The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-27

a slight southerly trend In the decade end
ing with 1850, but the immense growth Of
the Northwestern states In the next few
years sent that point northward again. SO
that II was In almost the same latitude In
1880 that IL was In 1920.
VIII the population center ever get near
the geogra phIcal center? Possibly It Will.
The geographical center Is not far away
from the parallel along or near which the
population center has been travelling in it's
westerly course for the past 100 years The
latitude Of the geographical center Is 80 de-
grees s. minutes, while the latitude Of the
population center IN 1890 was 30 degrees II
minutes. and that in 1890 was 80 degrees IL
minutes. OF course, however. there Is a
wide divergence between the present longi-
tude of the two ceutcrs. The approximate
longitude OF the population center in 1890
was S. degrees 50 minutes That OF the
geographical center Is approximately 81 de-
grees 50 minutes. This IL exclusive OF Alas
ka, and also of all the other territory which
we have rec emily gained. or which we may
gain. II covers contiguous territory only.
The geographical center is a little north
and west Of the center Of Smith county.
Kansas. Thus the population center is
about three-quarters OF a degree south ard
Is degrees east OF the geogra phical center.
Reduced 70 linear measure the country's
population center was in $3.50 approximately
forty-five niles south and GO miles east OF
the center II area,
But the locating Of the centers Of popufa-
fIon ana OF area is far easier task than
is that Of fixing q the site or limits Of the
West" as a locality. While both these
points were moving away from the Allan
lie. the West" moving IN the same d!rcc-
ton, was sweeping onward far in the adj
vance. In "A general way Its movement
may be traced by the states which sprang
Up in its path. Thus the "HTess' crossed
Tie southern end Of the Aneghanies IN 1872
when Kentucky Joined the sisfefhood Of
states. and Ia 1875 Il ieaped over thar noun
tain barrier below THAI spot. and In isa2
above II. waea Teanessfe and Oafo were
admitted 10 the Union. Moving onward it's
track vas marked by the addition OF In
diana IN 1876 Mississippi IN 1s17 Illinois in
ISIS ard Alabama in 1919 20 the starry Ste
terhood. This carried the ''Wes." 10 the
Mississippi river. just before is2G though
the EXPANSION IF ia limits n0rtawa~d and
southwark swept Michigan into tire national
family circle in 1885, Florida liz lS45 aud
Wisconsin i'll fs4S.
The West" was not delayed long by
this water barrier Indeed. Il sprang over
this obstruction az the rivers southern end
IN 1s1E when Louisiana was made z state
bus rot tl1 MlsseurI's admission in ~ ali
K pess this imped. nent near the rivers
centrs. point. And even then these two
states were isolated until 1s3s when. by the
creation Of Arkansas. the space between
them was occupied Leaving the sunrise
side o: the Mississippi entirely. and finally
In IsEs, - Wisconsin's admission, the
West" spread 20 the soEth ard north Just
previously. taking n Texas and Iowa. and
IN is6o the gold hunters sent 1t 20 the Pacific
By their rush 20 California, but Il did not
tuuch tho sea farther north uutil nine years