Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-11-10
THE CENSUS.
The Total Population of the United
States by States-The Increase.
Texas Shows an Increase OF Over 40 Fer
Cent. and Jumps from Eleventh to
Seventh Place.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2S.-l have me
honor 10 submit herewith a statement
showing the population Of the Lnltea
States according TO the eleventh census.
The large clerical force and improved
IuethoCs have allowed very rapid
progress In the compilation and tabuia
ton of results, and this report VIII De
followed in short time b. other bulls-
tins relating to the population. The
special work OF the census is so far ad-
vanced that the bulletins relating there
TO will now be issued II: frequent inter-
walls during the nest few months. Tho
field work Of the census ia uea:ing COM
Dlet!cn, and by the end o. thi. wear will
lee practically tipisnsd. The work OF
tabuiatiou is beng rapidly pressed for
ward. in order TO begin she publication
of TIE volumes as soon poss Die.
The population Of the United States on
June ! 1890, IA shown by the first count
of persons and families, exclusive of
white persons in Indian Territory, In
diars on reservations and Aiaska, wgs
was C2 ,4S0. $40. Tbear figures may be
slightly changed by later and more ex-
act compilations, but such changes will
not be material. In 1850 the population
was 50 l55. 1873. The absolute increase
of the population in the ten years inter-
vening was 10, 324 151. aud the percent
nce of increase was "a 81. In 1870 the
population was stated as SO 55S 81. Ac-
cortiug TO Theses figures the absolute in
crease in the decade between 1870 and
1880 was IL ,j97 Az, nnd the percentage
Of Increase was 3o'0S.
Upon their face these figures show
that the population has iucrensed be-
tween 1850 aud 1890 only 1921 ,345 mors
than between 1915 and 1880, while the
rate OF increase has apparently dimin-
ished from los to "a 81 per cent. IL
these figures were derived from correct
data, they would be indeed dIsappuint-
Ing. Such n reduction III the rate of in
crease in the ince OF the enormous immi-
grafton during the past ten years Woull
argue O great diminution in the fecundity
OF the population or a corresponding in
crease in its death rate. These figures
arc, however, easily explained when the
character of the data used is understood.
1t is well known, the fact having been
demonstrated by extensive and thorough
investigation, that the census OF 1870
was grossly deficient in the southern
states, so much so as not only to give an
exaggerated rate OF increase OF the popu-
lation between 1870 and 1880 in these
states, but TO effect very materially the
rate of increase in the country at large.
These omissions were not the fault nor
were they within the control OF the
census office. The census OF 1870 was
taken under q law which the superin-
tendent, Gen. Francis 4. Walker,
characterized as 'ciumsy, antiquated,
and bar barous. The census Office had
no power over its enumerators save
barren protest, and this right was even
questioned In some quarters. In refer
ring 10 these OMISSIONS the superintendent
OF the tenth census sold in his report in
relation 10 the taking of the census in
South Carolina: at follows. as a con-
clusion OF the highest authority, either
that the census OF 1870 was grossly de-
fectire in regard to the whole of the
state or some considerable parts thereof,
or else that the census of 1880 was fraud
uleut'' Those, therefore, who believe
in the accuracy anG honesty of the tenth
census-aud that was thoroughly cstab-
lished-must accept the other alternative
offered by Gen. Walker, namely, that
the ninth census was ''grossly defect
i've" What was true of South Carolina
was also true, in greater or lees degree,
of all the Southern statss.
There Is, OF course, no means of as
pertaining accurately the extent OF these
omissions, but in all probability they
amounted TO not less than l 800 900.
There is but little question that the pop
uIatior of the United States in 1870 YVES
at least 40 ,0C0 900 Instead of 3S, 55S. 37l
as stated. II this estimate of the extent
of the omissions In 1870 be correct. the
h.n 20 1SIn and 1850
was only about 10 900 goo, and the rate
of increase was not fer from % per cent.
These figures compare much more
reasonably with similar deductions from
the population in 1850 and 1890.
Omitting from consideration those
states in which the census OF 1870 is
known or is presumed to have been
faulty, the rate of increase between 1870
and 1880 in the remaining states has been
very nearly maintained In tbs decade
between 1880 and 1880. Referring TO the
principal table Of the bulletin, the census
of 1870 il known or is presumed to have
been deficient in nearly all the states Of
the South Atlantic and Southern Gen.
trail divisions. while in the North At
lantio, Northern Central and Western
divisions no evidence OF incompletsness
has been detected.
named divisions in 1870, 1880 aud 1890,
the absolute increase for the two decades
and the rate of increase 10 set forth In the
following table:
Increase Percentage
Year. Population. in of
population. increase.
1870. ...... DC, 20. 81 ....-.....
1s,o.. .S3, 6SJ Dis 1883, SS4 2s.1
1880. 4, 6sS $50 9,o5i, 4S. 26.9
It will be seen that the absolute in
crease between 1880 and 1890 exceeded
that between 1870 and 1880 by l. 6S5 SOB,
and that the proportional increase was
but l. per cent. less.
STATES AND
TERRITORIES POPULATION.
1850. 1850. 1870.
The United
states-..... s., 4SO, 5aO bV, LOO. 1oS IS 5oS.311
North Atlantic
division. 1884, 42e M,5O7. 407 IL, 7ss. $50
Maine ...... eco, 26l 64S, so 626 9I5
A.