Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-14
COTTON STATE POPULATION.
Superintendent Porter's Answer to a
CorrespOndent-No Fear of Frauds.

letter has been received by Mr.. Porter,
the superintendent of the census. from Robert
W. MuSser OF Cynthiana. kv.. calling his at
tention to certain conditions in the cotton
states since the last census. among
which he mentions that these states
have received positively no immigrant on
from any source. except a dozen towns"
that numbers OF whites have emigrated to other
points, and that, in the opinion of the writer.
, there is the greatest opportunity for fraudu-
lent or fictitious enumeration offered by the
blacks. This was worked IN 1880" He sug
ges.s that he adopt precautions to guard the
accuracy OF the census. In his reply Superin-
tendent Porter SAYS:
with the exception of the states of Florida
and Texas and a few cities 1t Is probable that
the cotton states have received little or no I'M
migration during the past ten years, and that
for increase in population they have been de-
pendent upon natural increase. do not, how
ever, agree with you that there has been emf
grafton i'll considerable number from these
states. II so. where have the people gone?
Certainly not to the north or north
west. Migrations of populations follow
parallels OF latitude very closely and have
never IN recent times, and especially in this
country, taken place from south to north or the
reverse The only movement OF population of
any consequence IN the cotton states has been
westward and has resulted III considerable in
crease IN the population o. Texas. 1t may be
that during the past ten years the population
of that state has been increased 100 900 or 20J,-
900 by emigration from the other cotton
states. This. however, is but trihng
drain upon the population of the cotton belt
being but a very small percentage of it's popu-
IatIon. do not agree with you that the cot
ton states will show no increase in 1890 over
the population III 1899. On the contrary am
quite prepared to find an increase of % per
cent. expect that the natural increase of this
section, which Is very rapid. will easily pro-
duce this increase. Nour charge that
wholesale frauds upon the census were
carried ont IN 1880 is evidently made in
entire ignorance OF the facts i'll the case. Upon
the receipt OF the census returns in 1889. when
1t was discovered that they showed improbable
rates OF increase III the southern states, full
and thorough investigation of them made
by the superintendent Gen. Francis A. Walker.
Tins investigation was carried out by republic
can clerks who were IN the Census Office, and
part OF this investigation consisted of re-
enumeration of certain suspicious dis
tricts The result showed beyond
question that the census of 1880 was honestly
taken. that there was no attempt whatever
anywhere to talsify the returns, and that the
fault lay IN the incompIeteness OF the former
census, that OF 1870. You may rest assured
that every possible precau.iou will be taken by
this office to guard against frauds upon
the census, not only in the south but
III other parts OF the country. Such frauds
are easy OF detection and the census
law provides the most condign punishment for
such crimes. | do not apprehend however,
that any such crimes will be attempted. An
enumerdtOr will scarcely dare. for the sake of
a few extra dollars, to risk heavy fine and
Imprisonment As for the existence of Il great
conspiracy TO swell by fictitious returns the
population of the cotton states, which you
suggest, it appears 70 t.Iat mo-
ments consideration will show you
the absurdity of the suspicion. Throwing
out of consideration the characters of the
men who would necessarily be involved in it,
the difficulties in the way of carrying it out on
a grand scale and the absolute certainty OF its
being discovered. with the Consequences
thereof, both personal and political, render |
this suggestion unworthy of being enter
tanned"