The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-01-27
THE COMING CENSUS

And It's 1mportaucs-1t Promises to
be the Most Accurate and oompre-
hensive Yet Taken.
New York Tribune: The census about
to be taken win for the first time In
clude inhabitants not Of the United
states but under It's protection and sub
tect to It's rule. Hitherto the nation
has been ehowing that It can govern
itself In spite of all mistakes, IT has
done that so far well that it has be-
come the most powerful, the richest,
the most productive and prosperous ma
ton on earth. It is not out Of place for
a nation which has done SO much to en-
ter upon the task Of governing other
people who have or may be subjected
to It's authority. The census viii, there
fore, separate the population Of the
Union from that of It's possessions,
whose form of government and political
designation Congress has not yet de-
hned. There has been much awkward
use Of names which by no means fit the
new possessions. They are not colonies,
nor are they properly dependencies,
because that phrase implies large
measure Of Independent action. The
simplest title seems the best, BECAUSE
1t fits the facts; they are provinces un-
der government Of the United States.
which strictly means administrative
districts, whether to be Entrusted in
greater or less degree with functions
OF self-government, as British prov
incea in Canada have been, remaining
yet to be determined.
The provinces add to the area and to
the population under government Of the
United states, but not to the area or
population of the United States. They
are possessions OF enormous value. For
eIgn powers could be found which would
delight to pay large sums for them.
But to the wealth Of the United States
they add nothing in the statistical
sense. Ten years ago the wealth OF the
nation was reekoned atjabout S65,OOO,-
100000, and had Increased 40 per cent
during the previous decade, according
to the Official account AT that time
the payments through all clearing
houses were about OOOe,OOO.oOO. and
are now over S9SOOOOOO,O 900. This would
indicate probable increase of the ma
tional wealth to about S1OO,OOOOOO.O 600.
Moreover. the census of 1890 was in this
respect on different basis from that
which preceded. and. strictly speaking
undervalued the nations wealth to
some extent, as that of 1880 had over
valued It. Without entering into de-
tails no longer profitable, 1t may be
said that a more Just and uniform cal
culatlon would have made the wealth
of the nation about $4,000, 100000 In 1880,
and about Ss7,eOO,OOOOO in 1880. and on
the same basis 1t will probably appear
that SEQ, 900, 100000 is too low an esti-
mate for the wealth in 1900.
1t is one Of the interesting facts con-
nected with this census that the true
population has not been known for
twenty years Beyond question the |
census Of 1880 was considerably in error |
as to some states, and the census of
1890 as to others. The stoppage Of all
official records OF immigration across
the Canadian border cut of the means
Of calculating the population with rea-
sonable allowance for diminishing ratio |
of increase from excess of births over
deaths, and 1t will be extremely inter-
estinE to see how the census Of this
year comes out. The treasury has estt-
mated the population with allowance
for only diminishing rate Of increase.
but not for varying immigration, at
76.977,OOO eli January /. At the same
rate It would exceed 71,5OO0OO for the
census year, but none who have consid-
cred the subject will be surprised to
find 1t vary rather widely from such
estimates. In June, 1889, according to
the estimate Of the government expert,
the population was 64.4OS,OOO, but n year
later, and after over 100000 Increase
the census made 1t smaller by about
100000.
Because the year closes century and
for many practical reasons as we'll II is
most desirable that the census of 1900
should be not only as accurate as posi-
bic, but SO conducted as to command
public confidence in the highest degree.
That 1t will be 60 conducted there is
now every reason to hope. The cnlcu-
lations Of business in many depart
meuts have now come to depend not a
little upon correct idea of the populn-
ton and Its rate of increase. 1t is no
longer for the qualification OF curiosity
or sentiment only, nor yet merely as a
basis for congressional apportIOnment,
that an accurate knowledge of the pop
ulntlon is required. But 1t is only less
important to obtain Just conception
Of the nations increase In wealth and
of Its progress in the various industries,
In that respect the census of 1900 ought
to be by far the most important ever
taken.
Deafness Of l2 Years stauding.-