The morning call., 1890-11-01
QUITE A COUNTRY.
Estimated Population Of the
United States.
Exclusive Of Indians, It Is Placed at
62,%O,H0 People.
An Apparently Disappointing Increase &C.
counted For by Gross Errors in the
Census OF 1870.
Special to THE MORNING CALL.

WASHINGTON, Oct 31.-The bulletin is
sued to-day ON the population of the United
States says the population of the United
Sta ties June ], 1880, as shown by the first
count, exclusive of whites in Indian Terri
tory, Indians on reservations and Alaska, is
62,4S0,5 These figures may be slightly
changed by later computations. In 1880 the
population was $685. S3. The absolute in
crease in ten years is 1924, 757. The per-
centage Of tie increase is 2457. In 1870 the
population was stated at 81. 55S, 81. Accord
ing to these figures the absolute increase
between 1870 and 1880 was 1857, 412. the
percentage of increase being 30.0S. Upon
the face these figures show the population
has increased between 1880 and 1896 only
727, 345 more than between 1870 and 1880,
while the rate of increase has apparently
diminished from 390S to H.57 per cent. II
these figures were derived from correct data
they would be indeed disappointing. Such
a reduction in the face Of the enormous I'M
migration during the past ten years would
argue great dimlnution in the fecundity of
the population or corresponding increase
in the death rate. These figures, however,
are easily explained when the character OF
the data is understood. II is well known,
the fact having been demonstrated by ex-
tensive 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. Dut to affect very materially the rate
of increase in the country at large.
A.
not within control of the Census Office. The
census of 1870 was taken under law
which Superintendent Walker characterized
as clumsy, Anticipated and barbarous."
The Census Office had no power over its
enumerators. In referring to the omissions
the Superintendent OF the tenth census said
in his report in relation to South Carolina:
ut follows as conclusion 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 there
Of or else that the census of 1880 was
fraudulent" Those, therefore, who be-
lieved in the accuracy and honesty of the
tenth census-and that was thoroughly
established-must accept The other aterna-
tive, 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 the
Southern States. The omissions, in all
probability, amounted to not less than
100000. Omitting from consideration those
States in which the census of 1870 is known
or presumed to have been faulty, tie rate of
increase between 1870 and 1880 in the re-
naming States has been veIy nearly main
tanned in the decade between 1880 and $780,
New Mexico, Arizona and Utah show
rates of increase which are small when the
SparSely settled condition of these Terri
tories is considered, lille Nevada shows an
absolute dminution of population OF 1889
or nearly 90 per cent, leaving it the smallest
of all the States. This condition Of things
is the material result of the failure Of the
ComStock and other mines, work upon
which has practically ceased. Idaho has
increased its population two and half
times. Its prosperity is mainly due to its
mines, although the people are now turning
to agriculture in considerable numbers.
The growth of Washington has been
phenomenal. its population in 1890 being
nearly five times that of 1880, as is shown
by the State census taken in 1885 This
growth has been almost entirely during the
last five years Of the decade. The induce
mentS which lave attracted settlers are in
the main its fertile soil and ample rainfall,
which enable farming to be carried on
without irrigation over almost the entire
State.
1 he growth of Oregon, though less rapid.
has been at the rate Of neatly so per cent
during the past five years. The additions
to its populat on are mainly in the valleys
of the Columbia and Willamette rivers.
California, which increased "a per cent
during the decade between 1870 ana 1880,
has maintain during the past decade IL
rate OF increase OF 80 per cent This in
crease, though widespread throughout the
State, has been most marked in its great
cities and in thu southern part.
A table is given showing the relative rank
of the States. New York is first and Ne
Oregon thirty-eighlh and Washington
thirty-fOurth.