The daily gazette., 1881-02-14

award.
TIE Ice GORGE in the Potomac at
Georgetown and the inundation of
some two hundred acres of Washing
ton city is one of the most remarkable
events of the day. Since the Capital
was burned by the English army in
the war of 1919 no such surprise has
been given the nation. Had the Con-
federates understood this while forti-
fed beyond the Capital they might
have attracted the attention of the
world and reaped renown bv dam
ing the Potomac aud flooding Wash
ington equal 10 that ofCyrus in turning
the course of the river when he cap
tured Babylon while BeIshazzar fam
cied himself secure within its huge
gates.
The idea of Pennsyl Iva lia Avenue and
the whole region of Washington lying
south OF that street up TO the very gates
Of the Capitol grounds being inundated
to the depth of from one to five feet is so
astounding that none would believe the
story anything but hoax were it not
an obvious fact. AS If all the nympths
of the water were aroused at once aud
Neptane we're angsred at the govern
ment for invading his region and de-
priving him of the sacred vocation In
the propagation of fish that grand estab-
lishment has been utterly ruined with
all the eggs and young German carp Of
which our government fish commission
er was so proud, and in which Della
wares most active Representative took
such lively interest. Although the
affair is sad loss, we hope it may soon
be repaired and that the fish conBs-
sioner will build his Matching houses
hereafter so high that no rise in our
rivers may disturb his arrangements.
INCREASE OF THE BLAcKs.-The in
crease in be population of people
has always been held to be an evidence
of comfort and prosperity. How will
this role apply to the negroes in the
fifteen Southern States. 1t is stated
that the total number of blacks in
these S ates was A, 242, O03 in 1870 and
5,e43 ,s91 in 1880. This shows during
these ten years the enormous increase
of ,401, ,S88, or more than thirty-three
per cent. During the preceding de-
eade the colored population Of this
group of States increased only 223, GA
or about five and ha per cent. The
total was 4,01S, $50 in 1860 and A, 242,-
003 in 1870. There is no doubt that
the war put very decided check on
the multiplication of these people.
their increase would naturally be very
much greater during the past than the
preceding decade. But the war alone
will hardly account for the extraordi-
nary difference in the rate of increase
that is shown by comparison of the
two periods. Doubtless the actual diff
ference is materially less than that
shown by the above comparison, and
the explanation is to b. found in the
fact that the census of 1870 was very
defective in the Southern States. The
actual was greater than the enumer-
ated population, and this fac makes
the increase of the preceding decade
appear less and that of the following
greater than it really was.
Going back beyond the war we find
that the colored population in the group
Of States under consideration increased
from 2,6SS,7 in 1910 To 8 3,3G9,934 in
1850 and 4,0IS,39S in 1860. Ihis wa.
at the rate of twenty-five per cent dur
il the former decade and nineteen pei
) cent during the latter or an average o
twenty-five per cent for the las twen.y
years of slavery. Comparing this viii
the thirty-three per cent Of the past de
cade the rate Of increase is shown to b.
q very much greater in freedom and peac
, than it as IN slavery and peace.
The white population In The State
above named has increased from S,oI3,
2 377 in 1870 to IL, ,2j9,f13 in 1880 or less
/ Jhan twenly-eight per cent. None OF thi
, | increase is due TO mm igration. In fact
; lie number OF foreigners in these State
. is mo re than sixteen thousand less tha
!. it was in 1870. Hence during the pas
e years the colored population in tn
SoLth has increased at considerabl
greater rate than the white.
PERHAPS this years floods will war
# people against building on low groun
naar rivprs Almost evarv vaar savar