Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-05

It is probable that the thirteenth ensus
will credit the United States. exclusive Of
the Philippines, with a population Of 90
600, 900, an increase OF 1900, 900 over the rec
ord Of 1900. No one may venture, with
confidence, to predict the results OF a
census which must take into account the
many marvellous changes Of the first de-
cade Of the twentieth century, yet so closely
do certain tendencies Of growth follow de-
lined rules that many Of the important
showings may be discounted. For Instance,
in 1893, Mulhall, the eminent English statis-
tician, made a prediction Of the probable
results Of the American census Of 1890. The
final results differed but a few thousands
from Mulhalrs estimate, the difference be-
ing less than l per cent.
Although 14,OOO,O 900 inhabitants have been
added to our population in the past ten
years. It is relatively a smaller increase
than that Of the previous ten years. Sta
tisticians expect to see the United states
continue to grow, but at a constantly dim
inishing rate. As the country becomes
more and more filled up, the opportunities
for the poor Of Europe to better their
conditions here will become fewer and
fewer, and immigration will fall off more
and more with each passing decade. The
result will show in the increased proportion
of inhabitants born on American soil.
OF course the most interesting result of
the thirteenth census will be the relative
showing OF the states in the matter Of
population. viii they hold the same re-
lative position In congressional and cleo
toral college representation during the next
ten years that they now hold. To the in
dividual state that is an important ques-
ton. And it means still more than that.
Representation in the great national con-
v%entions is fixed by the number Of senator's
and representatives in congress, and thus
may party policy and the whole course Of
our future political history hang on the
results of the forthcoming reckoning.
The states may show a change In the
order of precedence as based on population.
This has happened at every census, though
with a decreasing ratio at the more recent
ones. In 1890 Kansas ranked nineteenth
in population, but by 1900 Minnesota, Missls-
slppi and California had forced it back
into twenty-second place. Wisconsin moved
from fourteenth to thirteenth place,
Washington from thirty-fourth to thirty
third, Oregon from thirty-eight to thirty
fifth, Georgia from twelfth to eleventh.
and Maryland from twenty-seventh to
twenty-sixth. On the other hand Wyom-
ing dropped back three notches, Virginia
two. Vermont four, Utah three, New
Hampshire three and a number of other
states on step backward each. It is APP
parent that in a close political campaign
changes as these may work
wonders both in the complexion Of the
house and the control Of the presi-
dency. 1t is not improbable that several
of the states will have their representa-
ton cut down by the thirteenth census.
Two Of them, Virginia and Maine, narrowly
such a catastrophe as a result
of the 1900 count.
The returns will probably result in a
remarkable shake-up among the cities of
the country. While this will mean little
or nothing nationally, to the Individual city
1t seems an important proposition, and
there are as many healthy rIvalrles for
in the ten-year endurance con-
tests Of the cities as there are in a we'll
horse race with a large number
OF entries. For instance, Akron. Ohio hold
ing 1O9th place in 1890 forged ahead to s7th
place in 1900, while Albany, New. York
18th place in 1890 slipped back to
10th in 1900. Butte. Montana jumped from
159th place to 13Srd. Cincinnati dropped
back from eighth to tenth place. Cleveland
up a bit and landed in seventh
place from ninth. Duluth climbed out of
s1st place into 72nd. Houston, Texas, from
10th to S5th and Los Angeles from 56th
to 36th, Portland, oregon moved up from
Goth to And and Seattle from 69th to 18th.
1t was a gruelling race in which only sew
OF the 1i cities Of over $1,000 in
habitants, were able to keep ahead of
the places In which they started. An equal
number fell behind, and eleven simply held
their own. There will be a driving finish
as the present ten-year race winds up.
There is much room for speculation as
to what the figures will show as to the
aggregate wealth of the nation. If the in
dustrial progress of the first four years of