Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-11-01
THEALLEGED CENSUS
nrpopulAToR poRTsRs FIGURES
FOR THE WHOLE COUNTRY.
Trying 20 Explain Awsy tho Abnormal
Reduction in the Rate of Increase
Partisan Manipulation.
rBy telegraph 70 rns Dispatch,

WASHINGTON, ID. O.. October 3l.-The |
twelfth census bulletin issued to-day
says: The population of the United
States on June /. 1890. as shown by tho
first count of persons and families. ex-
elusive OF white persons in the Indian
Territory, Indians on the reservations
and in Alaska, was 2.4SO,5i0. These
figures may be slightly changed by
later and moro exact computations, but
such changes will not be material: In
1880 the population was 90, loo, io5.
The absolute increase OF population IN
ten wears was II, ,757, and the per-
centage of increase was 2457. In 1870
the population was stated az 80, 1871.
According 10 these figures the absolute
increase in the decade between 1870 and
1880 was IL, 597, Alp, md the percentage
OF increase was 30.0S.
THE REDUCTION IN THE RATE OF INCREASE.
Upon their face these figures show
that the population has increased between
1880 and 1890 only 727.3i5 more than
between 1870 aud 1880, while the rate OF
increase has apparently diminished from
30.0S to 24.07 Per cent III these figures
were derived from correct data they
would be indeed Disappointing. Such
reduction in the rate OF increase IN the
face OF the enormous immigration during
the past ten years would argue q great
diminution in the fecundity OF the popu-
lation or corresponding increase IN It's
death rate. These figures are, however,
easily explained, when the character OF
the data is understood. 1t is we'll
known fact, having been demonstrated
by extensive and thorough investigation.
that tho census Of 1870 was grossly
deficient in the southern States- 30
much so as not only to give an exag-
perated rate of increase OF the popula-
ton between 1870 and 1880 IN these
States, but to affect very materially the
rate OF increase in the country at large.
THE ALLEGED OMISSIONS IN 1870.
These omissions were not the fault
nor were they within the control OF the
officers of the census Of 1870, which was
taken under law which superintendent
Walker characterized as "clumsy, anti
ouated aud bsrbarous." The census
Office had no power over its enuinerators
save a barren protest, and this right was
oven questioned in some quarters. In
referripg TO these omissions the superln-
tendent of the tenth census said In bis
report in relation to the taking OF the
census in South Carolina: cit follows
ms the conclusion Of the highest authority
either that the census OF 1870 was grossly
defective in regard to the whole 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 CEN
sns-and that was thoroughly estab-
ished-must accept the otheralternatlve
offered by General Walker-namely,
that the ninth census was "grosSly de-
fectiye."
GETTING A BASIS FOR EXCUSE.
What was true of South Carolina was
also true in a greater or less degree OF
all the southern States. There IS, OF
course. no means of ascertaining accu-
rately the extent of these omissions, but
in all probability they amount to not
less than 1000, 600. There IS but little
question that the population OF the
United States in 1870 was at least 4o,-
OOO. 900, instead Of 3S, 55S,37 as stated.
II this estimate of the extent OF the
omissions in 1870 be correct, the aoso-
Int increase between 1870 and 1851 was
only about 10. 100000, and the rate OF
increase was not far from 20 per cent.
These figures compare much more rea-
sopably with similar deductions from the
population in 1880 and 1890. Omlttlng
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 AID 1851 IN the
remaining States has been very nearly
maintained in the decade between 1881
and 1890.
RATE OF INCREASE IN THE NORTH AND
WEST.
Referring to the principal table OF the
bulletin. tine census of 1870 Is known or
il presumed to have been deficient IN
nearly all the States Of the South Allan
tic and Southern Central division, while
in the North Atlantic, Northern Central,
and Western divisions no evidence OF IN
completeness has been detected. Tho
population Of these three last-named d.
visions in 1870 and 1890, the absolute IN.
crease for two decades, and the rate OF
increase are set forth in the following Ia
BILE:
ls7o-populaton, 26,270,35l.
1S80-population 80, 639, 30.
Increase 1865, s64, or 2S.1 per cent.
lsg0-population, 42,693,S62.
Increase 1854, ACT.
Per cent, 1853.
II will be seen that the absolute In
crease between 1880 and 1890 exceeded
that between 1870 and 1880 by ,6S5, SOB
and that tho proportional increase was
but 1.2 per cent. less
POPULATION OF THE SEVERAL STATES.
The following table shows the popula
lation OF the several States as found b.
the census enumeration of 1890:
United States-population in 1890
62,4s0, $40.
North Atlantic division in 1890, II,
364. 4g9: Maine, Geo, 26l New Hamr
shire, 1882; Vermont. 332, 205
Massachusetts,, 2, 223, 407; Rhode Island
345.3f3; Connecticut, 745, S6l Ne'
York, 1881, 1884 New Jersey, AL, 0l7
Pennsylvania. 5,24S,574.
South Atlantic division, 1886, 759
Delaware, 1881 Maryland, l,040
All District Of Columbia, 229, 796
Virginia, 1.6i8,9ll; West Virgins
GOATS; North Carolina. 1917, $40
South Carolina, 1,147, l6l; Georges
1,s34, 1856; Florida, 800, 435.
Northern Central division, q, 800, 15l
Ohio, $3.50, 7l9; Indiana, 2,lS9, 030
Illinois, 3,SlS,5S6 Michigan, 2,0S9, 1872
Wisconsin, 1.6S3, 697; Minnesota, 1900
or (; Iowa, 1906. 729; Missouri, 2.677
$50; North Dakota, 1872. 425; South d.
kota, 1927, S4S; Nebraska, 1,056, 793
Kansas, 1923, 4S5.
Southern Central division, 10, 94S. 251
Kentucky. 1855, 436 =; Tennessee, l,763
723 Alabama, 1908. 073 Mississippi
1,2S4, SS7 louisiana, Lille, S2S Texa
2,232, 90; Oklahoma, 81, 7Ol; Arkansa
1,l25.3S5.
Western division, 3,00S,9 4S: Mol
tana. l31, 7G9 Wyoming. 60.5S9 : Col