Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 November 1876 — Figures Prove Facts. How Is this For Nebraska? [ARTICLE]

Figures Prove Facts. How Is this For Nebraska?

In demonstrating the fiu tof her marvellous development, Nebraska only need appeal to her population-record. At the. beginning of 1856, the Territorial census: exhibited a total of 10.716; and for the close of 1875, the state records a total of 259,912 —being an increase for the period of twenty years of 2,824.52 percent. In 1810, the population of Illinois was 12,282, and in 1880, 157,445 which was an increase in twenty years of 1,181.92 percent. These figures show the two states in thefirst period; of growth. Starting almost from an equal base, and running over twenty years, the ratio of increase in Nebraska is nearly double that in' Illinois. Take a later period in the history of Illinois—lßso to 1870, which almost corresponds in time with the Nebraska period—and the popular tionnl increment is from 851,470 to 2,539;891, or 198 per cent, against the 2,300 per cent, of Nebraska. Statists and political economists have regarded the growth of Illinois with wonder. The record of the state has been quotedf as the most edgent example of American resource and wealth. In what is Nebraska less than her elder sister? - - - ' There is a “natural selection” in migration as well as in other matters. When men move they reason and they select the fittest place. Only compulsion could drive the crowd of migrants to infertile lands—to lands where soil and . climate are not propitious. The “star spangled banner” floats over twenty-three degrees, excluding the polar region of latitude on this Con-tinent—twenty-three degrees, we have acquired from Russia. There i* room end. verge enough; and yet as pointed aut by Dr. Butler, in his “Characteristic* and prospects of Nebraska,” “the westward spreading population “has chosen Central Belt, no more “than five or six degrees in width, and “those nearly corresponding with the lati“tudinal length of the state of Illinois, “which lies between 86° 56' 42° 80'.” According to the census of 1870, the follow? iug were then the facts as regards this belt, and the country north and south thereof: llßtateTA 8~ 10States. Country Ter. fn tat. larger kin out of of Ill’a. lot of Ill’s, lat. of 111. Pop’latta. 14.019,811 13,811,889 11,887,668 Value of Prop’rty HVW.M4.9N 15,M»,7«0,967 4,140,075,845 Bushels of Wheat Iir,BTOJ)M 1<M,878,64S 55,496,986 Bushels of Cora 384,187,865 MO,SM,9U 186,188,778 People , bora out of V. S. >,144,000 MM.588 898,008