The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-11-11
AN UNJUST CENSUS.

AN UNJUST CENSUS
The bulletins now being issued by th,
census bureau containing statements Al
to the country's population confirm the
popular impression that the enumera
ton has been faulty and deficient ir
greater degree than any of the proceed
ing censuses
The population of the United States
on June l, 1890, as shown by the first
count Of persons and families, exclusive
of white persons in Indian territory, In
dams on reservations, and Alaska, was
62,48O,54O. These figures may be slight
ly changed by later and more exact COM
pilatlons, but such changes will not be
material. In 1880 the population was
5O,155,783. The absolute increase of the
population in the ten years intervening
was 1924 ,757, and the percentage of in
crease was 2457. In 1870 the popula-
ton was stated as 3S,558,371. Accord
ing to these figures the absolute increase
in the decade between 1870 and 1880 was
1857, 412, and the percentage of IN
crease was 30O3.
Upon their face these figures show
that the population has increased be-
tween 1880 and 1890 only 1886 more
than between 1870 and 1880, while the
rate of increase has apparently dimin-
ished from 3O.OS to 24.57 per cent.
These figures tell their own tale.
Every intelligent man who has observed
the great tide of immigration in the past
ten years knows that there has been no
such falling off. In fact, so great has
been the rush Of foreigners to our shores
that it has been looked upon as an evil
to be checked, and congress has under
taken to enact laws restricting it.
Superintendent Porter evidently fore
gees the impeachment that awaits his
work and seeks to break the force of the
criticism by the statement that: 'These
figures are, however, easily explained
when the character of the data is I'M
derstood 1t is we'll known, the fact
having been demonstrated by extensive
and thorough investigation, that the
census of 1870 was grossly deficient in
the southern states, so much 60 as not
only to give an exaggerated rate of in
crease of the population between 1870
and 1880 in these states, but to affect
very materially the rate of increase in
the country at large" Mr.. Porter does
not give us details as to the nature of
this extensive and thorough investiga-
tion." but probably it was sufficient to
convince his employer, Mr.. Quay, that
tho south would have to undergo a
shrinking process or it would have too
many electoral votes in 1892 Mean
time great many people will be very
skeptical about Mr. Porter's statement
that the population of the United States
was underestimate by 100000 in 1870,
and that his own figures for the ensuing
decade are more accurate. Mr.. Por-
ter's census has been impeached at too
many points to admit Of any question as
to it's undergraduates. The experience
OF New York city, which on recount
showed difference of 100000 between
Porter's figures and those of the police
enumerators, that Of Denver, which
gained 10000 on the governments own
recount; that of Helena, where 40 pei
cent. Of our people were omitted in the
first count. are few among thousand
instances OF bad work in the present
enumeration.
Take the case of Montana alone. Mr.
Porter's figures give us population OF
l3l,769. Last year, under registration
law that shut out, at the least calcula-
ton, ten thousand voters, the registered
vote was about $4,000, and the actual
vote over $4,000 On the lowest possible
ratio OF voters to population, this would
indicate that the state contained 10000
to $4,000 inhabitants year ago, and at
the present time at least 100000. Other
states have suffered similarly, but per-
maps not to so great degree. The
census OF Kansas taken by the state au-
thorities last year showed the popula-
ton to be l,464,9l4; The federal census
IN 1880 gave it as 1,423, fs5, loss of over
10000.
II the enumeration has been as
incomplete in other parts of the country
as in the states we have named it would
be safe to estimate that the United
States to-day contains sixty-six millions
OF people, or three and one-half millions
more than Mr.. Porter's enumerators re.
turned.
1t is fortunate for our own state that
our constitution provides for state
enumeration in 1895, and midway be-
tween federal censuses thereafter.
UNCLE JERRY SCOLDS
Uncle Jerry Rusk has issued an apri.
cultural department report, in which he