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

Without the preceding explanation
some of the figures. especially those re-
latlng to the smaller cities OF the
south, would be absurdly homogeneous.
For instance. the negro population Of
Norfolk, as above stated, apparently
exceeds the aggregate population OF
the town by some 5000. The first coll
umn includes ali the negroes in Norfolk
county, whereas total population
merely covers the city itself, It would
appear that nearly the total population
of Memphis was negro. as well as that
of Charleston, Mobile. Little Rock, etc.
In the case Of Memphis. of course the
entire negro population Of Shelby coun-
ty is included; SO is the negro popula-
tIon Of Pulaski county included in Lit
tie Rock, and SO on. st, Louis takes in
all the county Of ST, Louis city: New
York of New York county; Brooklyn Of
Kings; Boston Of Suffolk; New Orleans
OF Orleans; Cincinnati OF Hamilton, etc.
But, as Before remarked In the large
northern cities few negroes reside out
side the city limits Washington In
cIudes the District of Columbia, but the
city now pretty much reaches to it's
borders in every direction. and beyond
them on the north.
BY this presentment the reader is en-
abled to see at glance where the
blacks most do congregate. It Will be
observed that few negroes settle in the
far northern cities; their climate Is de-
terrent. Nor have very many found
their way to the distant Pacific coast.
most probably from want Of means
The meagre negro population In the
large city Of San Francisco is surpris-
ing. Their favorite belt, so far as dis
closed by the population tables OF the
cities and towns. lies through the bor-
der states, the centre Of the country,
from the shores of the Chesapeake to
western Kansas Memphis, with only
one-quarter the total population, has
nearly as many negroes as New Or
leans; Norfolk, with only half the pop
ulattOn, has more negroes than Allan
"a: Little Rock has three times as many
negroes as Galveston, with no great
difference In their aggregate popula-
ton. OF course, the proportion of
blacks to whites in the cotton states
cities Is generally greater than else
where, but in very few of them does
the proportion exceed that in Washing
ton. So far as the drift can be detect
ed from the foregoing table 1t appears
to be from the gulf states toward the
middle belt.
II requires no very great acumen to
discern the causes which draw the ne
groes to Washington. The fact. doubt
less, that 1t is the capital. the fountain
head to which they must look for laws
and regulations for their protection, has
something to do with It. The chief In
Huences are that while the climate is
cohEenial both men and women find
ready and easy employment here at
better wages than elsewhere, They al
ready enjoy here every right granted to
their white nelEhbors, and they are
perfectly satisfied to be protected in
their lives and property, although they
have no political status In the district
and cannot vote. But the chief point
with them Is that they have here uni
formly kind treatment. more consldera-
tion, probably. than Is shown them in
any other quarter Of the country. The
washington negroes are the hnppIest
people in the world. ana they are max.