Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-14
Of New York City's Population by
United States Census Enumer-
atOrS Will be Made.
WHAT TIE CENSUS WILL REVEAL.
The Astonishing Growth of City Population
at the Expense of Rural Dis
trictS a Feature
TRAT STANDS OUT MOST CLEARLY.
This Suburban Movement has Tended to Decrease the
Total Rate Of Increase
fFRoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT.


AsHINGToN, November 13.-Superin-
tendent Porter, OF the Census Bureau, was
closeted nearly all day to-day with w. L.
Kenny, of New York, with purpose of ar
irving at some conclusion in regard to the
New York census. Now that the represen-
tatives OF New York's side of the contro-
yersy have come around with official credit
from the city authorities, they are listened
10 with patience and courtesy, and are given
access to the list of names of the New York
enumerators. The probable outcome of the
matter will be a recount of New York City.
After some further investigation and COM
parison of the rival lists, Mr. Porter will go
to New York to con Ter with the city fathers,
and doubtless q speedy recount will be or
6ered.
The next census bulletin to be issued is
one which will give the population of cities
OF over 5000 inhabitants, and the list
will include over 400. These statistics are
for the purpose Of afording opportunity for
valuable studies and comparisons.
ASTONISHING GROWTH OF CITIES.
Speaking of census matters, Mr. Porter
SAID to-day: "The most surprising fact
which the forthcoming census will estab
lish Is the stupendous growth of suburban
pOpulation-the migration of the agricul-
tural population TO the cities. The tendency
Of modern civilization is to mass population.
The individual often sinks his own will. his
own property. his own happiness. present and
prospective. in the tenement house of the city,
when he might have been an independent man
with fair competence had he been content
with rural life. The pre-eminent success of
The few in the vast commercial enterprises,
In manufactures, in public affairs, tempts those
IN scattered homes to the centers of popula-
tlOn, and hopefulness keeps them there till
many of them cannot get-aWay. As a result of
this tendency, the eleventh census will show a
tremendous gain in city population.
During the past decade this gain has been
no less than 60 per cent. Speaking roundly, =
may be said that in 1890. one-thirt1eth of the
population was found in cities of more than
5000 population: in $500. one-twenty-fifth: in
1910 and also in 1870 one-twenteth; IN 1850. one
sixteenth; in lS40 one-tweIfth; in 1850 one
eighth; in 1860 one-siXtE: in 1870 more than
one-fifth; in 1880, half way between one-fifth
and one quarter, and in 1880, nearly three
teuths.
WHAT IT INDICATES AND SHOWS.
THE Eleventh Census will show that in the
State of Massachusetts fully 70 per cent of the
population reside in cities. This phenomenal
growth in the population of our centers of in
dustrial energy is indicative of the rise of our
great manufacturing industries during the last
decade, and illustrates the fact that this coun-
try is now the foremost manufacturing as well
as the leading agricultural nation of the
world.n
In speaking of the effect of the suburban
movement Mr. Porter said that the growth of
cities has undoubtedly decreased the rate of
increase in our population, as the birth rate in
our cities is notoriously low. The influence of
immigration is made much of, though few
seem to realize that the total during the last
decade has been larger than ever before The
character of the immigration has entirely
changed in the last ten wears.
The immigration from The United Kingdom
from Germany and Scandinavia with their
large families and love of comfortable homes
has remained stationary. Immigration from
Italy, Hungary and Poland has doubled. Mauy
of this class Of immigrants save money for a
return to their homes. Others come in gangs
and establish no homes as the former immi-
grants have done. The effect of this addition
10 our population no one knows.
lIGHTNER.