St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-03-20
THE STORY That THE CENSUS Tells


Gen. WALKER, the superintendent of the
census of 1880, in a review of the figures OBJ
tanned in the canvass, presents most OF the
important and practical information it de-
veloped. He saws: According to a geomet-
rical progression. the population of the
country in 1870 should have been AZ, 1876, 432
instead of 80, 59S, 81, and in 1880 the figures
should have been So, $50, 241, instead Of So
155, 1888. The causes of the deficiency are
the numerical inequality of men and
women-the great preponderance Of men
upon the frontiers, with q corresponding
majority of women in the East; second, the
growth of celibacy; third, the procrastination
of marriage among the manageable class
fourth, and most important, diminution Of
the provocative force or desire among the
people, due to moral prudence. This pru-
dence is marked aud increasing among the
native born, but not among the foreign
born"
He estimates the population Of the United
States in 1890 at something little less than
so, 900, 900. Following his review along a
little farther we learn that "the percentage
of inhabitants of foreign birth in 1850 was
9.6s: in 1860, 1916; in 1870, 14.44;
IN 1880, 1882. The foreign population
reaches its maximum where the general
population is densest, along latitude 40 and
Al and longitude 20 and "a. Since 1850 the
proportion of Irish in every 10000 foreigners
has fallen from 4.25S to 2,T76. The Ger
mans have gained proportionately. New
York stands first in aggregate for
eign population and also first in
Irish, German and English population.
PENNSYLVANIA stands second in aggregate
foreign population, Illinois third, and Massa-
chusetts fourth. The increase in Chinese
population has not been what might have
been expected. In 1850 the Chinese popu-
laton was 75S; In 1860, $4,000; in 1870,
63. 900; in 1880, 105, 900. The division of
foreign born inhabitants, as regards occu-
patton, is interesting. In agriculture, 293
Germans engage for every 40 Irish; in per-
sonal and professional services as servants,
the proportion stands 21S Germans to Ais
textile operatives, but many Irish and more
British Americans. Three times as many
Irish. as Germans engage In domestic ser
vice. although there are moro Germans than
Irish In the country"
The census figures show that in 1880 the
total population stood six native to one
foreign The criminal population stands:
Foreign, $4,000; colored, 1900; native,
30. 900. The numerical relation Of those
born abroad and their children here is as
follows: Born abroad, 6,559, org; having
one or both parents foreign, IA, 922, IA. In
1870 there were born abroad, 5,567, 229; hav-
ing one or both parents foreign. 10, S92, OBS.
In each nationality there are more children
having foreign father than q foreign
mother, due to the larger number Of male i'm
migrants
The most significant information pre-
seuted By Gen. WALKER is what he SAYS about
the occupations of the population. The cen
sus Of 1850 gives the number OF persons en-
gagged in gainful occupations as 1882, 900,
or 4131 per cent of total persons over 10
years old. These were engaged in the four
chief lines Of occupation as follows:
Agriculture, 1870. 600; professional aud
personal services, 4.0T4,O0o; trade and
transportation. 1,sio.0oo; manufacturing,
mechanical and mining industries, 1857,
GOO. In 1879 the number engaged in occu-
pstieus was Is. 500, 600. OF those in 1850
9,64T GOO were women. The number of
persons over ten years Of age is 50, SO, 900.
leaving 10, 1863. 900 uuaecOauted for The
latter number is about equsl to the number
attending school or physically incapable OF
labor. The census shows an increase over
1870 Of about SO per cent. in population. but
an increase Of SO per cent. ia the number
engaged in occupations. This increase
in number engaged in occupations over
the gain in population Is accounted for
by the growth Of the factory system. The
mining population has increased from 153,-
OO0 in 1870 10 234. COO in 1850. or all in
occupations, ga per cent Rre in profession
al aud personal service, which includes from
the LAWYER and judge to the barber and COM
mon drudge. There are 1,SSe.o0 under the
head Of common laborer. The number Of
elerCymeu in 1850 WAS 81. 900, against 4, 900
in 1870; the number % LAWYERS Ga. COO in
1850, 10000 in 1870; the number OF phvsi-
clans increased during the decade from g.
GOO to $4,000. IN 1850 there were $50 &C.
tors and T2.0,V journalists In she country.
Agriculture remains tbs great occupation
Of tie eozntry, nearly oue-hzlf Of al the Ia
bo-srs being engaged in that enp,oyusnL