Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1890-11-08
THE CENSUS.
Tho Latest Figures Made Public by SUI
perintendent Porter Gives Us a Popula-
tlon of 62,4SO. .54O-Fault Found with
the Enumerations of 1870 and 1880.

Iho Latest Figures Made Public by SUI
perintendent Porter Gives Us n Popula-
tlon Of 62,4sO. O.54O-Fault Found with
the Enumerstions of 1870 and 1880.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1.-Bulletin No.
IL on the population of the United
States was issued by the Census Office
Friday. 1t says:
THE population ofthe United States June 1,
1890 as shown by the first count of persons and
families, exclusive Of white persons in Indian
Territory, Indians on reservations and Alaska,
was o., 4SO,5 $40. These figures may be slightly
changed by later and more exact compilations,
but such changes will not be material.
"In 1880 the population was 5o,l55,7s3. The
absolute increase Of the population in the ten
years intervening was Il, 334, ,757 and the per.
centage of increase was 457. In 1870 the popu.
lation was stated as 3s,55s37l. According to
these figures the absolute increase in the de-
cadc between 1870 and 1880 was II, ,597, ,4l2 and
tho percentage Of increase was 30.0s.
Upon their face these figures show that the
population has increased between 1880 and 1890
only 727,3i5 more than between 1870 and 1880,
while tho rate Of increase has apparently di.
mtnshed from 30.0S to PAST per cent. II these
figures were derived from correct data they
would be indeed disappointing. Such a reduc.
tion in the rate Of increase in the face Of
the enormous immigration during tho last ten
years would argue great diminution in the fe.
cundity of the population er a corresponding in.
crease in its death rate. These figures are, how.
ever, easily explained when the character OF
the data used is understood. 1t Is we'll
known, the fact having been demon
strated by extensive and thorough
investigation, that the census OF 1870
was grossly deficient in the Southern States, so
much so as not only to give an exaggerated
rate Of increase OF the population between 1870
and 1880 in these States but to affect very ma
terially the rate Of increase in the country at
large. These omissions were not the fault nor
were they within the control OF the Census
ONCE. The census Of 1870 was taken under
law which the superintendent, General Francis
A. Walker characterized as clumsy, anti.
Quated and barbarouS.' The Census Office had
no power over its enumerators save barren
protest. and its right was even questioned in
some quarters. .r
In referring to these omissions the superin.
tendent Of the tenth census said in his report
in relation to the taking OF the census in South
Carolina:
" 1T follows, as conclusion Of the highest
authority, either that the census of 1870 was
grossly defective in regard to the whole Of the
State or some considerable parts thereof, or
that the census Of 1880 was fraudulent ~ .
"Those therefore, who believe in the accu.
racy and honesty Of the tenth eensus-and that
was thoroughly established-must accept the
other alternative offered by General Walker
namely: That the ninth census was grossly
defective What was true Of South Car
olina was also true in greater or less
degree of all the Southern States. There is
of course, no means OF ascertaining accurately
the extent Of these omissions, but in all proba.
bility they amounted to not less than 1, 600.
There is but little question that the population
of the United States in 1870 was at least 10000,
600 inhabitants instead Of 3S55s,37l as
stated. II this estimate OF the ex
tent OF the omissions In 1870 be cor.
rect the absolute increase between 1870 and
1880 was only about 100000, and the rate OF
increase was not far from 25 per cent These
figures compare much moro reasonably with
similar deductions from the population in 1889
and 1890.
"Omitting from consideration those States
in which the census Of 1870 is known or is pre-.
sumed to have been faulty, the rate OF increase
between 1870 and 1850 in the remaining States
has been very nearly maintained in the decade
between 1880 and 1890.
"The following table shows the population Of
he several States as found by the census
enumeration OF the years 1890 and 1880: