The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-12
POPULATION AND
MOVING NEGROES
Interesting Facts From Census
Tables Regarding the White
and Negro Population.
CoLoRED FOLKS SCATTERING
The Negro Makes but Sorry
Increase in Virginia-They
Go North.
CoLoRED FOLKS SCATTERING

interesting.
Tho white race in the South is in
crcasinS and has grown in numbers
during the past decade much faster
than the negro. The last census fig
ures show that in 1910 white persons
constituted 10 per cent. of the total
population of the Southern States as
contrasted with Ga per cent. in the
year 1880. Expressed in other words,
the proportion of the negro to tho total
population OF the South has decreased
& per cent. during the past thirty
years. Tho gain in the proportion Of
the white population has been princi-
pally due to u large natural increase
among whites than among negroes.
There has also been ~undoubtcdly a
higher death rate among the latter
race In recent years, due to the ten
dcncy OF the negro to leave the more
wholesome life OF tho agricultural
districts OF the South for the congcst-
ed and un%sanitary negro districts Of
tho urban and industriat centres.
Furthermore. a considerable number
of negroes have emigrated from the
South. This significant tendency may
be quickly realized from a glance at,
the negro population OF other States.
The Scattering of the Negro PopuIa-
tton.
- % Vi u On1lCOI
States outside Of the South Is twice
as large at tho present time than It
was In 1880. In 1910 the number OF
negroes living in states other than
Southern was 1.o7s,e04: in 1850, IL was
only 526.sso. The negro has been stead
ny moving In considerable numbers to
the coal mining and Industrial locali-
ties OF the North and Middle West,
which has caused a small decline in
the numerical importance OF the race
In the South. The migratory inclina-
lions OF the negro are also well OK
hib!ted By the census returns from the
state of Oklahoma, of which the negro
population increased 157 per cent. dur
Ing tho last decade. The present ne
gro population OF the South is. in
round numbers. s.7is,oo0. as against
6.sSA.ooO in the year 1850. In order
thai the decreased rate OF increase Of
the negro population may be seen. the
census for the white population should
be considered. Upon referring TO these
figures IT Will DO seen that the white
population OF the Southern States. in
round numbers. IN 1910 was o.54s.o 900
rs contrastcd with lo,555.ooo In the
year 1850. In other words the white
population OF the South just about
doubled during this period of thirty
years. While the increase among the
negroes was only 90 per cent.
Tendencies In Representative Southern
states.
In the States OF South Carolina and
mississippi the negroes exceeded the
whites. both at tho census OF 1900 ana
1910. but the number OF negroes In cx-
cess OF native whites in 1910 was
smaller than in 1900. In the census
year. 1900. there were 2c4.4l4 more
negroes In South Carolina than whites.
but In 1910 the excess OF the negro
population had declined to 165,6Sl.
Similarly, in Mississippi the negroes
in excess OF whites in 1910 was only
22a.3e6 as against 2ss.i30 In the pre-
ccding census.
The Situation In yirSirin.
During the past ten years there has
been only "A slight increase IN the ne
gro population OF Virginia. probably,
due TO the heavy migration to the
mining localities OF the States OF IVES,
Virginia and Pennsylvania. and to the
cities OF the North. In 1910 there were
only 1854 more negroes In Virginia
than there were in 1890. owing TO
these causes Virginia may expect TO
see her negro population decrease in
the future. but the exodus will prob
, Shhyt.Ts,i .s>a"Ge r3s pa 4s' 1fG ihdustriai
development and demand for labor in
other States will probably not be SO
great as Il has been during the past
decade.
Forcisn-Borp White Negligible Factor
in South.
In considering the nature OF tho
population of tho South and its rate Of
Increase. probably the most significant
aspect of the situation is. TO all prac-
tical purposes, the absence Of the i'm
migrant in the South. The Southern
States are unique in having a purity
OF blood and a lack OF mixture OF
nca xrhi11 l.
North and West. The increase in pop
ulation in the United States. exclusive
of the Southern States. during the ten
years, 1900 to 1910, amounted in round
numbers to 100000 persons. and of
this aggregate, 5000. 900 consisted OF
immigrants chiefly representative OF
forty or nifty races from the countries
of Southern and Eastern Europe. There
Us scarcely a town of any Importance
North of the Potomac and Ohio Rivers
which has not affixed to 1t an immi-
grant colony, composed principally Of
Italians. Slavs. Magyars or Hungarians
or other races of recent arrival in the
United States. In the South an entire
~ different condition OF affairs exists.
only an exceedingly small proportion
OF recent immigration has found its
way to the Southern States.
A Few Prosperous Colonies.
There arc no immigrant colonies in
the South except a few small agricul-
turai settlements in Arkansa, Texas.
Alabama. Mississippi, North Carolina
and Virginia, and the Italian section
of New Orleans. The expansion of min
Ing operations in West Virginia, vir-
Binia and Alabama, as well as the de-
velopment of iron and steel manufac-
turing In the Birmingham district. II
is true, have attracted a number of
southern and Eastern European wage
earners. Since the Spanish-American
War a considerable number OF Cubans.
Spaniards and South Italians have also
settled in Tampa. Florida. to work in
the cigar and tobacco factories. All of
these industrial workers together,
however. do not form an aggregate OF
any consequence. and the foreign-born