Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 December 1900 — FACTS ABOUT THE CENSUS. [ARTICLE]

FACTS ABOUT THE CENSUS .

The man who studies the population table issued by the director of the twelfth census, by which it appears that the inhabitants of the United States number 76,295,220, will find much to interest him. He will discover that New Y’ork is still the peerless Empire State and that there is not the remotest possibility of any other robbing her of first place. Her gain it) population for the decade exceeds that of any other commonwealth, and she stands further in advance of her closest rival to-day than ten years ago. Since 1890 New York has added 1,270,156 to the number of her inhabitants, giving a total of 7,268,009 as against 5,997,553 in 1890. Her motto is still “Excelsior” and the spiriffif enterprise and activity which decades ago placed her at the top of the list of States is still ‘alive and will keep her there.

Pennsylvania remains second in the sisterhood of commonwealths and none of her companions in the republic has made sufficient advance in the decade to endanger the Keystone State’s position or to make it appear probable that she w ill l*e obliged to give it up for years to come. The great coal mining commonwealth has gained 1,043,351 and her population now is 6,301,365.

Illinois, boastful, vainglorious Sucker State, is a poor third. Ever since the World’s Fair time, when her head was swelled by compliments from all the nations of the earth because of that magnificent exhibition, she has been loudly proclaiming herself ns the most progressive of all States and foretelling the day when she would pass New York, ller officials and newspapers have made extravagant claims about the population. At the beginuing of this year Gov. Tanner estimated it at 5,810,000. No wonder therefore that Illinois is humiliated and disappointed by the census returns, which give her 4,821,550. Her gain during the decade is 905,199, nearly 300,000 less than that of the Empire State, which lias kept on the even tenor of her way—hustling, bustling, without the blare of trumpets and self-praise. Illinois ought to learn the lesson of modesty in this her season of humiliation.

Ohio, with 4,157,454 inhabitants, still stands fourth, and Missouri, with 3,107,117. is fifth, but neither of these States has shown ony such gains as Texas, which, adding 8111,1103 to the number of her inhabitants, lias passed Massachusetts and lifds fair to outstrip Missouri in the next decade nnd Ohio lit still another ten years. The Bay State, increasing 000.403, is seventh. Indiana, Michigan and lowa retain their former positions, eighth, ninth and tenth, respectively. while Georgia has token Kentucky's place in the eleventh niche, nnd the latter now stands twelfth. Some of the other interesting revelations are (lie Inconsiderable growth of Kansas nnd Nebraska. Western States of large area, which hnve added but a few thousands to tlicir population in the deende. Nevada, most insignificant of Htntcs, has decreased front 45,701 to 42,334, and the fact that this handful of people are permitted to enjoy the privileges of Statehood, while Oklahoma, Arizona ond New Mexico are obliged to be content with territorial rights, is one of the injustices of American politics. Sparrows hatch three times a year.