0 Of the houses in which
their smaller population lived ten years ago.
OF course. since the attention Of the people
has been so exclusively directed TO the prob
lem Of the reproduction of the species, it
could hardly be expected that much vitality
should be wasted in mere house building
The taxable property in the State has de-
creased from s63, lO6, 40 10 s36, ,574. .s5s,
showing loss Of s26, ,5si ,s02 in ten ), ars.
The simple explanation Of this is that the
decay Of wealth and the accumulation o!
men which has been going forward in South
Carolina has necessiiated the doubling up"
Of the population in houses. 80 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 AZ per cent, every
thing owned BY this population has run down
in value. The horses and mules required BY
the large number of people now living in
South Carolina are worth s57 .s92 less than
they were in 1870. To supply the inhabit-
ants with ''hog meat" ten years ago, $50, :
055 animals, valued at &l O3s, l3s. we're
necessary Now. notwithstanding the ex-
,raordinary increase in the reproductive
powers Of the human species, Bl l04 hogs,
valued at $tjj.,si suffice l. the decrease
in hogs. amounting to ljs,9jl IN number
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H. b.ef h, fore The crn,,I, "a. takrn or thr
bee,e. were sacrificed IN order 10 facilitate
the production Of voters. !. not made clear.
Bu, II /. certain that. while ,h,r, mr.. Dol :
olg more people in the Stat. now than ,ber,
were ten wear, ago. there are iO3 .257 less
horned cattle. Then again. ,hi, lary.l,
multiplie,i population earrie. $50 fewer
wa,che. than in 1869. and plays on l66
fever pianos. What has become Of those
l66 pianos ,ha, have gone ou, OF the State
since 1869? and how do the 29l,2l9 new
people amu,e themselves since the disap-
pearance Of ,hi, large number Of musical
Instruments
But. while horses. mules, sheep. cattle.
machinery. merchandise. hogs. piano, and
~a,ehe. have nun down. south Carolina
proudly shows an increase in dog, and men.
Th. population. which has increased 2el .2l9
since 1869. require. si3l ,oys worth Of dogs