St. Paul daily globe., 1891-04-17
Mr.. PDRTERS CENSUS
A Great Increase in Urban
Population Shown by the
Figures.
In the West 1t Gained More
Rapidly Than Total Popu-
lation.
Wonderful Progress Of the
South During the Last
Decade.
Matters Miscellaneous and of
Interest Wired From the
Capital.

| population of cities in the country con-
tanning 5000 inhabitants or more. The
total urban population in 1890 was 49,,
235,670, or 29.12 per cent OF
the total population. In 1880 the
urban population was 11,31S,547, OF
22.57 per cent of the whole.
The proportion of urban population has
increased gradually during the past
century from 3.25 up to 29.12 per cent,
Or from one-thirtieth up to nearly one,
third of the total population. The
number of cities having a popu.
lation of more than 5000 increased
from 8 i'll 1870 to 2S6 in 1880,
where it has leaped to 443 in 1890
In 1870 there was but fourteen cities
each containing more than 100000 in
habitants. In 1880 this number had in
creased to twenty and ill 1890 to twenty
eight. The North Atlantic division
contains nearly one-half the urban pop.
ulatlon OF the country, while the North
Atlantic and North Central divisions
contain nearly five-sixths of it. In
the North Atlantic division 51.5S
per cent, or more than One-half the en-
tire population, is contained in cities of
5000 or more inhabitants. During the
past ten years the urban element in this
division has increased 1888 per
cent, while the total population
has increased but 1895 per cent.
In the North Central division
259O per cent, or trifle more
that one-fourth of the inhabitants are
claSSed as urban. In the past ten years
the number OF the urban element has
-IIIn fIrA 80
ton has increased but 2S.7S per cent.
The number of cities has increased
from 95 in 1880 to 152 in 1890. In the
South Atlantic and South Central divis-
ions the proportion of urban population
Is Comparatively Small
being in the first named. but 1904 per
cent OF the entire population or less
than one-SlXth, and the second but 10 45
per cent the proportion OF urban to the
total population in all the Southern
states being less than Is per cent
Mining commerce and manufactures
in the Western states and territories
are i'll a much more advanced
stage. Considered as whole, the ur-
ban element i'll the Western division in
1890 constituted 29.74 per cent of the
whole population, while in 1880 it con-
stltuted 23.97 per cent. 1t has there
lore gained somewhat more rapidly than
the total population. Supt. Porter, in
speaking of the wonderful progress of
the South during the last decade.
says: 1.-The mineral idevelopmentandt the
increase in manufactures during this
period has gained much magnitude and
OF such Importance as to seriously at
tract the attention of the world. The
South is to-day producing as much coal,
iron ore and pig iron as the entire United
States produced in 1870. In no way, how
ever, is tke remarkable development of
the new South shown in more striking
degree than by the history of the aston
ishing growth of individual cities in this
section during the past decade. Biz
mingbam, which was unknown when
the census of 1870 was taken, and which
Ill 1880 had a population of 3.OS6,
had grown in 1890 to flourish
ing. city of 26,17S inhabitants;
i'll fact, a center of Industrial activity of
$4,000 people and showing an increase
within the corporate limits of nearly
100 per cent in ten years. The value of
land III and around this city has in
creased at a rate which is almost
Incredible. Chattanooga had a popu-
latlon of 1882 in 1880 and
29,loO in 1890. Little Rock had had
13.13S in 1880 and 25,S74 in 1890. Knox
vile increased from 1868 in 1880 to
about 10000 i'll 1890. Middlesborougl,
hy., had
No Name and No Inhabitants
two years ago, but to-day has close upon
5000 people, and some of the most gi-
gantic enterprises of modern times.
Roanoke, Va. which does not appear at
all i'll the census of 1880, is now a citv
of 10, 159 inhabitants. This is the north
ern gateway of Southwest Virginia,
which has developed as one of
the most important coal and iron
ore fields of the United States. Atlanta,
Ga, which may be termed the metropo-
lis of the new South, according to the
census of 1880, contained 37,409 inhabi-
tants, and in 1890 65, ,533, au increase of
over 20 per cent. These are only some
of the striking illustrations. The output
of the coal-producing states of the South
in 1890 was more than twice the entire
output of the bituminous coal in the
l nlted States i'll 1860, and nearly~2, ,000,-
600 more tons than the total production
of the United States in 1870. The same
states show far greater progress in the
production Of pig iron. The only one
of these states producing pig iron
in 1860 and 1870 was Tennessee.
The entire production of all of these
397, ,30l tons, which had in 1890 increased
to nearly 100000 tons. The production
of iron ore in these Southern states
now almost equals the total produc-
ton OF the United States in
1870. In that year the United
States produced 3,163,S39 tons.
While in 1890 the production of the nine
ore-prOducing states of the South was
2,9l7,529, This development of the
mineral resources OF the South has not
been at the expense of its other indus
tries. The manufacture of cotton, for
example, has increased to wonderful
degree, as will be seen from the fact
that in 1880 the
Amount of Cotton Consumed
in the South was 10000 bales, while in
1890 it was / .497, 900 bales, an increase of
115 per cent. The South produces about
three-fourths of the worlds annual cot
ton product. but manufactures only
about or per cent of what it
raises. the balance furnishing the ma
terlal for manufacturers in New En-
gland and Europe. The value of the
South'S agricultural products in 1889
was over S250, 1000, 900 greater than in
1879. The railroad mileage increased
from 20,6l2 miles in 1880 to 40,52I miles
III 1889. the assessed value of property
from, S2,9l3, 000,0 to 1920, ,O0O. 900, a
gain of over $1,000. ,OOG, while the
true value increased over $4,000, 900, 600.
Educational progress has been much
greater than the percentage of gain in
population and the number of graduates
in the South has Increased from 2,025 in
1880 to 1856 in 1890. The timber re-
sources of the South, Mr. Porter saws,
are far greater than those of any other
portion of the United States, or indeed
of any civilized and well settled country
in the WOrld''