The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1890-11-22
THE NATIONAL CENSUS.
Population of the Country Not Up to
Estimates.

Estimates.
Bulletins issued at Washington on
the population of the United States
say that the population on June lst,
1890, as shown by the first count, ex-
elusive of whites in the Indian Ter
ritory, Indians on reservations and
IN Alaska, was 62,4S0,054. These
figures may be slightly changed by
later computations.
In 1880 the population was 50,155,-
1888, and this is an absolute increase
in ten years of 2,324,757; the per
centage of increase, A.57.
In 1870 the population was stated |
figures the absolute increase between
1850 and 1880 was IL, 597 ALP and the
percentage of increase was 30OS.
Upon the face or these figures 1t
shows that the population increased
between 1880 and 1890 only 727 ,345
more than between 1870 and 1880,
while the rate of the increase was
apparently diminished from 3OOS to
A.57 per cent.
II these figures were derived from
correct data, they would be indeed
disappointing. Such reduction IN
the face of the enormous immigra
ton during the past ten years would
argue a great diminution in the
fecundity of the population, or a
corresponding increase in the death
rate.
It is a well-known fact, having
been demonstrated by extensive and
thorough investigation, that the
census of 1870 was grossly deficient
in the Southern States, SO much SO
as not only to give an exaggerated
rate of increase of the population
between 1870 and 1880 in these states,
but to affect very materially the
rate of increase in the country at
large.
} "In the western section" says
, Supervisor of Census Porter, the
conditions of growth have been
varied. In the earlier years of the
= decade the discovery of valuable
r silver and copper mines in the noun
q tains of Montana, in the neighbor-
hood of Butte, have drawn to that
state large immigration, which is
Q engaged not only in mining but il
I. developing the rich agricultural re-
sources. Wyoming has continued tc
grow with accelerated rapidity
The census of Colorado was taken or
the top wave of a mining excitement
d which had filled its mountains with
:. miners, prospectors and spectators
increasing its population enormous
ly, especially in the mountainou
country.
"The census of the state taken IL
= 1885 was, on a superficial view, yer.
;. surprising. It showed that most o
the countries had lost in population
, during the five years preceding
- This loss was however, more thar
made up by the growth of its cite
/. and its agricultural counties. Th
i, census of 1890 shows still furthe
q reduction in population in the min
ing regions of the state and an extra
ordinary development of its suburba
Q. population and farming element.
N New Mexico, Arizona and Uta
show rates of increase which ar
- small when the sparsely settled cor
~ dition of the Territories is consid
,. cred, while Nevada shows an absC
II lutte diminution of population c
W 1909, or barely 20 per cent, leavin
it the smallest of all the States.
G. "This condition of things is
ID natural result of the failure of til
e. Comstock and other mines, wor
V. upon which has practically ceaset
;. Idaho has increased its populs
IL ton two and half times. Its pros
s. perity is mainly due to its mines
g. although people are now turning
a. agricultural in considerable nun
:. bers.
II, "The growth of Washington hs
Ii been phenomenal, the population
m 1890 being nearly five times that i
d 1880, as shown by the State censu
taken in 1856. This growth hs
'e, been almost entirely during the Ia!
m five years of the decade. The il
n ducements which have attracted SO
tiers are, in the main features, il
Id good soil and ample rainfall, whic
m enables farming to be carried Q
es without irrigation.
Is California, which increased
per cent during the decade betwee
a. 1870 and 1880, has maintained du
n, ing the past decade rate of il
ct crease of 80 per cent This increas
|e- though widespread throughout tt
State, has been most marked in i
'e- great cities, especially in the sout
m ern part of the State"
nj N,