Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1904-04-09
oTTuMwA, is A CITY OF ALMOST
10000 SOULS ACCORDING
TO BUREAU.
STATISTICS ON CENSUS
Report Just Issued by Census Bureau
Gives Basis for Figuring Increase In
PopuIation-ott Has Grown
Fast In the Past Few Years.

Ottumwa is a city of almost 100000
inhabitants according to an estimate
of the population Of the cities of the
United States for 1903 prepared by the
census bureau. The statistics show
that in rapidity of growth Ottumwa
compares favorably with any city in
the state
Z Although figuring on the basis that
the census bureau used in arranging
the statistics Of the population of
cities Of over 25,00O inhabitants, OF
tumwa has 1884 population, this Is
believed by well Informed Ottumwans
to be too low an estimate. In prepar-
ing the annual estimates the census
bureaui figures the annual increase at
the rate made between the census OF
1890 and that Of 1900. 1t Is said that
the city has made more rapid growth
in the past few years than ever before
and that while there has been large
number of residences built there is not
now vacant house in the city and
that more families are living in rent
ed rooms than eyer before. 1t Is be
lieved although the plan Of estimating
adopted by the census bureau may be
the most accurate one in many cases
that $4,000 Is fair estimate of the
population of Ottumwa at the present
time.
Population by Districts.
The estimated population in 1908 In
cities of 10000 or more is distributed
as follows:
The North Atlantic states, 1873 cities
l1S,81S,990; North central division, 149
cities, 8,272,105; South Atlantic, IS
cities, 1,S41,215; South Central, 81
cities, 1,530,85 and Western states
rs cities, 1,343,S22.
| An official statement accompanying
| the bulletin says:
''The bureau Of the census has de
cided to make annual estimates Of pop
ulation based on what is known as the
arithmetical method. This rests or
the assumption that the annual in
crease for each year since the last
census will be one-tenth of the decen
NAL increase between the last two cen
suses. The country as a whole ant
most Of the states and cities are
growing with a steadily decreasing
per cent of increase. AS this condi
tion has obtained in the United States
for the last twenty years, it Is likel,
to hold good in the immediate future
Under such conditions the arithmeti
cal method has been proved more &C
curate than any alternative method
Estimates by this method, based OF
the census population of 1880 and 1890
were made for the 78 cities, each o
which had more than $4,000 lnhabi
tants in 1900, and the results compar
ed with the census count. The est
mates give these cities total annua
increase between 1890 and 1900 o
/ 407028. The count showed an actua
average increase Of 414,793, or close
tnan estimated, based on vote cast o
number of names in a directory or
local census of school children"
Population of Cities.
The estimates Of the population {
!, cities in Illinois Indiana. Iowa. Mich
: gan and Wisconsin showing 25,000 an
J more are as follows:
Iowa-Cedar Rapids. 27,948: Counc
!, Bluffs, 29,171; Davenport, 37,768; De
Moines 65,754; Dubuque, 38,094; Siou
City, 31,701.
Iilinois--Aurora, 25,4S5; Chicago, l.
/, S73,SS0; East st. Louis, 34,007; Jolie
80, 769; Peoria. G2,O94; Quincy, 37,6SC
| Rockford, 33,361; Springfield, s6,211.
i Indiana-Evansville, 61,4s2;' Fol
Wayne 4s,O31 Indianapolis, 191,O3s
South Bend, 4o,s27; Terre Haute, 3s
Gil.
Observation-Disclosures, 3O,03s; Nil
: waukee, 312,736; Oshkosh, 29,919; Ra
: cine, 1889; Superior 36,s24.
, Michigan-Bay City, 27,565; Detroi
+ 309. $50; Grand Rapids, 91,630; Jackson
3 26,494; kalamazoo, 26,252; Saginay
5 41,151.