New-York tribune., 1900-01-15
THE COMING CENSUS.

The census about to be taken will for the
first time include inhabitants not Of the United
States but under its protection and subject to
its rule Hitherto the Nation has been show
ing that it can govern itself. In spite of all
mistakes, it has done that so far well that it
has become the most powerful. the richest. the
most productive and prosperous Nation on
earth. 1t is not out of place for a nation
which has done so much to enter upon the
task of governing other people who have or
may be subjected TO its authority. The census
will therefore separate the population Of
the Union from that of its possessions, whose
form of government and political designation
Congress has not yet defined There has been
much awkward of names which by
means tit the new possessions. They are not
colonies, nor are they properly dependencies,
because that phrase implies a large measure
of independent action. The simplest title seems
the best because it fits the facts; they are
provinces under government of the United
States, which strictly means administrative dis
tricts, whether to be intrusted in greater or
less degree with functions of self-government,
as British provinces in Canada have been, re-
manning 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 enor-
nous value. Foreign Powers could be found
which would delight TO pay large sums
for them. Bat TO the wealth of the United
States they add nothing in the statistical sense
Ten years ago the wealth of the Nation was
reckoned at about S65 900 100000, and had in
creased 40 per cent during the previous decade
according TO the official account. At that time
the payments through all clearing houses were
about 60,0O0,000.O00, and are now over $685.
OO0yOOe.O00. This would indicate a probable
increase Of the National wealth to about $780,
000000,0O0. Moreover, the census of 1890 was
in this respect on a different basis from that
which preceded, and strictly speaking, under
valued the Nations wealth TO some extent, as
that Of 1880 had overvaued it. Without enter
ing into details no longer profitable, it may be
said that a more just and uniform calculation
would have made the wealth OF the Nation
about S400OG000000 in 1880, and about S67-
eO00000O0 In 1890, and on the same basis II
will probably appear that 100000 100000 is too
low an estimate for the wealth in 1900.
II is one of the interesting facts connected
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
ss TO others. The stoppage of all official rec
ords Of immigration across the Canadian border
cut off the means of calculating the population
with reasonable allowance for diminishing ratio
of increase from excess of births over deaths,
and IT viii be extremely interesting to see how
the census of this year comes out. The Treas
ury has estimated the population with allow
ance only for diminishing rate Of increase. but
not for varying immigration, at 76,977,00O on
January J. At the same rate 1t would exceed
4. 100000 for the census year, but none who
have considered the subject viii be surprised TO
find il vary rather widely from such estimates.
- June. 1889. according TO the estimate of the