Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1890-11-08

rate Of 3s per cent. between 1870 and 1880, while
between 1880 and 1890 the rate was but ps per
cent The increase between 1880 and 1890 Has
cut into unequal parts by the
State census taken in 1884. In the first
four years OF the decade the increase
was 1872 per cent, while in the last six
years 1t was 1877 per cent. In Wisconsin the
last decade shows an increase OF 28 per cent,
as against an increase Of % per cent in tho
decade between 1870 and 1880 The State cen.
sus Of Wisconsin, taken In 1855, cuts the decade
into two equal parts, and shows an increase in
the first half Of 1873 per cent and during the
second half Of but ~ per cent.
Minnesota increased 70 per cent between 1870
and 1880 and 81 per cent between 1880 and 1890,
the numerical increase being over half a million
in the last decade The State census, taken In
1855 shows that the bulk Of this increase 90
Cured between 1880 and 1885.
During the last ten years the population Of
Dakota, considering the two States Of North
Dakota and South Dakota together, has In
creased from in to 5l0,273, or 277 per
cent; Nebraska from 452402 to l,Oo6, ,793, or
1874 per cent, and Kansas from 996096 TO
1,423 4s5 or 43 per cent. This increase has
not however, continued uniformly throughout
the decade. In 1885 Dakota contained 4l5,6l0
inhabitants or more than four-fifths Of its
present population. Nebraska contained 740,-
64S inhabitants in the sa me year, thus dividing
the numerical increase quite equally between
the two halves Of the decade, but leaving the
greater percentage Of increase in the first
hall. In the same year Kansas by
its State census had 1883 $50 Inhabitants, show.
ing that nearly two-thirds Of the numerical
gain was acquired during the first half Of the
decade. The industries Of these States are al.
most purely agricultural, and are dependent
on the supply OF moisture, either in
the form Of rain or by irriga-
tion. Through these States passes what
is known as the subhumid belt, strip OF coun.
try several degrees in width IN which during
rainy years there is an abundance Of moisture
for the needs Of crops, while in the years
when the rainfall is below the average the
supply is deficient. In this region little pro.
vision has been made for artificial irrega.
tion. the settlers having thus far been content
to depend upon rainfall Into this region tho
settlers focked in large numbers in the early
years Of the decade, drawn thither by the fer
tility OF the land and by the fact that for
few years the rainfall had been sufficient
for the needs OF agriculture Dur.
ing the last two or three years., however the
conditions Of rainfa have materially changed.
1t has fallen decidedly below the normal, and
the settlers have thereby been forced to emi.
CRATE. Thousands OF families have abandoned
this region and gone to Oklahoma and the
Rocky Mountain region.
Throughout the South Atlantic and Southern
Central States the rate OF increase has dimin.
ished, and In most OF these States II has dimin-
ished materially. a certain reduction In the
percentage OF increase, especially in the east.
ern part OF this region, was TO be expected, due
not only to the operation Of general laws
but also TO the fact that there has
been considerable emigration from the States
east Of the Mississippi river to the westward
and but little immigration. Taken together,
however, these two causes by nomeans account
for the reduction in the rate Of increase in these
States The real cause is to be found, It is
stnted, in the imperiections Of the census Of