New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-01
PRICE THREE. CENTS.
OVER SIXTY-TWO MILLIONS,
THE POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATEa
ANNOUNCED BY THE CENSUS BUREAU.


So05 PER CENT INCREASE BETWEEN
1870 AND 1sso-THE APPARENT
FALLING OFF EXPLAINED BY
TIE FAULTY CENSUS OF 1870.
l.r rELEunArH 10 THE TRIBUNE,
Washington, Oct 3l.-The contents Of "Ce1-
sus Bulletin No. H." which published to.
day. will disappoin great many persons espe-
clally those who for two or three years past have
been in the habit of discoursing In somewhat
grandiloquent style about this Nation Of G5,-
oouooo people"-a phrase which has been erl-
balmed hundreds of times in 8" The Congressional
Record" alone. But Superintendent Porter makes
explanations which. On the WHOLE probably will
he generally regarded fair il not entirely sat-
isfactory. 1t viii 'e noted that the representa-
tive population" that is, the population which
Is 10 DC taken as the basis for the apportiOnment
OF representatives in Congress- and the consequent
appointment of District Electors for President and
Vice-President falls somewhat below SO 900. 900.
after subtracting the total population of the Ter.
ritories and the District OF Columbia This seems
to point toward smaller basis of representation
than has been generally regarded as likely to b
adopted.
The bulletin says:
The population Of the United States on June I, 1890,
shown by the first count Of persons and families ex-
elusive Of white persons in Indian Territory Indians
reservations ard Alaska was 60 4sO $40. These
figures be slightly changed by later more exact
compilations, but such changes will not be material
In 1880 the population was 5O155,783. The absolute
increase Of the population in the ten years intervening
was IL o324,7 and the percentage of increase was
24.57 In 1870 the population stated as 49, $751;
37 According to these figures the absolute increase
in the decade between 1870 and 1880 IL 412.
and the percentage Of increase was 30.05.
Upon their these figures show that the popula-
tion has increased between 1880 and 1890 only 345
more than between 1870 and $780, while the rate OF
Increase has apparently diminished from 3O0s to
24.57 per cent. II these figures 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 last ten years
would argue great dminutiOn in the fecundy Of the
population, a corresponding increase in its death
rate These figures are however easily explained whom
the character Of the data used Is understood 1t is well
known the fact having been demonstrated by extensive
and thorough investigation, that the census OF 1870
was grossly deficient In the southern States muck
not only 10 give an exaggerated rate OF increase
Of the population between 1870 and 1880 In these
states but to affect very materially the rate Of in
crease in the country at large.
These omissions were not the fault. nor were they
within the control. of the Census Office. The census
OF 1870 was taken under law which the Superin-
tendent, General Francis A. Walker. characterized as
clumsy, antquated and barbarous.' The Census
Office had no. power its enumerators save barren
protest, and its right questioned In some
quarters. In referring to these omissions Tho super
relation the taking of the census In South Carolina
IL follows a conclusion OF the highest AUTHORITY,
either that the OF 1870 grossly detective
in regard to the whole of the state some consider
able parts thereof, else that the census Of 1850
fraudulent Those, therefore, who believe In The
accuracy and honesty OF the tenth. census-and
that was thoroughly established-must acceps the
otner alternative offered by General Walker namely,
thar the ninth CENSUS was gross Detective Wnae
was true of South Carolina aso trae. In greater
u less degree. Oi all tue ocutGern stats,
There is, of course, no means OF aseertalning ac.
cursttey the extent of these omissions. but In all
probability they amount to not less than 1900 600.
There is but little question that he population Of the
United States In 1870 at least 4oOoOOOo. In:
the extent of the omission ia 1870 be correct the
absolute increase between 1870 and 1880 was only
about $4,000 ,OO0 and the rate of increase was noe
far from 20 per cent. These figures compare much
more reasonably with similar deductions from the pOpu-
laton In 1880 and 1890.
Omtting from consideration those States IN which The
census OF 1870 is known is presumed TO have been
faulty the rate of increase between 1870 and 1850 m
the remaining States has been very nearly maintained
he principal table OF the bulletin, the OF 1870 Is
known or is presumed to have been dec cnt in nearly
ali the states of the South Atlantic and Southern Cen
traI divisions: while in the North Atlantic, Northern
Central and Western divisions evidence OF incOm-
nleteuess has been detected
Tie population of these three lastnamcd divisions In
$50 1850 and 500 the absolute increase for the two
decades and the rate Of increase is set forth In tho
follow ing table: