Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-09-08
Census Studies.

The federal regulation for the taking
of a census of the country every ten
years is very important feature of our
governmental system. The interest felt,
or at least manifested, in this decenniaI
operation and In its results Is very slight
indeed compared with the popular ex.
citement attending the quadrennial
presidential elections, but Of vastly more
real Importance than the shifting Of
political tenure are the enumeration and
the comparison Of the different stages of
our political growth and social develop
ment. 1t is true that the great tardiness
with which this work is done aud its
results published, in some measure i'm
pairs its usefulness, while the unrelia-
bility and mere approximation to actual
correctness which characterlzes many of
the tables render them unsafe guides TO
absolute or even relative truth. Again,
each succeeding census has been take n
with 80 much more accuracy and tho
roughness of detail than its predecessor
that the enormous differences OF result S
reached may be owing very largely to the
improved methods of enumeration rather
than to the apparent change or develop
ment in the actual conditions.
Notwithstanding these qualifca ions
with which the reports must be aCCep..
ed and weighed their study is very
Interesting and will he found to disclose
some most remarkable results. We are
so apt tojudge OF the whole country by
that portion Of it with which we are
most nearly surrounded and most init
mately acquainted that the mind is
nearly dazed by some Of the grand totals
and vivid comparisons that are focused
under general view of the resources Of
the whole country.
With respect to population, for in
stance, although New YORK easily leads
every other state, Pennsylvania is still
further in advance of the third state in
the list, and the absolute increase in the
total population Of our commonwealth
was greater than in any other of the lie
cide. While the male sex predominates
it is found, OF course, that the women
are more numerous in the older states
In Minnesota, where there has been a
Scandinavian immigration, and in Cali
fornia, where the Chinese influx has been
sensibly felt, the proportion Of foreigners
to native citizens is largest after them
in this respect comes New York, whose
metropolis is the gateway from the old
world the foreign population is very
light In the Southern states, where the
negro abounds, and 1t Is notable how few
negroes there are In some of the most
pronounced Republican states.
A Asignihcant feature Of the population
tables are that the centre of population
for the whole country is near Cincinnati
and that the rates Of urban population
has steadily increased until now %. 8 pei
cent. of all the people of the countr,
dwell in cities. Upon a drainage basis
nearly half the people of the country
live in the Mississippi valley, and NOR,
than half live ut an elevation of between
100 and 900 feet above the sea level a
many dwell In the mean temperature o
btween 45 and 55 degrees. One-half OF
total population are lodged between tn
latitude parallels of 2s and 43. OF tn
foreign population it Is . close call be
tween Ireland and Germany as to whicl
can lay claim to the nativity OF most O
our adopted citizens. Germany is some
what ahead Of Ireland alone, but tn
entire British empire leads all othe
countries by far In It's contribution t
our composite population. In Minnesot
by far, and In Dakota, Utah and Nevad
slightly, the foreign born voters out
number the natives. The largest numbe
OF persons are reported under one yea
of age, aud from that to 80 there 10 a
approximate evenness OF number whe
there Is sudden break off from 1904