The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-06-03
THE CENSUS SHOWING.

Snow remarkable IL not unpdrdiicieu
growth of population in the west and 1T
win demonstrate another thing, that
good many western people are not only
given to reckless Dragging, but are uncon-
scionable liars. One can but sympathlze
with the poor fellows who have been
telling exaggerated stories concerning the
number Of people in their respective politi-
cal divisions. Most of this recklessness
has been seen in the territories, the manu-
featured figures being used to boom state
hood schemes. After the enumerators
shall have completed their rounds and
gotten through counting noses, it is appre-
hended that it will be learned that some
states have been admitted with insufficient
population to entitle them to represen-
tation in Congress under the present ap-
portionment, while others are seeking ad
mission which cannot make a showing that
will convince Congress shat they should be
taken in.
Let us look at the figures as regards
some of these dependencies. From 1870 to
1850 the population of Arizona increased BIS
per cent and at the last named year
numbered 40,440. That decade was the
period of Arizona's greatest growth, there
having occurred mining boom between
the two census years. Since 1880 the
growth has been normal, being made up
largely of agriculturists, the mines
having attracted comparatively few.
1t would be a liberal estimate to
say the increase had been so per cent. for the
ten years, or per cent year. OF all the
states and territories only eleven increased
so per cent. or more between 1870 and 1850.
If we estimate SO much increase for Ari-
iona. the territory will now have 1900
population instead of 100000 as claimed.
Coming next to Idaho, we find that the pop
nlation increased from 1899 in 1870 to 80,
$40 in 1880, or III per cent. Since the last
census year the growth has been
moro rapid, because of the discovery and
opening Of new mining districts, the cult
walton Of some of its rich agricultural val
leys, and the building Of railways: but who
will say that he honestly believes
the increase has been more than 10
per cent year. or 100 per cent. for the ten
years7 THE HERALD hopes it has been sc
much as this. Only eight of the states and
territories increased in population more
than 100 per cent. between 1870 and 1880
But let US suppose that the increase in
Idaho during the past ten years has been al
the rate of increase of the previous decade
III per cent, and the territory will have q
population of 71,00o instead of the 120, 0o(
claimed.
Turning next to Montana, we find an in
crease of 80 per cent. between the last two
previous census years, or from e, 595 Il
80, 159. The state was recently admitted t.
the union and is claiming population Of
100000. or an increase at the rate of 195 pei
cent. The righteousness of this claim
must be apparent to everybody at al
familiar with the state. 1t is liberia
in the extreme to say that Montana's
POPULATION increase has been $50 per cent.
which would bring the total up to abou
$4,000. We believe the enumerators viii
fail to find 100000 people in the new state
NeYada's increase between 1870 and 1SSI
was 46 per cent, or from ~, 49l to CO, 266
OF course the present census will show
percentage of decrease, as about everybod!
who could get away has left the state.
win not be the first time that state ha
shown population decrease, as Main
fell off 0.2 per cent, New Hampshire 2.3
and New Mexico IL between 1860 an,
1870; but it will be the only state or terri
tory that will show decrease within tn,
past ten years.
New Mexico is claiming 25O000. Il
1850 it had 1885, an increase of 3
per cent. over the previous census year
1t is not believed that its increas
during the past ten years has been NOR
than 30 pre- cent, New Mexico being one o
the political divisions which grow slowly
owing to the non-inviting character of
great majority of the people. The terri
tory will make a good showing if it ca
muster 100000 persons, or 100000 less tha
its newspapers are claiming.
Utah's increase from 1850 to 1850 was a
the rate of 253 per cent: from 1860 to 1871
lis per cent. and from,170 to 1850, 65 pc
cent, the population in the year last name
being 1903. 1t will thus be seen tina
there has been steady and almost abnol
NAL increase in population, an
at the same time considerable decreas
in the percentage Of increase. There
every reason to believe that similar orde
of things has prevailed during the past tie
years, the percentage Of increase falling
SO if not below. The increase in Salt Jal,
city and in Ogden has probably been IL
per cent. but in other sections it ha
been scarcely perceptible. On the who
we do not believe the increase has bee
greater than 5 per cent a year. whic
would give US a population of 216,0 il
stead of 100000 which the loyal claim, {
275, 600 asserted by the patriotic
Wyomings population in 1880 was 20, rs
which was an estimated increase of 127 %,
cent, though no census was take
in 1870. Since 1850 nothing h,
occurred in the territory to slim,
late anything more than a norm
growth Of population. True, there a,
more ranches, but few ranchmen cover
vast scope of country. If the increase h,
kept pace with that of the previous decad
the territory has done well-better, IN fac
than men who are familiar with it will no
concede. An increase of 127 per cen
would give present population of 1900
instead Of 100000 as claimed by the go
ernor and some others who are boonir
statehood, and trying to make it appe,
that the territory has sufficient people
~nritle her to place in the American si