The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-08-17
STAR OF EMPIRE" IS
MOVING WESTWARD
Center of Population of Coun-
try is in Illinois
RAPID GROWTH SHOWN
Increase of People in Texas and Okla
homa is Believed to BE Main Cause
of Westward Drift of Center
of Population.

Chicago, August 16-tSpecial. 1.-The CEN
ter of population of the United States
has moved westward from Ohio, cleared
Indiana with a jump and landed In 1lli-
nols, unless the census bureau experts
are mistaken. Between 1890 and 1900 the
population center, then down in Ohio,
changed less than during the 100 years
preceding. The change landed it at a
point in Ohio in a hickory grove six
miles southeast of Columbus, Ind To
reach Illinois it will have to move some
70 miles, but 1t exceeded that distance in
the decade between 1850 and 1860, when 1t
left the vicinity of Parkersburg. w. Va,
to roost 20 miles south of Chillicothe,
Ohio. The star of empire" has marched
almost due westward since 1t got its start
in 1890, east of Baltimore about 20 miles.
By 1910 1t was 40 miles northwest of
Washington, D. C. By 1920 1t was near
Woodstock, Va, and then the migratons
to western states began to move the CEN
ter westward into West Virginia at a live
ly clip. In 1880 the theoretical or rather
mathematical center was In southern
Ohio, only eight miles southwest of Gin
cinnati. Just where the next census and
those 10, 20 and 30 years In the future
will locate that population center is a
matter of keen interest to southern and
western states. Remarkable growth of
population in the southwest and west Is
shown by the present census. During the
last two weeks figures for Texas have
cI,A hut
counties that ten years ago were sparsely
settled now have from 1900 to 5000 pop
ulaton each. The remarkable increase in
the population In Oklahoma must also be
taken into consideration In speculation
as to where the center of population is
likely to light" But there have been
large increases in population in the east,
particularly in the larger cities.
Failure to complete the Chicago drain
age canal to ship canal depth and to keep
the channel clear of sediment has become
a menace both to the cty's health and
lake traffic, according to the latest ar
raignment of the board of sanitary trus-
tees. According to Henry H. walker OF
the Chicago River Improvement asso-
citation, soundings show the main drain
age canal is only two feet deep IN GER
tain spots 20 feet from the shore line,
and that one cross section has an aver
age depth of only nine feet THE drain
age canal has cost nearly s5o,oOO,oOO to-
day. and must cost $15,000,000 more to
complete" his report states. why not
complete the canal and give the people
the full value of their investments Dur
ing the past four and one-half years Chi
cago's great drainage project mas peen
brought to a standstill, at enormous
financial loss to enable the trustees
to fulfill ante-election pledges to vo-
tiers of outlying districts. r. r. Nc
Cormick is the head of the present trus-
tees. city officials and selfish and mer-
cenary business interests are persuading
him and his associates, Willingly or I'M
Willingly, to ignore the law. Yet officials
of the city of Chicago, instead OF joining
with the United states government In the
protection of the people, have indorsed
the drainag aboard in all of Its fatuous
schemes. Last August, when Easements
were filled with sewage and three lives
IL,
as follows This has been going on for
ten years, and see nothing ahead for the
next ten years to alter conditions Due
sanitation through the present drainage
canal means also ample navigation Tor
the Chicago river without extra cost. IN
such due sanitation, therefore, may be
found the solution not only of protection
for life and property, but also of restora-
t,on of Chicago's lost commerce. Mean
while Milwaukee is busying itself provid.
ine harbor which will leave Chicago TAI
q, the rear in the matter of lake ship.
ping.
The increase of eastern trusts In
western institutions as under the VIII
of the late Chief Justice Fuller of the
sunrer6e court which named Chicago
trust company is looked upon as sig
nificant of the future of western nm
ancial institutions. The Will OF Chief
Justice Fuller named a Chicago law
yer and the Merchants Loan and trust
company as co-trustees. The estate Is
valued at approximately $1,0o0,0oo. 1t
is interesting to note that much the
same disposition was made OF the prop
erty by other distinguished jurists as
was done by Marshall Field, who also
chose the same trust company, one
organized in the early days of the city
and run on the same conservative lines
from the first. The growing favor OF
trust companies has been the subject
of much comment because of the action
Of Justice Fuller in naming his coun-
selor and a trust company to act
Jointly. Commenting on this the
Economist said: "A trust eompany's
highest function is to discharge Its
duties faithfully and safely as trustee
whether under the terms of Will or
under corporate trusts. Success in this
direction has been attended by great
ly increased volume Of flduciary bus
mess. But most important is the pres
ervation that high standard OF
management which has made the trust
companies of the United States an ex-
ample for all the civilized nations OF
the world"
Nine million dollars spent In Chi
cago by 100000 visitors during the
spectacular thirty first grand encamp
ment of the knights Templars and by
10000 knights, that Is the money re-
turn for the entertaining and hospi-
tally of the city and virtual gener-
al abandonment of business during the
day of the great parade. At least that
is the estimated sum expended, the
figures used seeming conservative. In
the matter of living expenses and es-