Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1890-11-01
UNCLE sAsr,s FAMILY.

Nearly Sfxty.Three Millions of Us
How We Have Increased During
the Last Two Decades-The Census
OF 1870 Grossly Defective In tho
Southern States-Thc Population by
States.
WARRINGTON, Oct. 31.-The twelfth in
the series of census bulletins was issued
to-day on the population of the United
States. The bulletin says: The popula
ton of the United States on June 1, 1890,
as shown by the first count of persons
and families exclusive of white persons in
Indian Territory, Indians on reservations
and Alaska was 81, $40, $40. These figures
may be slightly changed by later and
more exact compilations but such changes
will not be material. In 1880 the popula-
ton was so, 154, 1888. The absolute in
crease of the population in the ten years
intervening was IL, 1874, 757 and the per-
centage of increase was PAST. In
1870 the population was stated as
SO, 558, 81. According to these fig
ures the absolute increase in
the decade between 1870 and 1880 was H.
597, 412 and the percentage of increase was
3O.OS. Upon their face these figures show
that the population has increased between
1880 and 1890 only 727, 345 more than be-
crease has apparently diminished from
30.08 to A.57 per cent. If these figures
were derived from correct data they would
be indeed disappointing. Such reduction
in the rate of increase, in the face of the
enormous immigration during the past ten
years, would argue great diminution in
the fecundity of the population or CORE
spending increase in its death rate These
figures are, however, easily explained
when the character of the data used is
understood. It is we'll known-the fact
and thorough investigation-that the CEN
sus of 1870 was grossly deficient in the
southern states, SO much SO as not only to
give an exaggerated rate of increase in the
population between 1870 and 1880 in these
states, but to affect very materially the
rate of increase in the country at large.
The omissions were not the fault, nor
were they within the control of the census
Office. The census of 1870 was taken
under a law which the superintendent,
General Francis A. Walker, characterized
as "clumsy, antiquated and barbarous."
The census Office had no power over
its enumerators save a barren pro-
test, and its right was even questioned
Ia SOluo 4udfUeTb. LII ToltTTluk 10
these omissions the superintendent of
the tenth census said in his report in rela-
ton to the taking of the census in South
Carolina: cit follows as conclusion of
the highest authority either that the census
of 1870 was grossly defective in regard to
the whole of the state or some considerable
parts thereof, or else that the census of
1880 was fraudulent" Those, therefore,
who believe in the accuracy and honesty of
the tenth census and that it was thoroughly
established must accept the other alterna
tive offered by General Walker-namely,
that the ninth census was grossly defec-
tive" What was true of South Carolina
was also true in greater or less degree of
all the southern states. There is of course
no means of ascertaining accurately the
extent of these omissions, but in all prob
ability they amounted to not less than
100000. There is but little question
that the population of the United States
in 1870 was at least 100000, instead of
3S, 55S, 371, as stated. If this estimate of
the extent of the omissions in 1870 be cor
rect the absolute increase between 1870
and 1880 was only about 10000, 600, and
the rate of increase was not far from %
per cent. These figures compare much
more reasonably with similar deductions
from the population in 1880 and 1890.
Omitting from consideration the states in
which the census of 1870 is known or pre-
sumed to have been faulty, the rate of in
crease between 1870 and 1880 in the re-
naming states has been very nearly main
tanned in the decade between 1880 and
1890. Referring to the principal ia
BILE of the bulletin the census
of 1870 is known or is pre-
sumed to have been deficient in nearly all
the states of the south Atlantic and CEN
trail divisions, while in the north Atlantic,
northern central and western divisions no
evidence of incompleteness has been de-
tected. The population of these three last
named divisions in 1870, 1880 and 1890,
the absolute decrease for the two decades
and the rate of increase, is set forth in the
following table: