The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-11-01
superintendent Porter Pays
Washington a Compliment.
THE COUNT OF 1870 INCORRECT.
This Country Leads the World in
Manufacture Of Steel.
Enormous Increase in the Past Year
Governor Hill Writes Insolent Letter
to Secretary Noble. Demanding An
other Tammany Congressman.

WAsHINaroN CITY. oat. S1.-ISpecial I-Iu HE
bulletin giving the total population of tho
country Superintendent Porter DISCUSSES briefly
the growth OF the Northwestern states. He says
the growth Of washington has been phenomenal.
the population in 1890 being nearly five times
that of 1880 Al is shown BY the territorial
census taken In 1885, this growth has been
almost entirely during the last i've years OF the
decade. The inducements which have at
tracted settlers are IT, the main its fertile soil
and ample rainfall. which enables farming to
be carried on without irrigation over the entire
state.
The growth of Oregon, though less rapid, has
been at the rate Of nearly 80 per cent during
the decade. Oyer f,ur-hfths OF its numerical
gain has been acquired during the past Eve
years The additions TO its populations are
mainly In the valleys Of the Columbia and
Willamette rivers.
Calif0rnis, which increased s. per cent. dur
ing the decade from 1870 to 1850, has maintained
during the past decade rate Of increase Of 80
per cent This increase, though widespread
throughout the state, has been most marked In
its great cities, and the soathern psrt.
Idaho has increased Its population two and
one-half times Its prosperity is mainly due to
Its mines, although the people ara turning to
agriculture in considerable numbers
WASHINGTON CRY, Oct 3l.-A bulletin issued
today on the p0puiaiio ion of the United States
says that the population OF the United States on
June 9, ~ shown by the first count, exclusive Of
whites in the Indian territory and Indians on
reservations and Alaska, is 81, 480,540. These
6gures may be slightly changed by later COM
putations In 1850 the population was 50. .l55. .7S3
There has been an absolute increase in ten
years OF ~, 324 757. per centage of increase Of
A57. In 1870 the population was stated as IS. ;
55S.37l. According to these figures the absolute
increase between 1870 and 1850 was II, ,579, ,4l2,
and the percentage Of increase 3006
Tfr~rn ka<of~ - 49, a.
population increased between 1880 and 1880 only
7z7.S45 more than between 1879 and 1851, while
the rate OF increase has apparently diminished
from S006 70 2457 per cent. II these figures
were derived from correct data they would be
indeed disappointing. Such 3 reduction in the
face of the enormous immigration during tho
past ten years would argue = great elimination
in the fecundity of the population or cores
p0nding increase in the death rate. These hg-
ures. however, are easily explained when the
character Of tie data used Is understood. It is
well-known fact having been demonstrated
by an extensive and thorough inye stigstion
that the census Of 1870 was grossly deficient in
the Southern states, 30 much so as not only to
give an exaggerated rate of the increase Of pop
ulation between 1870 and 1850 in these states,
but to effect very materially the rate Of increase
in the country at large
These omissions, the bulletin says, were not
in the control Of the census ONCE. The census
Office had no power over its enumeratcrs. In
referring to these omissions. the superinten-
dent OF the tenth census said, in his report in
relation to South Carolina III follows, 40 q
conclusion Of the highest authority, eitner that
the census Of 1870 was grossly detective in re-
gard to the who's State us sous considerable
parts thereof. or else the census OF 1850 was
fraudulent" Those, therefore, VINO believe in
the accuracy and honesty Of the tenth census,
and that it was thoroughly established, must
accept the alternative. namely that the ninth
census was grossly defective.
What was true Of South Carolina was also true
in greater or less degree of the Southern states
The omissions In all probability amounted to
not less than 100000, onitting from considera-
ton those states in which the census of 1870 is
known or presumed to be faulty. The rate of
increase between 1870 aud 1880 in the remaining
stases was very nearly maintained in the decade
between 1880 and 1890.
The Official count of al the states Or d terri
tories in the United States, with the exception
OF Maryland. Missouri and Virginia, has at last
been completed. This list OF the states. CON-
piled in alphabetical order, is given below: