The morning call., 1890-06-22
TIE CENSUS AND TIE GKowLEKs.

San Francisco joins the noble army of
martyred cities to which the census is not
doing Justice. 4 rough count of the figures
already gathered is said to indicate a popu-
laton only slightly in excess OF 800. 900, and
those who figured on $50. 900 at least are dis
gusted. We are not alone in our disappoint-
ment New York, ST. Louis, Chicago, Louis
vile, ST. Paul, Minneapolis are all suffering
from the same complaint. The numbers
which newspapers and others predicted do
not materialize; they cannot be found. In
their wrath people are turning on the enum-
orators and denouncing them for doing
their work in a slipshod way; which is odd,
as they are paid by the piece, two cents a
name, with an extra allowance for imbe-
Giles. One would suppose that they would
be inclined to eXaggerate rather than I'M
derstate the population, and that they would
be particularly careful not to omit any OF
the fools.
The prevailing evaporation grows out of
the American idea that whatever may have
been the case in other climes and other
ages does not exist for US. Where citizens
of the great republic are concerned years
do not count The young American wants
TO make his fortune in year; he wants to
realize on an operation in twenty minutes;
he proposes to establish himself in society
in a season, and to build up credit at bank
in six weeks. For him six months are long
enough to build an ocean steamer, to con-
sIruct a railroad. to dig canal, to get a
vineyard in full bearing. Delays beyond
this limit hamper his energy and sour his
temper. 1t is only when he has been edu-
Gated by actual experience that he learns
that he is subject to the same laws as other
people, and that growth and success cannot
be achieved without years of toll and
patience, endurance and waiting.
Here are cities which stand on what was
a desert hundred years ago. and yet which
chafe because it turns out that they have
not outstripped cities which were populous
and hourishing when their sites had not
even been surveyed. New York, Boston,
Philadelphia, Albany and Richmond were
the homes Of large populations and the
seats Of prosperous commerce when wild
cattle roamed over the peninsula Of YeTba
Buena. Liverpool, Bristol, Southampton,
Hamburg, Havre de Grace, were flourishing
seap0rts when Drake sailed past the Golden
Gate without noticing its existence. Some
who read these lines can remember Mis-
sion street when it was a bridle-path in the
SAND, ana montgomery street when the tide
washed up against its shores. Are we so
very much to be commiserated if it turns
out that forty years after gold-hunters
pitched tents on Clay street a stately city
of 100000 people. with noble structures and
massive monuments, has taken the place of
tents?
To one who expects to make his living by
speculation in corner lots on the sand
dunes it may be disappointing to discover
that the progress Of this city has been regu-
lar and gradual, not ftful; that there is
evidence around US not Of boom but of per-
manent growth. But he who is not inter
ested in speculations will be satisfied when
he notes that the city is advancing steadily
and surely, and that the yearly addition of
rows Of well-buit dwelling-houses on all
the streets of the Western Addition demon
strates a reliable accretion of well-to-do
people