Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-10-31
THE COUNT ANNOUNCED.
OniSia1 Figures a. to the Population "
the Country.


srifYf-Two Axb HiLf AtILfoss Or usSiaT nA1T.
OF ixcRtAsk IN DtrFfRESf sicrIoSs-fow
rHf STATES RASk-rHE alowrH Oh rHr SOUTH
THE ErrIcr Oh KaAoas MADE II is7g.
The ofacial result Of the recent enumeration
Of the population Of the United States was an
nounced today by Superintendent Potter in a
bulletin. He states that .'the population OF
the United States on June 1, 1890, ss shown BY
the first count Of persons and families, excln-
sive Of White persons in Indian territory, In
dams cd Reservations and Alaska, was 81, $780,
$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 50,l55,7sa The absolute i'd
crease Of the population in the ten years inter-
venihk was 1854, 757 and the percentage Of
increase was 24.57. In 1870 the population was
stated as SS.55S,371. According to these Ag-
ures the absolute increase in, the decade be-
tween 1870 and 1880 was II, 597. Az and the per-
centage Of increase was $685.
Upon their face these figures show that the
population has increased between 1880 and
1880 only S45 more than between 1870 and
1880, while the rate OF increase has apparently
diminished from so. % to PAST per cent II
these figures were derived from correct data
reduction in the rate Of increase in the face of
the enormous immigration during the past ten
years would argue great dimihution in the
fecundity of the population or
corresponding increase in its death rate.
These figures are, however, easily explained
when the character Of the data used is under
stood. 1t is we'll known, the fact having been
demonstrated by extensive and thorough intes-
tigation, that the census Of 1870 was grossly
deficient in the southern states, 30 much SO as
na TO- 10 rv,v ia 90 sv~~
of the population between 1870 and 1880 in
these states, but to affect very materially the
rate Of increase in the country at large.
WHY ERRoRs WERE MADE IN 1870.
"These omissions were not the fault nor we're
they within the control Of the census Office
The census Of 1870 was taken under a law
which the superintendent, Gen. Francis A.
Walker, characterized as ''clumsy, antiquated
and barbarous." The census Office had no
power over its enumerators save q barren pro-
test, and this right was even questioned in
some quarters. In referring to these omissions
the superintendent Of the tenth census said in
his report in relation TO the taking of the
census in South Carolina: 1t follows, as q con-
clusion 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 else that the census Of 1880
was fraudulent Those, therefore, who believe
in the accuracy and honesty OF the tenth
census-and that was thoroughly established-
must accept the other alternative offered by
Gen. Walker. namely, that the ninth census
was grossly defective. What was true Of South
Carolina 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 probability they amounted to not less
than 100000 There is but little question that
the population of the United States in 1870 was
at least ,O00,0 900, instead of So, $50, 37l, as
stated. II this estimate of the extent of the
omissions in 1870 be correct, the absolute in.
crease between 1870 and 1880 was only about
10000, 600, and the rate of increase was not far
from rs per cent. These figures compare much
more reasonably with similar deductions from
the population in 1880 aud 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 1880 in the remaining states
has been very nearly main tanned In the decade
between 1880 and $780, Referring to the prin-
cipal table of the bulletin, the census of 1870
is known or presumed to have been deficient
in nearly all the states Of the south Atlantic
north Atlantic northern central and western
divisions no evidence Of incompleteuess has
been detected"
From a comparison of the population Of
these three divisions during the past three de-
cades Superintendent Porter saws that ID ia
shown that the absolute increase between 1880
and 1890 exceeded that between 1870 and 1880
by l,6S5, 603, and that the proportional increase
was but IL per cent less.
THR POPULATION OF THE sourH.
In regard to the population of the southern
states Mr.. Porter says:
Through the south Atlantic and southern
central states the rate of increase has dimin-
ished and in most of these states 1t has dimib-
ished very materially. A certain reduction In
the percentage of increase, especially IN the
eastern part OF this region. was to be ex-
pected. due not only to the operation
OF general laws, but also to the fact that there
has been considerable migration from the states
east OF the Mississippi river to the westward
and but little immigration. Taken together.
however, these two causes by no means account
for the reduction in the rate of increase in
these states The real cause is to be found in
the imperfections OF the census of 1870. These
imperfectlons resulted in giving a COMPARE
lively low rate Of increase between 1860 and
1870 and an exaggerated increase between 1870
and 1880"
Mr.. Porter gives table which illustrates the
difference between the census returns of the
present three decades. typical instance is
South Carolina, where the per cent of increase
from 1860 to 1870 was 8, from 1870 to 1880 1t
was ALL and from 1880 to 1890, 152.
HOW THE STATES RANK.
In the rank Of states New York, as in 1880,
still heads the list. and is followed by Pennsyl-
vania. Ohio and Illinois have exchanged places.
VI the other changes in the list the most
marked are those Of Texas, which rises from
No. ii to No. 2; Kentucky, which drops
from No. to No. IL Minnesota which
rises from 26 to 20; Nebraska, which rises from
30 to 26; Maryland, which drops from % to q;
Colorado which rises from IS to 81: Vermont,
which drops from 81 to So; Washington, which
rises from AZ to 81; Delaware. which drops
from 80 TO AZ; Nevada, which drops from 43 to
49, and Arizona, which drops from A to 4S,
The average change in rank 10 "a places. .
POPULATION BY STATES
The populations Of the various states and the
percentage Of increase since 1880 are given as
follows.
Alabama, sos, 073, 49, As per cent; Arizona. 49,.
691. AGO; Arkansas, 1.125 1856, 40 20; CALIFORNIA;
l,204 O02 1924 Colorado. 40, 975. ILL 40: Con-
necticut, 745, S6l, 1878; Delaware i67 s71 a. so;
District OF Columbia, 229. 796. 49, 81; Florida,
$50, 435. 44S8; Georgia, 1884, 1866, 1895: Idaho,
"a 229, 1929; Illinois, 3Sl8. $50, "a o. Indiana,
2,ls9030. 1866; Iowa, ,906, 729 II. Sc; Kansas,
LAS. 4S5, 42.91 Kentucky, 1855, 1856, 1854;
Loniaiana, 1,ll6,S2S. 1882; Maine, 660, POI,
LIS; Maryland, I.040, 4S1, 1l.2s; Massachu-
setts, 2.233, 4O7. 2576; Michigan. 2Oss 7s2,
N.66: Minnesota, l.300,017, &C. SO; Mississippi,
i,2s4, 1887; 1885; Missouri, 2.677.0s0, $40;
Montana, l31.769, 1885, so; Nebraska, 1,066. 1888,
1880, Nevada, 44,s27, 1881 (docrease).
New d Hampshire; sS:s27, s;sl: New Jersey,
2 Nclti New York: 1851; ssa; l7ss;
Dakota. 2,425, ss4.2s; Ohio. s,s6e. us,
II ~. n y on.