Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1890-11-13
From our regular Correspondent
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, ID. g., Nov. 8,

WASHINGTON, d. g., Nov. 8. 1890.
Secretary Tracy is as, anxious as any
body could possibly be that the United
States should have the best armored ves-
sells aioat, but being careful taking
official he has not lost his head on account
of the recent tests of armor made at An
napolis. as some other people seem to have
done therefore he proposes moving slow
ly and cautiously about spending the spec
ial appropriation of one million of dollars
made by Congress for the purchase of
nickel. The only specimen of armor that
stood the test was the nickel steel, made
by firm in France, and the Secretary has
no idea of making this Government depen-
dent upon that firm for its supply of ar
NOR plate, SO he has decided to have the
only two firms in this country that have
the plant necessary to undertake the work
the Bethlehem Iron Works Company of
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and Carnegie,
Phipps 4 Co., Of Pttsburg-make several
plates similar to those made by the French
firm These plates when completed are to
be subjected to the severest tests. and
should they prove as good as the French
plates the Secretary will at once enter into
a contract for the manufacturing of suf
ficient quantity of them TO armor all of the
vessels now being built for the Navy.
Mr.. Tracy has no fear Of any corner in
the nickel market as he has received Of
fers enough of nickel ore from various
sections OF this country to make il certain
that the owners of the Canadian nickel
mines cannot dictate a price which the
Government shall pay for the metal, and
he thinks ;hat the increased demand for
nickel in this country and abroad will re-
suit in building up new and great Amer
lean industry.
Secretary Noble has received another
letter from Mayor Grant, also one from
Governor iIlll asking that the population
Of New York city be recounted. lie has
not answered either Of them. but it is quite
certain that the original decision of the
Census Bureau will not be changed. There
has no good reason been given for giving
Tammauy Hall an additional member Of
tile House In the Fifty third Congress and
the State of New York an additional vote
in the electoral college that will elect the
next President ard Wee President, and
what II more, none can be given. The
census was taken in New York city in
June just as it was every where else and il
was just as free of errors as it would be if
retaken in November or December
Every body is talking about the official
bulletin issued by the Census Bureau Civ
ing the population of the United States as
shown by the recent census. The total
number, exclusive of white persons in In
ana in Alaska, is SO, 4s0,5i0 and the in
crease over the census of 1850 is L.. 224 757.
The percentage of Increase for the last
ten years was u 81 against a percentage
of 80 .Os for the ten years between 1870 and
l->0. The Census Bureaus bulletin in eX-
planation Of the apparent smaller perccn
tage Of increase for the last than for the
preceding ten years says 1t is well
known, the fact having been demonstrated
by extensive and thorough investigation,
that the census of $50 was grossly detC-
lent in the Southern States. so much so as
not only 10 give an aggregated rate of in
crease Of the population between 1870 and
1850 in these states, but to affect very ma
tcrialIy 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"
As in the last census, New York is the
most populous state ami Pennsylvania tile
next. Ohio and Illinois have changed
places. Texas jumps from II to :, while
Kentucky goes down from to II. Min
nesota goes from y to 20; Nebraska from
30 to 20 Maryland drops from % to -;
Colorado goes up from 80 to 81; Vermont
drops from - to 36, the new State of
Washington strides forward from - to 24
Delaware steps backward from 3s to ~
Nevada from 43 to 70 and Arizona from "a
to Is. The figures a. total are somewhat
disappointing because the most of us had
been tiguring on population of G5, 900 900
but >tIll We are one OF the big nations of
the world
Another most interesting bulletin has
been issued BY the Census Bureau showing
the production Of Steel in the United States
turing the last ten years. During the
year ending June 50, 1880 We produced t.
4CG 926 tons Of steel against 1851 IONS
produced in the year ending May 81, lesO,
an increase III 3 @3l 2l5 tons or 300 per
cent Ponn>y >ylvania still holds her own in
steel production in 1850 she turned out -
per cent. and in 1880 81 per cent, of the
entire product. Illinois and ohio are still
second and third respectively, just as they
were ten years ago
Things are very quiet in Washington to-
1 day, everybody, including the President
who mas vote has gone home to cast it,
/ and those left are hoping for glorious
I news tomorrow night. The republican
headquarters are deserted to-day but will
be overlooking tomorrow night when the
1 returns begin to come in. Wip por lose, it
has been most ably conducted campaign
as far as the Republican committee is con
ceIned, and if ever the party deserves to
| win it does now.