The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1890-11-13
P0RTER'S FIGURES.
POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES
PLACED AT 62,48o,54o.

Lame Excuse why tho Figures of the
uclpated-IIe Claims That the Census of
tho South Was Worry Defective.
WAsI1NaToN. Oct 3I.-The twelfth
census bulletin issued to-day says: 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 the Indian Territory, Indians
on reservations and Alaska, was 62, ,4SO-
$40. These figures may be slightly
changed by later and more exact com
pilations, but such changes Will not be
material. -
In 1880 the population was 80. 155,-
1913. The absolute increase of the popll-
lati0n in ten years was 1924, ,757. and
the percentage Of increase 24.57. III
1870 the population was stated at 3S,-
o3S,37l. According to these figures the
absolute Increase in the decade between
1870 and 1880 was 1867, ,412, and the
percentage of increase was 30O8. Upon
their face these figures show that the
population has increased between 1880
and 1880 only 27,345 more than be-
tween 1870 and 1880, while the rate of
increase has apparently diminished
from 3O.OS to 24.57 per cent.
If these figures were received from
correct data, they would be indeed dis
appointing. Such reduction in rate of
increase in face Of the enormous immi-
grafton during the past ten years would
argue great diminution in the fecun-
Gity Of the population or Il correspond.
ing increase in its death rate. These
figures are, however. easily explained
when the character Of the data is under
stood. 1t is well known fact, having
been demonstrated by an extensive and
Of 1870 was grossly deficient In the
Southern States, so much so rs not only
to give an exaggerated rate of increase
OF the population betwcsn 1870 and 1880
III these States, but to effect very matcri-
ally the rate of increase in the country
at large.
These omissions were not the fault
nor were they within the control OF the
Census office. The census Of 1870 was
taken under law which Superinten-
dent Walker characterized as "clumsy,
antlquated and barbarouS." The Cen
sus Office had no power over it's enumcr-
atorS save Il barren protest, and this
right was 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:
ut follows, on the conclusion of the
highest authority, either that the CEN
sus Of 1870 was grossly defective in re-
gard to the whole State or some con-
siderable parts thereof, or else that the
census Of 1880 was fraudulent"
Those, therefore, who believe in the
accuracy and honesty Of the tenth cen
iuS-and that was Thoroughly eStab- |
lShcl--muSt accept the other alterna-
i've offered by General Walker, namely, |
nat The ninth census was "grOsSly de-
cctive." What was true Of South |
carolina was also true. in greater or |
ess degree, of all the Southern States.
There is, Of course. no means of as. !
'ertalning accurately the extent of |
hese omissions, but in i'll probability |
hey amount to not less than 100000. |
There is but little question that the |
population Of the United States in 1870
was at least 4O,OOO,OOO Instead of 38,-
o1S,3Il as stated. If this estimate of
the extent of the omissions III 1870 be
correct, the absolute increase between
1870 aud 1850 was only about 10,OOO,OOO,
and the rate Of increase was not far
from % per cent. These figures com
pare much more reasonably with SINH
lar deductions from the population in
1880 and 1890
1t will be seen that the absolute in
crease between 1880 and 1890 exceeded
that between 1870 and 1850 by $50 SOB,
and that the proportional increase was
but 1.2 per cent. less.
The population of the several States
as found by the census enumeration of
the United States in 1890 is G2,2lS,5IO.
The following are the populations Of
all the States, as announced.