The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-11-22

where, which would seem to destroy such
a theory. NoIih Dakota increased - per
cent in population. Idaho and Montana
did better. and oven Minnesota, which was
already pretty well filled, shows a gain
of "a per cent okiznoma shows the as
founding Increase of $40 per cent.
1t will require much further study Of
the data before statisticians viii be able
to deduce any reliable facts as 10 The
meaning of the arrest CT population in
some agricultural regions, its remarkable
Increase in others. and the meaning of
the rapid growth of industrial or largely
Industrial communities in comparison
with the same in previous Census periods
No doubt a great many factors which d.
not appear on the face of the problem
must be thought GU and taken into ac-
count If we compare the increase OF
population in Nebraska. which was only
ten thousand in ten years with that OF
Oklahoma. which was three hundred and
thirty-six thousand four hundred and
eleven in the same time, the probability
at once suggests itself that the factor of
opportunity may be enlisted to explain
the discrepancy. In Nebraska the good
farming lands may have been largely
taken up years ago, while Oklahoma was
until recently virgin country.
There Is no doubt that manufacturing
centres show remarkable Increase OF
population, and this feature of the Cen
sus enumeration is yet 20 be accounted
for. As in the case Of the agricultural
communities il will not do to indulge in
too hasty conclusions. In part. ne doubt,
the phenomenon is due TO the general
movement of industry toward ce1traliza-
ton. In each branch of manufacture
plants are becoming larger and fewer
Thousands OF skilled workmen who. ten
or dozen years ago, were scattered
among establishments IN small towns,
have since been compelled to move to
some great manufacturing centre in order
10 pursue their particular avoeation. Ger
tain points provided with superior ship
ping and other facilities are increasingly
attracting manufacturing concerns. and
plants remote from such centres, under
the trust system. are being rapidly aban-
doned- It is likely that the next decade
viii witness a still greater concentration
OF population in Industrial districts than
ever before has been seen.
Still, It may be true that in some di-
rcctions cur agricultural expansion is
either becoming slow or is likely TO b.
arrested. The enormous surplus CT sta
pie products raised from cur SOL in nor
mai years, and which must ind fore.gt
nzarketS, or falling to. depEess hon.
prices 10 the disaster of our agrieui-
tarists, may have served as warning
to many young men to look for a uveli-
hood elsewhere than on the farm Tne
population of he United States is in
ferment. There is busy and not rain
less effort to readiust particularly
the working classes-to new. strange. and
less favorable conditions than former
L prevailed N this country. The Twelfth
Census ought TO give US plenty CT ma
teriaI for study in the sociological line;
Lut as il represents q society in the
threes CT an economic revolution. vii
deductions frem its data may be in
structive and valuable. they will hardly
do as bases upon which TO dogmatize.