The Lamar register., 1890-11-08

Between 1850 and 1890 5,e46,6l3 immi-
grants entered this country. OF these a
part have returned to their homes or mi
grated elsewhere. A considerable proper
ton, possibly about one eighth, have died.
On the other hand, children have been
born TO them, and it Is probable that the
births have counterhalanced the deaths
and the emigration, so that the net infiu-
ence which immigration has exercised
upon cur population is approximately ex-
pressed by the number OF immigrants.
Sub.racting this number from the numer-
ical increase during the past decade there
remains triae over 100000 to represent
the actual increase of the inhabitants OF
the country since 1850. The rate of natur-
al increase, therefore, is not far from II
per cent Similar calculations for the
population in lsso and the decrease pre-
cediug would of course be vaIueless on all
imperfectious of the census Of 1870.
In the western sections the conditions Of
growth have been very varied. In the
earlier years OF the decade the discovery
of valuable silver and copper mines in the
mountains of Montana, in the neighbor-
hood of Butte, have drawn to that State a
large immigration, which is engaged not
only in mining, but in developing the rich
agricultural resources. Wyoming has
continued to grow with accelerated rapid
ity. The census of Colorado in 1880 was
taken on the top wave of mining excite
ment, which had filed its mountains with
miners, prospectors and spectators, in
creasing its population enormously, espec-
tally in the mountainous country. The
census of the State in 1855 was on a super
fetal view, very surprising. 1t showed
that most of the mining counties had lost
population during the five years preceding.
The loss was, however, mora than made
up by the growth of its cities and its agri-
cultural counties. The census Of 1880
shows still further reduction of population
in the mining regions OF the State, and an
extraordinary development of its urban
population and its farming element
New Mexico, Arizona and Utah show
rates of increase which are small when the
sparsely settled condition of these terri
tories is considered, while Nevada shows
an absolute diminution Of population of
IL, ,939 or nearly 20 per cent. leaving it the
of things is q natural result Of the failure
of the Comstocll and other mines, work
upon which has practically ceased. Idaho
mas increased its population two and
half times. Its prosperity is mainly due
10 its mines, although people are now
turning to agriculture in considerable
numbers. The growth of Washington has
been phenomenal, the popula tion in 1890
being nearly FIVE times that of 1850, as is
shown by the State census of 1855. This
growth has been almost entirely during
the last five years of the decade. The in
ducements which have attracted settlers
are, in the main, its fertile soil and ample
rainfall, which enav'e farming to be car
ried en- without irrigation. California,
which increased 81 per cent during the de-
cade between lsI0 and 1850, has maintained
during the past decade n rate of increase
of 80 per cent. This increase, though
widespread throughout the State, has
been most markell in its great cities and in
the southern part.