The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1909-08-20
CENSUS Reviewed
BY ". h. ROSSITER.
FORMER CHEF CLERK or THE
CENSUS BUREAU MAKES AN
INVALUABLE coMPIL-
ALTON.

w, s. Rossiter, until lately chief clerk
OF the Bureau of Census, has made a
distinctive contribution to the statis-
tical literature OF the United States.
In response to urgent requests from
many patriotic societies and public
spirited individuals, congress authoriz-
ed in 1907 the publication OF the names
Of heads of families returned at the
first census.
After the publication Of these vol
umes 1t became evident that the series
would be incomplete without a final
Misunderstanding the historical as
poets of the first census and presenting
such statistics a could be compiled
from the limited returns
To compile report which should
meet those requirements was the task
assigned Chief Clerk Rossiter, and the
results are embodied in the book,
which Is now being distributed by the
Department of Commerce and Labor.
United States Led the World.
The first census or the United States
was taken in 1870, or nearly ten years
before the first census in any European
country, except Sweden. This dead the
French statistician, Moreau de Jonnes,
to declare that the United States pre-
sents phenomenon without a parallel
in history-'that of people who in
stituted the statistics OF their country
on the very day when they founded
their government. and who regulated
by the same instrument the census
of inhabitants, their civil and political
rights, and the destiny of the nation"
10
tional enumerations with reproductions
Of all the authentic returns. TN the
Colonial and Continental periods many
obstacles were encountered and results
we're often incomplete and inaccurate.
In 1712, Governor Hunter, of New
York, undertook a census OF that pro-
vince. In writing to the home govern
ment ne excused the imperfection OF
the returns in part, saying that 'the
people were deferred by a simple sup
erstition and observation that sickness
followed upon the last numbering of
the people"
Governor Burnett, Of New Jersey en-
countered the more formidable New
England conscience. He wrote to the
British board in 1925, alluding to an
enumeration made in New York three
years before.
IT would have then ordered the like
accounts to be taken In New Jersey,
but I was advised that it might make
the peoples uneasy, they being gener-
ally of New England extraction and
thereby enthusiasts, and that they
would take II for repetition of the
same sin which David committed in
numbering the people, and might bring
on the same judgments"
Early Conditions Noted.
In the fIrst census in 1890, the boun-
daries and area OF the country are de-
scribed, confused currency conditions
| are mentioned, and inadequate means
of travel and postal facilities are en-
phasized. The early beginnings in ag-
riculture, manufactures, mining, fish
cries, and commerce, both interstate
and foreign, are outlined.
In passing 1t may be observed that
In 1890 there were but Ave cities
having a population of 5000 inhabi-
tants or more-Boston, New York,
Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Charles
ton. In 1900 the number OF cities in
cluded within the area enumerated in
1890 and having a population OF 5000
or more was 1885, an increase Of more
than fifty fold. Rhode Island, smallest
OF the states, mad more cities Of g.
900 or more in 1900 than were found
in the entire republic In 1890.
A discussion OF the white and negro
population brings out the fact that
from 1890 to 1900 the white population
increased 2005.9 per cent and the me-
gro 1066.7 per cent. The increase in
the negro population from 1900 to 1910
was more than twice what 1t was
from 1890 to 1900.
The immigration I'm the twenty years
from 1880 to 1900 nearly equals the
total for the sixty years from 1890 to
1880. Prior to 1920 there were very
few immigrants: most of these came
to the United, States after 1910, and
the number arriving before 1900 Is so
small as to be negligible.
Northern Families Largest.
The proportion of males in the white
population shows a more marked de-
crease from 1890 to 1900 in the middle
and southern states than In New Eng
land. The average size OF families In
| 1890 was 81 persons for the entire
area covered; for the several states 1t
| ranged from 5.4 in Georgia to 81 in
Delaware. In 1900 the average size of
| families had decreased by more than
one person-5.7 to 4.6.
The striking chapter OF the book,
and the one which will most impress
| thoughtful Americans. Is Chapter TX;
Proportion of Children in White Pop
| ulation."
Mr.. Rossiter introduces this discus
sion with the following significant par
agraph; "Tt is probable that no change
| in the composition of the white popu-
| lation of the United States possesses
| greater interest, or is more important
to the future welfare of the nation.
than the proportion of the total con-
stituted by children. 1t is clear that
upon the changes In this respect, de-
pends practically all economic read
| justment-
The contributions of the two main
elements of the white population--de-
| scendants of persons enumerated In
| 1890 and of persons who came to the
United States after the first census
are estimated to be Approximately
35.OOO.O0O and 32,OOO.OOO, respectively
OF the total white population in 1900.
Census publications are mute con-
| cerning the fecundity of the various
elements OF the population.
At the present time the conplexity
| of living, congestion of population. de-
pendence on foreign help and espe-
cially the innumeraable wants fostered
/ NV machine made goods rlanufa ctifred