The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-06-23
REvELAr1oNs OF THE CENSUS.

The partial returns of the census in the
East reveal the effect of the tremendous i'm
migration from Europe which has been
gong on during the past decade. New York
City is said TO show d population of $780,
coo, which is an increase of 80 per cent over
the population of 1880. 1t is safe to say that
no other city in the world is increasing at
like ratio. In 1870 New York was credited
with a population of 9i2, 900, a little more
than half its present numbers. In 1880 it
showed a population Of 200, coo, an in
crease in round numbers equivalent to 80
per cent. When San Francisco was
founded New York contained about 100000
people. Its numbers have more than trebled
since then. Since the close of the War of
1872 it has increased eighteen fold in popu-
lation. There is no city in the world
which can show SO steady and rapid an in
crease.
The recent aCcretiOn, as we said, is largely
due to the influx of Europeans, who drift
across the ocean and are unwilling or I'M
able 10 find themselves homes further west.
During the last decade about ). 90, 600 Euro
pean immigrants landed in the United
States, chiefly at New York. Probably s
per cent of these remained on the spot
where they originally set foot. The fact
goes far to explain the difficulties with
Which municipal government has had to
contend in the Eastern metropolis, and the
labor agitatiOnS which disturb industry
there.
Philadelphia is more Of an Am erican city
than New York. Its Intercourse with
Europe is less frequent, and. except in the
factories. the foreign element is less per-
ceptible there than in the city on the Hud-
son. Yet Philadelphia is said to show a
population of 100000. as against S47, 900 in
1880; GAO in 1870, and 565,OO0 at the out
break of the war. The increase during the
last decade was at the rate of about % per
cent, half the rate Of New York, but more
than the rate of San Francisco.
Boston shows a still lower rate. 1t is
credited by the Globe with population of
41S,OOO as against 100000 in 1880, and $780,
600 in 1870. The increase for the decade is
thus under 10 per cent. If the truth were
known it would probably be found that
Boston has lost more by emigration to the
West than it has gained by natural in
crease and that the growth which the CEN
sus indicates results altogether from for
eign immigration.
Where no migration of peoples from place
to place is in operation, the population of
the world increases but slowly. An En-
glish statistician lately figured that 10 main
tain the present population of England
every female born in the country must
marry and have four children. 1t is known
that that is not the case. a large proper
ton of English girls do not marry, and the
average number of children in a family is
under rather than over four. Hence, as
the population of England is not falling off,
it must be inferred that the deaths are Off
set by an influx of foreigners, too slight to
command attention, but still considerable
enough to maintain the population at an
even figure The late Louis Agassiz, who
had made profound studies in ethnology,
once stated that in his opinion the popula-
tion Of the world had never va led much in
number. though mankind had kept con-
stantly drifting from place TO place-now
here, now there. The moral oil the obser-
walton, if true, is that lOcaltiet which de-
pend on natural increase for their growth
cannot expect to swell their numbers rap
idly, even when the conditions of life are
such that marriages are more than ordina-
rily fruitful. This is matter which we
may usefully consider as the returns of the
census in this State come in. The death
rate aDproXmateS so closely to the birth
rate that the surplus which goes TO swell
the population is small; and uIless tide
Of newcomers sets in from sorrs source or
other it viii not be safe to lools for phe-
nominal increase in numbers.