The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1900-12-13
Curious Revelations Of the Census.


Busy readers haye not time to crack
the nuts presented in the long arrays
OF figures in the ensus bulletins, but
they contain many curious kernels.
TO begin with, the official count
making the population 76,95O, 900, in
cluding Alaska and Hawaii, is about
2, 900, 900 less than the unofficial esti-
mate of the government bureaus.
Although Porto Rico has been for
mally annexed, her 953, 243 population
is not included, and as for the Philip
pines, there has been as yet no anthem
tic count of the islands-about 1000 in
number-to say nothing of their inhab-
itants.
New apportionment for members of
congress necessitated by the increase
of 10, 800, 900 shown in the official report
will doubtless result in an increase Of
the present number of 356 representa-
tives. The hall in which they meet is
now rather crowded, and as there is an
impression that the house is becoming
an unwieldy body-although there are
go members of the British House of
Commons there will be a strong effort
to prevent large increse. A
After the last census the ratio Of ap-
portionment was increased from 1852, 900
to 174,0OO-using round tigures-of
population to each representative, and
on this basis thirty one members were
added to the house. To raise the ratio
will reduce the number of representa-
tives from several states which show
but trifiing increase Of population since
the census Of 1890. Maine has gained
but 90, 900 and Nebraska but 10000.
The only state to show decrease, how
ever, is Nevada. That Commonwealth
whose two Senators, Jones and Stewart,
have filled so large space in the pub
!ic eye--and ear-now has mighty
population Of AZ, 600.
Change in the ratio, as it will affect
the representation of various states
brings politics into play, and will
therefore, largely depend or the COZ
plexion of the congress to meet ne
month. Ifthe ratio should be made {
round 100000, New York can gain tw,
representatives, and even if it should
be raised to fully correspond with thu
increase in population, this state woult
hold its own, the increase population
OF the whole country falling trid'
short of 81 per cent, while the Empir'
Static growth is fraction above tina
| figure. The increase in this city ha
been much greater, Manhattan and tn
Bronx, constituting the former New
York, gaining SO per cent. since tn
last census, Brooklyn 80 per cent. Rich
mend 30 and Queens rs per cent.
The bulletin just issued covering tn
population OF cities will probably b
auallyzed, studied and discussed wit
more interest than any other part o
the census, as socioloRists and legisls
tors in all countries have long bee
puzzled and alarmed by the movemen
from the rural districts to the center
of population. That this tendenc
continues in the United States is show
by the figures now published. Their
are 1859 cities having each $4,000 @
|: more Inhabitants, and these, whic
. twenty years ago contained nearly 2
per cent. of the whole population, to
years ago represented more than % pc
, cent. OF it. The increase in the popu
latioa OF these cities in the past te
! ! years is 3sa per cent, while that Of th
whole country is aboIt is about 81 pt
. cent. There is q striking uuiformit
! in this ratio of growth through ali ii
: groups OF cities, large and small.
While this tide to the centers contil
ues ii nevertheless shows a marked d
; minution; for the previous census, il
icating an increase OF 20 per cent.