The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-10-12
The Growth OF our Country.

The Octobernumbe of the Cen
tuT,y contains striking article from
Gen. Francis A. Walker, superin-
tendent of the census, upon the
growth of the United States. This
growth is shown by presentation
of the condition of the country at
each successive generation or inter-
val of thirty years, beginning with
1890 and ending with 1880. In 1890
the United States covered about
$4,000 square miles, lying between
the Atlantic, the Pacific, Canada and
the gulf. The population was 81
1926, PA, and was almost entirely on
this side of the Alleghsnies. There
were but six cities with population
of 5000 or more.
In 1920 the territory had been ex-
tended to the Pacific, embracing
100000 square miles, with 9,633. 1922
inhabitants. Of this number the Mis-
sissippi valley had attained a popula-
ton of 100000. About a twentieth
of the population of the country
lived in the thirteen cities having
5000 or more inhabitants.
In 1850 the territory had been in.
creased by acquisitions from Next
CO to about 100000 square miles
containing a population of 23,067,
262. The figures of this census
showed a notable increase in city
population. The thirteen cities Of
1920, with 5000 or more inhabitants
had, in 1850, expanded to eighty-five
with a population of about 100000
Nearly one-eighth of the population
was now resident in these eighty
five cities. This census, for the frs
time, recorded city (New York; o.
800, 900 inhabitants.
The census of 1880 shows a terri
tory increased by the cession o.
$4,000 square miles by Mexico anG
$4,000 by Russia, and foots up 3
population of 50,155,7S3. The mum
Der of cities having a population o.
5000 or more has increased to 285
with a population of 11,308, 756, OIL
over twenty-five per cent of the tota
population of the country. At the
same time the development o.
material resources has been largely
beyond the phenomenal growth o.
population in these ninety years.
The statistics OF population pre-
sent many interesting points. Thus
the number of foreigners in the coun
try now is a little over 100000
while the colored population reaches
almost the same number. Speaking
roundly then of the whole popula
ton as 100000 and dedCcting thu
100000 of foreigners we have to
tai native born population of 43, 500,
600. Take from this $500, 900 coloreC
and it leaves 100000 native borr
whites
The normal proportion ofthe sexes
by which females should be very
slightly in excess, has been greatly
disturbed within the United
States, as whole, by i'm
migration from Europe anG
Asia; males largely prepondersting
among the arrivals from the former
and constituting nearly the whole OF
the Asiatic element. Throughout
all the states of the Atlantic coast
and in Alabama and Louisiana
among the gulf states, females are in
excess. Everywhere else males ex-
coed females. In some of the min.
ing and grazing states the males
form two-thirds and more of the
population. The total number of
males is 25,518,S20; of females, "a
636,963; marked features of the
social developments of the
last thirty years have been
the reduction Of the marrying
class the representation of mar
riage within that class, and the close
restraint put upon reproduction
within the married state among the
native population of the northeast
ern part of the country, and in the
cities of the west. 1t is only among
the foreigners of the east, among
he residents of the prairies of the
west and among the southern PEG
pie generally, that the old-fashiened
birth-rate is maintained.