The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-04-16

been as follows;
1870, ...s44,S7e 1850 ...... 1.s1s.02s
ise0......... 66,6o9 1860 ........ I9l7'Sla
isdo' ..l7S.6oo 1870 ........ $3.50. oO0
lS3o.... ..S7s,6 $50 1896 III .s5o 600
h'i0. 1888. 300
Unless IN the meantime we find more
world to conquer, Geographer Gannett will
ma next year United States territory. or
at least territory under the government of
the United States. aggregating 3,707 600
square miles. What vast change since
tine hrst census Of the century. The man
OF the United States for 1900 looks like a
small anair compared with the bread lands
spread all over both hemspheres which
Prof. GanneEt will be compelled to report
upon. Tho area of the country then was
less than one-fourth of that of TODAY. The
government had but vague idea then OF
the extent of the country II was ascer
tanned later that It was S27,st4 square
miles. The map OF the United States at
that time presents many curious features
to the reader who Is familiar with the 90
ographical appearance OF the United stasss
at present. The Mississippi river hemmed
us IN on the west, Not an inch OF our
territory was washed by the waters Of the
GUN or Mexico. 1t presented somewhat
the shape of a great V with a heavy base.
what is now the State OF Maine was a
part OF Massachusetts,. and Vermont bad
JUST escaped from the clutches of both
new York and New Hampshire, each of
which had claimed It's territory. Ken
lucky and Tennessee had after Vermont
peen added to the thirteen original states
france owned the vast region stretching
beyond the Mississippi TO the Rocky
Mountains Florida aud all that country
west OF the Red river and the Rockies
was spanish dominion. Mississippi and
Alabama, then N'part of Georgia, did not
rsacn the Gulr OF Mexico. because West
rlorioa. belonging to Spain also, lay be-
tween. Northwest, between the Ohio
river and the Mississippi and the lakes,
was great stretch of country almost a
wilderness. from which was soon. how
ever, to be carved the new State of Ohio.
The map of 1910 was quite a different
looking affair from that of the first census.
me United States had found its clothes ell :
ureiy too small. We begun to expand al a
terrihc rate, We had reached the gulf and
nau stepped half way across TO the Pacific.
our territory had more than doubled
Thomas Jefferson had bought from the EN-
peror Napoleon the French colonial terri
tory of Louisiana. What is now the State
OF Louisiana Is but mere fraction of the
extensive region thus acquired In 1903 In
addition to that State, 1t now comprises the
States OF Arkansas Missouri, Minnesota
Iowa, the Dakotas. Kansas, Nebraska
Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, Mon;ana ant
the Indian Territory. an aggregate OF
1,171,9S1 square miles. For this great
country the United States paid Franc,
SIS, 000, 000 which was then considered ar
enormous price. Jefferson began the nego
tiations with France merely to give us an
outlet through the Mississippi to the gull
by the purchase of the Island OF New Or.
leans. He wanted a dock yard and al
arsenal. He ended by the purchase Of al
empire.
The change In the map as shown aftcl
the census of 1s20--the first change aftel
the Louisiana purchase-gave the United
States the two Floridas, and made quit
an interesting difference In the outline o
the country. This was our first dicke
with Spain. The usual tricks Of Spanisl
diplomacy were resorted TO upon this oc
casion, and we nearly came TO war owe
the matter. Finally, however, the tw
i countries came to terms, and we pal
4 Spain $5,000,O0O. The purchase include
all of what is now the State OF Florid
and the territory now the southern part
of Alabama and Mississippi. lncidentali
this grant also gave to US tho title TO tina
part of the United States, then not set
I tied. now comprising the States of Wash
ington, Oregon and a part of Idaho In
purchase of the Floridas expanded OF
area to 2,05904S square miles.
The change in our maps shown IN IN
census of 1850 takes us at bouno 70 u
Pacific coast This was, as everyone know
broupht about. by the war with MeXic
, which was followed by the annexation
Texas. The territory thus added aggre
gated 921,s1e square miles, and inc, ,.,ls
with Texas what was afterwards Cal'foi
nc Nevada Utah. Arizona. New Mexlr
, and part of Colorado. The map r.
manned unchanged until 1867, when II
Alaska purchase was made from Russ
miliar 10 be more than referred TO he
made new map of the United States
thing to be looked for with great interes
and one which will try the talent OF all
prof Gannett's staff to the uttermost.
Tbs following table will shop tho varii
tions of our territory after each cens'
since the formation OF the government.
Census. Area, Sp. Mile
| 1890 .....'....'.''''''''' COZ .
.aAA =