, 1890-11-01
CENSUS FIGURES.
OI"Soo iioohIo.
The COuDtry's Population Over
Sixty-Two Millions. /.
Comparative Increase Is Some
what Disappointing
But is Explained by Superin-
tendent Porter.
The Falling on Explained g..

WASHINGTON, Oct. 81. - Bulletins
issued today on the population of the
United States say the population in June,
1890. as shown by the first count, exclu-
sive of whites in the Indian Territory, In
dams on reservations and Alaska is 60,
4S0, $40. These figures NAV be slightly
altered by later computations. In 1850
the population was so, 1855. 7s3. an abso.
lutte increase IN ten years Of IL, 1924, 757.
The percsatsge Of increase IS 81 81. In
1870 the population was stated as IS. 55S,
81. According to these figures the alb
solute increase between 1870 aud 1850
was 1883, Az. The percentage OF in
crease was 30.0S. Upon the face these
figures show the population has increas ed
between 1880 aud 1890 only 727. 345
more than between 1870 and 1880, willie
the ratio OF increase is apparently dimin-
ished from 30.09 to 24,57 per cent. IL
these hgures were derived from correct
data they would be indeed disappointing.
Such reduction in the face of enormous
immigration during the past ten years
would argue a great d%iminution in the
fecundity of the population or a CORES.
ponding increase in the death rate. These
figures, however. are easily explained
when the character of the data used is
understood. 1t Is a well known fact, kav-
ing been demonstrated by extensive and
thorough investigation, that the census in
1870 was grossly deficient in the Southern
States. so much so as not only to give an
exaggerated rate of increase of the popu-
lation between 1870 and 1880 in these
states, but to affect very materially the
rate OF increase IN the country at large.
These omissions, the Bulletin says.
were not within the control OF the census
office. The census of 1916 was taken un-
der the law which Superintendent Walk
er characterized as clumsy, antiauated
aud barbarous. The census Office had
no power over its enumerators. 1t refer
ring to these omissions the su%perinteud-
ent Of the tenth census said. 10 his report
in relation to South Carolina, 1T follows
as a 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 &C.
curacy and honesty of the tenth census,
and that It was thoroughly established
must accept the alternative, namely, that
the ninth census was grossly defective.
What was true OF South Carolina was
also true, in a greater or less degree, OF
all Southern states. The omissions in al
probability amounted to not less than
1900, 000. Omitting from consideration
those states in which the census of 1876
is known or presumed to have been faulty
the rate of increase between 1870 and
1880 in the remaining states has been
very nearly maintained in the decade be.
tween 1880 and 1890.
The preliminary report Of the censu
bureau shows the total production of steel
in the United States during the last
fiscal year was AGO. 2G tons, compared
with l,l45,7 I'll tons during the year
ended May 81, 1880, an increase OF
3,32l.2l5 tons or 800 per cent. There
has been a like heavy increase IN all varie.
ties of steel productions. The United
States now leads all other countries in the
manufacture of Bessemer steel rails, thC
output for the past fiscal year being
2,039, ga tons, an increase of 1926, ITS
tons over the year ended May 81, 1880.