The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-06-13

| the statisticians divide the nation, and
| Is giving to the North American Re-
| view his comparisons and conclusions
as to the rate of progress. The May
number covered New England, and the
June issue carries the same examina-
ton and comparisons into the middle
| states.
The world wide movement, under Geo.
| nomic conditions, partly natural and
partly artificial in their sources, which
is increasing the urban at a much
greater rate than the suburban or
| farming population, is one of the first
! facts he presents. In New England the
rural population has remained practi-
cally at standstill in the twenty years
| between 1870 and $780, while in the mid
die states the increase has been only
10 per cent the normal rate being
40, while urban population in the for
mer region has increased over 100 per
cent, and in the latter 81 per cent.
Nearly the whole increase in New Eng
land is of foreign origin, the Americans
having increased but per cent, due
10 the movement to the West of the
| native element, he thinks, but largely
| due to the decrease in the birth rate,
in fact. In tine middle states the ma
tive element hold their own better,
having increased 80 per cent in an av-
| erage increase Of 43 per cent The nor
NAL rate Of increase should show a ma
tive population in these states of 1,700,-
900 more than the census of 1890 reveals,
due again to the movement westward.
An interesting part of his analysis,
more so at present when congress is
engaged in the fostering business, is
that in which he compares manufac-
turing conditions and notes their pro-
gress. In New England the value Of
the output has quintupled each decade
since 1850. the value being, in millions
of. dollars, 283 in 1850 and ,499 in 1890:
while in the middle states the increase
has been eightfold, rising from 470 to
3.648. During thirty of these years this
tive tariffs, and this abnormal develop
| ment obtained. Meanwhile the branch
of industry that has not been fostered,
but has had to bear the burden Of the
other fostering, shows the effects in the
diminution Of farm products until ''the
| production is so limited that the total
grain crop Of New England would
hardly suffice to feed the population of
| Connecticut" with a decrease but little
less in the middle states. The number
of acres cultivated, per inhabitant has
fallen from 4 in 1850 to rs in 1890 in
the latter, and from 4 to % in the
former.
The share labor has had in this in
crease is also Of present interest as
! bearing on related questions now being
discussed. In New England in 1850,
the proportion Of wages to product was
as to 81, and in 1890 as to So In
the middle states the proportion in
1850 was 1 to 1853 and in 1890 as 1 to
3.78, showing that the wage share had
| increased in both, but more in the lat
ter region. The increase per operative
in New England was 81 per cent and
in wages 81 per cent, while in the mid
die states the increase of product per
operative was 80 per cent and that
in wages was lis per cent This cor,
responds with the data given in the
Aldrich senate report on wages and
prices and refutes the claim of the uni
versatility Of decrease of prices. 81.