The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-02
TOTAL MAY BE 100000
POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES
BASED ON TABULATED RETURNS.
Percentage of Gain Over 1890 IL About
24-MiddIe West Growing Re-
markably I'm Power.

CHICAGO, Sept. 1.-The Times-Herald's
Washington correspondent says: "A con-
servative estimate of the total population
Of the United States, based upon twelfth
census returns already reported. is 7S,OOO.-
0O0 Here is what the figures show:
Population OF thirty-eight cities.
including the thirty largest. and
the District of Columbia Ia, S24.eSS
census - -. 1888
Gain in population of sane in ten
years 3,S47,SOO
Average percentage of increase
since 1890. slightly over............ "A
What total population will be II
this percentage is kept up. U,65l,59O
Conservative estimate OF total pop
ulauon OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. .io,VVV,VvV
Director Merriam's expectations
Chicago's gain IN percentage 54.A
Greater New York's gain in per-
eentage, slightly over..........-......
Effect upon congressional repre-
sentative from big cities in the
middle -....-Heavy gains
The Census Bureau, UP to and including
to-day's reports, has given out the pop
ulation OF thirty-eight cities and the Dis
trict OF Columbia. This includes the thirty
largest cities in the country, which means
that the great centerS or population must
necessarily be the basis for all present
estimates. Results already tabulated and
given to the public make a grand total
OF 13,s24.9SS In 1890 the returns Of the
eleventh census showed the same places
gain or 3,347, 500. The percentage Of gain
Is therefore slightly over "a.
III the rest OF the country INA makes th;o the
settled portions upon which the percentage
Is based the population OF the United
States Will be officially fixed at a, $50.
Experts who were consulted to-day by
the TimeS-Herald representatives say there
are no records or traditions In statistics
this effect They declare, though, that the
less in so-called rural districts will not be
nearly so large as generally believed ,n,.
country has experienced a significant
change in the matter OF equal and general
srowth. They point TO the fact that within
the twelfth census there has been steady
growth in suburban settlement
AIDED BY ELECTRIC LINES.
1t is said that the wonderful development
of the electric street-railway systems
throughout the country has tended to build
up the country districts adjacent to the
large cities. Thousands of people who had
homes in the cities in 1890 have moved into
the smaller and quieter outlying towns,
where they have easy and quick access to
their offices and stores, and yet are not
numbered among the city folks.
The cheapening of rates by the steam
railroads within ten years and the vast
effort made by these lines To work up a
paying suburban traffic also have tended
TO deprive the big centers OF population OF
a vast army OF people who used TO live
within the municipal limits just because
IL was most convenient
On this point, which is called by the ex-
perts very important one, ii is notable
that the increase in the population of the
thirty largest cities during the decade just
closed Is not so great as IL was between
1880 and 1880. The mushroom growths in
the West are now matter of history, and
the unhealthy boom conditions especially
prevalent during that decade are now a
rarity. The increase noted thus far is
counted upon as happy augury OF splen-
did showing by the smaller towns and VII
lagos and in the farming districts.
The student of the census figures report
ed up TO this date will readily notice that
the greatest gains have been among the
cities bordering on the chain of lakes
These are the so-called middle Western
cities. Toledo heads this column. so far
as percentage goes, its rate or increase be-
ing 6lSS per cent
Next comes Indianapolis. which is but a
few hours away from the great lakes by
railroad. and can ascribe it's growth direct
~ 10 the traffic its neighboring cities on
the shores of the inland seas give to IL
Indianapolis percentage OF increase In the
cagO. with its superb growth, a matter or
s4.4 per cent. Milwaukee and Detroit are
neck and neck in two-sided race for SUI
premacy. the former having Increased IN
population since 1890 g. "a per cent, and the
latter SS.99 per cent.
Cleveland another progressive seaport
CITY SHOWS a gain IN percentage % 1o-ot.
Greater New York's gain is slightly over
81 per cent, and Buffalo. which is becom-
Ing more important lake port every year.
though a tenth the size of the metropolis.
can boast OF an equal gain-s9.U per cent
II is easy to see that the greatest
growths. therefore. are among the cities
bordering the great lakes and among those
that are devoted most TO manufacturing:
Washington Is purely residential city.
and has been passed by both Detroit and
Milwaukee since 1890. The rate In the IN
crease of the population in Washington IS
Ds>. There are only four other OF the
thirty largest cities that show smaller
rate These cities and their per cent OF
Increase are: New Orleans. 1852 per cent;
Baltimore. IT'S per cent; San Francisco,
1854 per cent. I'D Cincinnati, 81 per cent
DECREASE IN OMAHA.
The only decrease i'm population among
any OF the thirty cities Is AT Omaha While
this caused general surprise when IL first
tecsme known. IL is explained by the fact
that ten years ago the count in Omaha was
exaggerated by many thousands by a sys-
TEN Of padding. Oraahsi. IL is noticed. comes
barely within the thirty largest class
cities with 10000 people or more-having.
according to the twelfth census. i02.555 peo-
Die.
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