New-York tribune., 1891-05-07

CENSUS BUREAU
Washington, May spcclaD.-"Extra Bulletin
No IL which was issued recently by superintendent
Porter, OF the Census Bureau, is publication OF ex-
trcmc interest and great value. II shows IN grapmo
FORM by counties, the increase or decrease OF popua
ton since 1880 The map OF the United states Is
printed in tnts one Of which indicates the counties
in which there has been decrease OF popuiauon
one which indicates increase up To 70 per cent as
compared with 13e0, one which denotes an increase
between 25 and 100 per cent and one which indi-
Gates an increase OF population Of more than 100 per
cent No such work this has ever before been
undertaken by a Superintendent OF the United States
Census but of its vast utility and Importance no
statlsclan or Intelligent student Of the progress
OF the Nation Will have any doubt As superintendent
Porter pertinently observes, "by this method oil
pictorial presentation eye enabled to grasp In one
instant salient facts that otherwise must be dug out
from formidable pages Of exhibits and volumes Of tab
ulaed statements glance at the map is equivalent
10 examining with care the change In popuiiton IN
every county in the United States for decade Tho
substantial results OF such an examination are thus
laid before the eye. and may be easily retained"
An inspection OF the map shows a decrease OF pop
uIation in a large number OF counties, and as the
shade used TO denote that buff is one which strikes
the eye with more force than either OF the shades
OF gray used TO show an increase Of population, tho
first impression produced upon the 4th OF July Anerl
can citizen may be shock to MS oVersehslI'"
nerves. More careful study, however, Will restore
his equanmity, especially when his eye measures th
vast expanse Of dark in the West and Northwes'
and smaller in other parts OF the country wher
| the gain in population has exceeded 100 per cent.
Between 1870 and 1850 there a decrease OF
population in 1873 counties; between 1880 ana leeo
! there was decrease in 455 countless but IN some
! fifty this due to reduction OF territory
consequent upon the formation Of new counties leav'
ing 4O5 counties in which re population has actually
| . n
States. In Nevada every county, except two, shows
a loss. sO as rule, do the mining counties OF Call
| fornia and Colorado, but nearly one-thrd OF the
former and more than twothirds OF the latter stan
! show a gain OF more than 100 per cent In Canfornis
the dark-gray shade predomnates In the southerr
part and In a group Of counties OF which Fresno Is
| tho centre The same pleasant shade covers nearly
all OF Washington and Montana. a large portion OF
! Idaho all Of Wyoming and N0Gl Dakota, fourth
| Of New-Mexico, nearly all Of Western Texas and
scattering counties in other parts OF that
great State, a considerable portion Of
of western and southern Kansas, nearly all OF Ne.
braska all OF South Dakota, except few counues In
the extreme southeastern part of the State and one
on the western border all OF northern Minnesota and
! Wisconsin, and nearly all of Dorhan Michigan as
well as large group Of counties in the northern part
! OF the Lower Peninsula. oklahoma is a darRgray
blot almost in the centre Of Indian Tertitoy oocR
of counties extending south OF Springfield Mo-. Is COW
cred with the same gray shade, denoting gain ot
more than 100 per cent; and more than one-thfd OF
Florida comprising nearly all OF the counties south u
the twenty ninth parallel OF north latitude Shows
like gain. Nearly all Of Arkansas and smaller areas
in Mississippi Alabama Georgia, Tennessee West VIZ
gnia and Virginia show heavy increase In some ease'
exceeding 100 per cent.
Turning again to the shade OF bun, which IN
dicates an actual decrease OF population 1t Is iound
70 begin in New England, IN central Maine, and to
cover considerable in the central parts oil New
Hampshire Vermont, New-York and northern New
Jersey Virginia from the summit Of the Blue Ridge
TO the Atlantic has lost population In the last dec
ade Ruff spots are sprinkled pretty literally through
Ohio Indiana, Illinois, Tennessee and Kentucky
Southern Michigan and Wisconsin have suffered con-
siderabIy while a large proportion of the counties OF
Eastern Iowa have lost population.
In his observations the increase and dlmlnutoh
Of population as shown by this map, Superintendent
Porter explains some Of the reasons of the changes
which have taken place. The change from the pastoral
stage OF settlement which is still represented upon
the great plains and in the Corderan REGION TO te
agricultural stage has taken place quietly and Win
ont other symptoms than the accompanying increase
In density of population; while the change from the
agricultural stage to that in which large majority
Of the people are engaged in manuiacturhS
and commercial pursuits, and where the popu
laton is, in the main, cOngregated in towns ana
cities is frequently forced change. produced by te
competition Of other agricultural regions with these
Ecncral pIOPVs4hOhs a. D~9'D
remarks
The first symptom OF approaching change consists In
reduction Of the OF be an absolute
decrease OF population This is followed accompanied
by an aggregation the people in cities and, finally as
manufactures and commerce become established by an IN
crease OF population at an acceentng rate
Southern New England. together with most OF Ne"-
York PENNSYLVANIA and Newersey have passed through
these stages reached that stage in when
commerce thoroughly established ana
constitute the leading industries. The people n large
extent have withdraw the country and are grouped
in and The population which two or uree
decades ago standsti IS now Increasing
RAPIDLY under the stimulus OF profitable occupations The
central parts Maine, wampshire Vermont and New"
York however are still the transition stage and arc
| not gaining in population.
In the Upper Mississippi Valley and Virginia. where
the map shows great OF losses the community Is ID
transition stage agricultural to manufacturing IN
dustrles The rich lands OF the further Western States
are drawing their farmers away TO reap larger proht'.
other industries have not yet attained such FOOT
ing retain population In their places Inc
condition OF things prevailing In these states was
Census OF 1880 when ONO was seen 70
be In this transition Since then this transition
has extended westward across lhuiai'' ii1'i"s
and well into Iowa
As a whole the plains and the Cordferan region have
been peoped rapidly especially in the northern portions
IL is this region which, by OF its virgin soil cheap
land and easy tage reduced the profits Of Eastern
agriculture has thus drawn heavily upon the farming
population Of Eastern States The rich mineral
deposits OF Montana and Arizona have been also largely
! instrumental in drawing population 70 this region.
In Colorado the Of mining speculation is over'
and the floating population which covered its noun
tans ten years has departed In the main whiie
the lack Of water for rrtgating purposes In Nevada
and the low ebb OF her mining interests nave causeu
general dimnutlon OF populat1oh
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