New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-21
ORE FUTURE STATES.

showing their present population ana tner
growth since 1870 furnish valuable indica-
tions as to their future development and the
probable time of their admission as States OF
the Union. Dakota reports the largest growth
in the decennial period. Her population in
creased from 14,1S1 TO 134.502, gain Of
12O,321. We have already discussed the
future of this vast region and pre-
sented reasons for its division into three
Territories, and the speedy admission OF
the most populous division as a State. \ The
portion of the present Territory south of the
forty sixth parallel and east of the one hun
dredth meridian has already a population, If
we estimate the immigration since the census
was taken, not falling much if any short OF
100. 900, and another years influx of new
settlers will probably increase it to 100000.
The section north Of the forty sixth parallel,
lying on both sides of the Northern Pacific
Railroad and including the fertile valley of
Red River, Is rapidly filing up with wheat
farmers and may be expected to grow up to
the dignity of State during the next ten
years.
Most pOpulons of all the Territories is Utah,
which has 143,907 inhabitants, and has gained
57121 since 1870. On the score Of pOpula-
ton alone Utah has long had the right to
claim admission as State. but Congress has
never shown a disposition to recognize this
claim, and probably never will, so long as the
Territory is cursed by polygamy. To give her
State autonomy would be to enable its people
to perpetuate poygamy by State laws, and to
put themselves wholly outside Of the reach of
Federal interference. II is safe to say that
Utah will remain in her present condition of
tutelage until her social life is purified Of its
peculiar abominatiOn. She is out OF the
list OF future States for an indefinite
period. New-MexicO, which actually re-
coded in population between 1850 and 1870,
is now showing o slow but healthy growth,
and with the completion of the AtchisOn, To-
peka and Santa Fe Railroad TO her capital
and the construction of the Southern Pacific
line across her southern counties, will I'M
doubtedly receive large access of new set
tiers. We may reasonably look for her adj
mission during the next five or * years.
She has now 11S, 430 inhabitants. Next comes
Washington, which reports 1920 inhabi-
tants and shows the satisfactory gain OF
52,165 siuce 1870-this, too. before the COM
pletion of the Northern Pacific, which is to
connect Puget Sound with the East. Evidently
WASHINGTON will be ready for admission be-
fore the next decenpial census is taken. She
has now more population by $4,000 than the
State of Nevada.
Arizona has come up from 1858 inhabitants
in 1870 TO 4O.441 in 1850, the increase be-
ing chiefly due to the progress Of the South
err Pacific Railroad. 50 large a portion of
her area is desert land that her future growth
cannot easily he predicted. Her mining re-
sources are, however. 40 great and thus far
so scantIy developed, that there can be
little question that she will sooner or
later have ample population to support
State Government. The date of her adms-
sion cannot, we should say, be much further
off than the beginning of the next decennial
period. Montana, isolated among her noun
tains, and accessible only by long and often
perilOus stage Journeys, has no rpid growth
10 show. In 1870 her population was O,595
now it is 30,157. The completion of the
Northern Pacific Railroad, which is fast APP
preaching her eastern frontier, and is to run
I'D the Valley of the Yellowstone within her
borders for nearly 400 miles, will soon make
a great change in her situation and will
open the way to the steady development
of her mineral and agricultural resources. Her
area is much TOO large for o single State, and
will probably be divided into two Territories
Mt a line near the 109th meridian, in case the
country east of that line proves capable of
sustaining stable population. Idaho does not
promise as we'll as Montana. Her arabic area
is limited to few narrow valleys lying high
ND on the watershed of the continent She
is awkwardly shaped, resembling on the
map q leg of mutton, and hns no geo.
graphical unity. Her present popula-
ton is STELLA gain Of 1871 since
1870. There is no early prospect of her be-
coming a State. Wyoming, although traversed
in her entire breadth by the Union Pacific
Railroad. has only 20,7S8 inhabitants. In
1870 she had Oils, If she should continue
10 double her population every decade she
would not be ready to come in as State
during the present century. The list ends with
Alaska, which is likely to remain in
a Territorial condition to the end of time.
Her white population is less than 1000 and
her only valuable products are ice and seal
skins.
To recapitulate, we may expect the first new
State to he Dakota, and after her IN close SUI
cession New-MexicO and Washington. If Da-
kota should be divided, the Northern part,
which may be called Pembina, will not be far
beLlnd Washington. Next in order of admis-
sion will probably be Montana and Arizona.
Idaho, Utah and Wyoming are not likely to
come in during the next ten or fifteen years.
ONE CLAIMANT At REST.
Therc Ia one claimant OF the preat HYDE estate