The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-06-07
POPULATION CLAIMS.

tories, Idaho and Wyoming, in the matter
of their efforts to achieve statehood that
the national census will be taken within a
year. The developments next June, we
fear, will prove death-blow to all aspira-
tons to immediate admission to the union.
| If the enumeration could be postponed a
year or two, Congress might be induced
| to believe the statements of the state
boomers in regard to population, but the
exposure is so near at hand that before adj
mission can possibly be brought about the
tale will be told Then it will be seen what
awful defers of the truth some of the
citizens of the territories named are, and
the hopelessness of getting into the union
will be made apparent. Within a week we
have read that the population of Idaho,
carefully estimated, is l25, 900, and of Wy
oming lover 100000" Now, these state
ments are so reckless as TO make them
ridiculous. One wonders at the brazenness
of those who present such claims and ex-
pect them to be believed. Idaho was not
organized into territory until 1868, hence
but two censuses have been taken-in 1870
and 1880. The first census showed a popu-
lation of IA, 999, and the second total of 81
Clio, the increase being 1871, or little less
than rs per cent in ten years. The growth
during those ten years was simply marvel
Gus. surprising even the old inhabitants
who realized that great influx had been
going on. 1t is all that could reasonably be
expected, and really more than should be
looked for, that the rate of increase should
continue through the present decade. This
would bring the population up to q, 900
next June. We will confess surprise if it
shall reach within 10000 of that figure, as
there has been little if any growth within
two years, and there is not much likelihood
of extraordinary increase during this year.
A similar study of the figures as to Wy
oming will produce a similar depressing
showing to our ambitious neighbors The
territory was organized in 1868, while the
Union Pacific railroad was in course of
construction, and two years afterwards the
first census was taken, the population
being 9,11S. During the next ten years
the population increased rapidly. Cheyenne
developed into city. Evanston, Laramie,
Rock Springs and other railway stations
grew into formidable villages, and numer-
GUS cattle ranches were taken up. The III
crease was 12S per cent, the engmerators
finding 2O,7S9 people in the ter
ritory in 1880. Since the year last
mentioned the growth has been
steady but not remarkable, except in
the two cities of Cheyenne and Evanston.
But let US admit that the increase during
the past decade has been equal to that be-
tween 1870 and 1SS0-l2S per cent.-and
next June the territory will contain AZ 900
souls. This estimate is liberal almost to
recklessness, as our friends across the Dor
der will admit if they are honest and will
think iutelligently for few minutes.
The theory in regard to territories is that
they should be taken into the union when
they contain population enough to
entitle them to Representative in
Congress. This has been the rule
heretofore followed, and it is not likely
to be departed from in the cases of Idaho
and Wyoming, the desire to create new
states being no greater now than hereto
fore The basis of representation in Con-
gress since the last appOrtionment is 152, 900.
The next apportionment will not be made
until the census has been taken, when the
basis viii be increased rather than dimin-
ished, as it is generally recognized that
Congress is too large and unwieldy. 1t
win thus be seen that there is very little
hope for our neighbor dependencies in their
present efforts to get from under the gall
ing territorial yoke. They will have to
wait until they can establish their claim to
statehood by sufficient population, and I'M
fortunately for them the census is close
upon us with its tell-tale figures.