The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1896-03-26
LIVE QUESTIONS.
A Series &C Articles Contributed to These |
Columns by Advanced Thinkers.

LESSONS FROM THE LAST CENSUS-I1IE
GROWTH OF OUR COUNTRY SINCE 1890.
Under the existing temporary organi-
zation Of the census force there must be
inevitably long delay in the completion
of the work of the federal census and
the placing Of the final results before
the public. This fault is inherent in the
system ITSELF and no one in particular
can be charged with this delay nor in
deed be made responsible for the great
ly increased cost of the census work.
Ln this connection it should be remem-
bered, of course, that the fundamental
laws governing the census have been
from time to time very much broadened
and the number and extent of the GEN.
sus inquiries very materially increased,
of necessity requiring a relatively longer
time to do the work and at a relatively
larger cost
The constantly increasing desire to
have full and explicit data at each de-
cennial period has literally grown away
from the old methods Of census taking,
and today the entire inadequacy of the
census machinery, as now provided for
by law, is everywhere apparent In
many respects it constitutes the chief
lesson of the eleventh census and points
with unerring directness to the neces-
Gity for radical change in the system
of taking the federal census. The ex
perience of the last two enumerations
lies wholly in this direction, and relief
must be found at an early day in the
establishment of a permanent census
Office.
TIE PRESENT CENSUS REPORT AN IMPROVE
MENT.
Despite the difficulties and delays
which have beset the work of the elev-
enth census, there is likely to be some
improvement as compared with 1880 in
the publication of the final reports. All
of the volumes of the census of 1880
were not published until 1883, but of
the 20 volumes of the present census 12
have been issued, 8 others are wholly
completed and ready for issue, and the
remaining volumes are either in proc
ess of printing or in such condition
shat the publications should follow
within comparatively short time.
This being the case, it will be posi-
BILE shortly to review the results of the
last census in their entirety and to con-
slider in something like consecutive and
logical order some of the many valuable
lessons to be devised from the census.
In the first place, let it be borne in
mind that our country was the first gov
ernment to provide by law for a practi-
cal enumeration Of its population, the
first decennial census having been taken
by constitutional provision in 1890; the
eleventh census, that of 1890, marked,
therefore, the completion of the first
century Of census taking in this coun-
try. During this period there has been
only great expansion in the extent of
settled area, in spite of the vast increase
in territory, but very marked growth
of population in every part of the union.
EXTENT OF OUR TERRITORY.
At the time Of the first census the
United States comprised the territory
between the Atlantic ocean and the Mis-
sissippi river, embracing S27, 644 square
miles, of which SOB, 225 was land sur
face. In 1S03-5 the acquisition of Lou
isiana by purchase and of Oregon by
settlement added III, 1881 square miles
to our area and secured the absolute
control of the Mississippi river and its
navigable branches. In 1921 the final
transfer of Florida from Spain increased
our territory by 59,2 square miles.
The annexation of Texas in lS45 and
the acquisition of territory from Mexico
in lS4S added 921, ,9l6 square miles, and
still further addition of "A, Gal square
miles was made in 1853 by the Gadsden
purchase, SO that the total area Of our
territorial possessions, exclusive of Alas
ka, is now 3,025, 600 square miles, OF
which aero, 600 is land area. The ter
ritory of Alaska, purchased from Russia
in 1867, has an estimated area Of
532, 400 square miles, but contained on
ly 49, ,052 inhabitants in 1890.
MARVELLOUS GROWTH OF OUR POPULATION.
At the census of 1890 our entire pop
ulation was but 3,929,2l4 and was con-
tanned principally in the 13 original
bC4nS tuOn part VI
sachusetts and Vermont q part Of New
York;, with few scattered settlements
III what shortly after became the states
of Kentucky and Tennessee. 1t was al
most wholly distributed along the At
lantic coast, the average depth Of settle.
ment, in direction at right angles tc
the coast, being but 300 miles. The ter.
ritory occupied by this population in
1890 comprised only 45S, 1926 square
miles of land area, or a little more than
one-half Of the total land area, while
the area of actual settlement-that is,
containing two persons or more to the
square mile-comprehended only $780,.
935 square miles. At the last census, in
1890, the population of all the state:
and organized territories was 62, 622, $50
and besides this there were 32,052 per.
SONS in Alaska and 325, 464 Indians and
other persons in the Indian Territory
and on Indian reservations, making the
total population of the entire country
62,979, 766. The whole extent of oul
territory in 1890 comprised 1858, ,O09
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