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The total number of miles of railway in operation in the State is 553 miles. The above table gives the whole length of the road owned by the different corporations, some portions of which are in other States. The number of miles of road in process of construction is 136 miles; and the whole number of miles in operation and in construction located in the State of Connecticut is 644 miles.

One person has been killed for every 104,602 miles run by trains; one person has been killed for every 67,132 miles run by passenger trains; one person has been killed for every 160,124 passengers carried in the cars; one person has been killed for every 4,732,000 passengers carried one mile; and only one passenger killed out of 94,640,000 passengers carried one mile.

THE QUICK PASSAGES OF THE COLLINS STEAMERS.

The quickest passage on record is that of the Baltic, Capt. Comstock, which arrived at the port of New York, July 8, 1854, in nine days and twelve hours. The following table will show a comparison of the quickest passages made by the Collins line for the last three years :

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The Savannah Georgian says:--“ Virginia has for years borne the reproach of charging more exorbitant rates of fare on her railroads than the States either north or south of her. The traveler passing through Georgia pays not more than three cents per mile; in north and south Carolina about the same. Reaching the Old Dominion, he encounters a tariff of four or five cents. Beyond that State he again finds himself where three cents or less per mile will pay his passage. But it seems, high as has been the charge on the Virginia roads hitherto, the public are to be called upon to suffer a still further imposition in traveling through that State. From the Richmond Enquirer we learn that the fare on the Richmond and Petersburg road, hitherto five cents per mile, is hereafter to be six--just double the rate at which our Georgia roads are declaring their handsome dividends. Those of our readers who know something about railroad management, will not be surprised to learn that the road above named pays poorly. If its sapient president and directors would press the figure a little further, and carry up their charge to ten cents, it would probably pay nothing. True policy, both as regards the interests of the public and of these corporations themselves, suggest that they should rather do a large business at moderate charges, than do little at exorbitant rates."

PROGRESS OF LOCOMOTION BY STEAM.

In August, 1814, Mr. Niles, the indefatigable editor of the Weekly Register, made an elaborate calculation to show that the grand route from Buffalo, in New York, to New Orleans, a distance of 2,744 miles, might be performed in a steamboat of 500 tons, except between Michigan and the Illinois river, where there was a small obstruction, (since removed,) in thirty-two days and eight hours for the voyage down, and in forty-six days for the passage up! The route from Washington, by way of New York city, Buffalo, Chicago and St. Louis, to New Orleans, a distance of nearly 3,000 miles, can now be traversed in less than eight days! And the return trip does not require ten hours' longer time. If our venerable predecessor of 1814 could now revisit the earth, what would be his astonishment at the improvement of steam power!

STATISTICS OF POPULATION, &c.

THE CENUS LEGISLATION OF THE UNITED STATES, FROM 1790 TO 1850.

PERIOD OF CENSUS ENUMERATIONS-CENSUS TAKERS-INFORMATION COLLECTED-COMPENSATION FOR COLLECTING-MODE OF SECURING ACCURACY-RETURNS, PRINTING, DISTRIBUTION, EXPENSES, GENERAL PRINCIPLES, ETC.

TIME OF TAKING THE CENSUS AND OF MAKING RETURNS.

The census enumerations of 1790, 1800, 1810, and 1820, have reference to August; those of 1830, 1840, 1850, to June. The returns of the assistants were to be made to the marshals within nine months from the time of commencement, in the first three censuses; within six months in the fourth and fifth; within nine months in the sixth and seventh. Marshals' returns to be made in first census by 1st September, 1791; in second, by 1st September, 1801; in third, (by an amendment,) by 1st March, 1811; in fourth, by 1st April, 1821; in fifth, by 1st February, 1831; in sixth, before 1st December, 1840; in seventh, before 1st November, 1850. In the first census, the time of taking Vermont was five months from April; and the period of making South Carolina returns was extended to 1st March, 1792. Rhode Island was subsequently included in the census act. In the third census the period of taking was subsequently changed to five months, and the time of returning extended, to assistant marshals, to first Monday of June, and to marshals, of July, 1811. In the fourth census, the time of returning by marshals was extended to 1st September, 1821. In fifth census, the time of returaing of assistants was changed to 1st June, and to marshals to 1st of August, 1831. In sixth census, enumeration ordered to be closed in five months-assistants to return by 1st November, and marshals by December, 1840; time of return to certain marshals extended to 1st May and 1st June, 1841, also to 1st December and to 1st January, 1842, though persons were to be taken only who were residents on 1st June, 1840. In 1840, Montgomery county, Maryland, was, by act, taken anew. In 1850, returns were made to the Secretary of the Interior before November, 1850; but, at his discretion, everything except population of Territories may be omitted, and the Secretary may extend the time to Territories; and if no marshals are provided, the President may appoint some suitable person, &c.

BY WHOM THE CENSUS HAS BEEN TAKEN.

The duty of taking the census, in all the different enumerations, has been intrusted to the marshals of the United States, and to assistants appointed under them, to the secretaries, and in some instances to the governors of Territories, and in extraordinary cases, it has been provided that the officers of the army might be called in. Assistants were always to be assigned each to a certain civil division, or to divisions with natural boundaries, which divisions, in 1850, were not to include, when practicable, more than 20,000 persons. The first census was taken under authority of the President; the others, as far as the sixth, inclusive, under the Secretary of State; the seventh under the Secretary of the Interior, and the blanks for it were prepared by the Census Board, consisting of the Secretary of State, the Postmaster, and AttorneyGeneral, and a secretary, and organized with the privilege of asking one hundred questions.

WHO SHALL BE RETURNED.

The general principles regulating all the census enumerations before 1850 are as follows: Every person whose usual place of abode shall be in any family on the said first day of June, &c., shall be returned as of such family; and the name of every person who shall be an inhabitant of any district or Territory, without a settled place of residence, shall be inserted in the column of the schedule which is allotted to the heads of families, in the division where he or she shall be on the said first day of June; and every person occasionally absent at the time of enumeration, as belonging to the place in which he or she usually resides in the United States.

COMPENSATION ALLOWED FOR TAKING THE CENSUS.

The marshals have received, in each enumeration to the sixth, inclusive, a fixed sum, varying with the extent of the State and at each decade, from $100 to $500. For the census of 1850 they were paid $1 per 1,000 persons, if over one million per

sons in the district; if less than one million, $1 25, but to receive in no case less than $250; and when less than $500, to be allowed reasonable sums for clerk hire. The marshal might also perform and be paid for the duties of an assistant. The pay of assistants was, in 1790, $1 for every 150 persons resident of the country; $1 for every 300, in towns of over 5,000; but in loose settlements the marshals and judges were allowed to raise the compensation of assistants so as not to exceed $1 for every 50 persons. In 1800, $1 for every 100 persons in the country; but in cities of more than 3,000 persons, $1 for every 300; and extras as before for very sparse districts. In 1810 the same fees were allowed as in 1800, except that in loose districts $1 25 was paid for every 50 persons. In 1820, in counties exceeding 40 miles square, and not execuing 2,500 inhabitants, compensation might be raised so as not to exceed $3 for 50 persons, by order of the marshals and judges. In 1830, $1 25 for every 100 persons in the country; in towns, $1 25 for every 100 of the first 3,000, and $1 25 for every 300 over 3,000. In dispersed settlements, $1 75 was allowed for every 50 persons. In counties not larger than 20 miles square, and not having more than 3,000 inhabitants, additional compensation was not to exceed $4 for every 50 persons; if it exceeded 40 miles square, and not over 3,000 inhabitants, $6 for every 50 persons. In 1840, $2 for every 100 persons in the country; if in towns of over 3,000 inhabitants, that rate was allowed for the first 3,000, and $2 for every 300 afterwards; additional pay also in scattering districts not to exceed 82 50 for 50 persons, &c. In 1850, two cents for each person, and ten cents a mile for necessary travel-to be ascertained by multiplying the square root of the number of dwellings by the square root of the number of miles in the division. For taking the other statistics, besides population, the rates have been (1810) ordered to be arranged afterwards; 1820, 25 per cent on the amount to be paid for returns of population, &c.; 1840, 20 per cent on other pay—and for copies to be exhibited, &c., between 30 and 50 cents per sheet for each copy; 1850, for each farm, 10 cents; each establishment of productive industry, 15 cents; social statistics, 2 per cent on amount for population: for each name of deceased persons, 2 cents. Assistants to be paid one-half of the amount due on the marshal's certificate of work done, and the other half after it has been examined in the office, &c.

HOW THE MARSHALS RETURNED FORMERLY.

In all of the censuses except the last, the marshals were required to make up abstracts of their work, and return either these abstracts only to the department, or with a copy of the original schedules, &c.

MODE OF SECURING ACCURACY, OATH, ETC.

In all the census returns, marshals and assistants have been required to take oath to the faithful performance of their duty; and penalties have been imposed for neglect, or for making false returns. A penalty exacted for not answering the census inquiries. Returns to be filed in the district courts, and the judges required to charge the grand juries to consider of their sufficiency. Two copies to be set up in conspicuous places by the assistants, before sending the returns to marshals, under forfeit of their pay. Census of 1830-assistants return to marshals two copies by subdivisions, and with names of heads of families; marshals return one of these to secretary, and deposit the other with district court. Assistant shall make inquiry at dwellings and shops. 1850-shall read over to each family his report of it. Assistant shall send his original to clerk of county court, and two copies to the marshal; shall affix his name to each page, and give the number of pages; marshals return one copy to Secretary of Interior, and the other to Secretary of State of each State; penalty for receiving pay for appointing assistants.

GENERAL PRINCIPLES.

Those bound for a term of years have always been taken among the free; Indians not taxed always excluded. Where a county is in two marshals' districts, it shall be taken of the one wherein is its court-house. Marshals to receive back the postage paid by them. Census documents made mailable, if not otherwise so. Fault of marshal not to destroy the right of pay to assistants; 1840, names of pensioners, &c., and statistics of industry to be taken. 1850, marshals shall return their oaths to Interior Department before acting; shall examine and compare the returns of assistants with the act; shall supply blanks; shall adjudge the pay of assistants, with the approval of Secretary; may receive pay for the social statistics; may appoint other assistants, if not to interfere with the regular assistants, &c.

RETURNS, PRINTING, DISTRIBUTION, APPROPRIATIONS, ETC.

1820. Each Congressman, the President, Vice-President, the Governors of States, the Attorney-General, and Judges of the Supreme Court, all colleges and universities, to have one copy each of the printed census; five copies for each of the Departments; five for the Senate; ten for the House of Representatives; and the rest to be placed in the Congress library. Secretary to have printed 1,500 copies of the returns of manufactures of 1820, (by act passed March 30, 1822.) Secretary shall, as soon as received, print 3,000 copies of aggregates by marshals of census of 1830. The President of the United States shall have a revision made of the census of 1830, and of previous ones, by counties or parishes, and print 2,000 copies; $2,000 appropriated for the purpose. $200,000 of the appropriation for taking the census of 1830, being unnecessary, was passed to the sinking fund. Clerks of county required to return to the office of Secretary all the previous census reports from 1790 to 1820, inclusive. Census of 1820, with the revision of previous ones, ordered to be distributed: five copies to Congressmen, to the President and Vice-President; same to governors and to each legislative branch of the States; colleges and incorporated societies, one copy; five for the Departments at Washington; Senate, ten; House of Representatives twenty; the rest to be placed in Congress library. Census of 1840-Secretary required to print immediately, as returned, 10,000 copies marshals' aggregate returns. $20,000 appropriated in aid of the act for 1840. Secretary of State may revise and correct clerical errors of marshals. For this appoint superintending clerk, $1,500; one clerk at $800, and two at $650; and for others, same as paid in 1830. Extra clerks for industrial statistics not to be paid higher than upon the third census. bursing agent of Department of State allowed extra pay. Industrial statistics to be published by Secretary of State, and also of pensioners. Secretary shall print 2,000 copies of Compendium, or abridgement by counties and towns, with the apportionment of members, and bind the volumes, at not more than fifty cents each volume. Payment for printing Compendium of 1840 suspended till further act by Congress. 3,000 of the above Compendiums to be retained in library-afterwards ordered 200 only to be retained, and 50 of all previous returns. $10,000 appropriated in aid of Census Board of 1850; $12,000 appropriated for postage on returns. $150,000 and $49,000 appropriated; ditto, $1,116,000; ditto, $25,000. Other census enumerations in the future to follow the provisions of that of 1850, if no new law be passed before January of the year in which the census is to be taken. California State census to be appended.

1790...

1800.

1810.

1820.

COST OF TAKING AND PRINTING THE DIFFERENT CENSUSES SINCE 1790.

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$378,545 13 832,370 95 *1,318,027 53

WHITE AND SLAVE POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES.

PROGRESSIVE INCREASE OF WHITES IN ALL THE STATES.

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To the 30th Sept., 1853, and exclusive of the expenses incurred for final printing and binding.

STATISTICS OF AGRICULTURE, &c.

THE PRODUCTS OF AGRICULTURE IN MASSACHUSETTS.

In a former number of the Merchants' Magazine (vol. xxx., no. vi., page 640,) we gave a few statistics of agriculture in Massachusetts, derived from the "first annual report of the Secretary of the Board of Agriculture," established in 1852, under an act of the Legislature of Massachusetts. Previous to the organization of this Board there was no permanent department, or public officer, whose special duty it was to collect the facts necessary for the guidance of the Legislature, and the various societies in Massachusetts, in their efforts to advance the cause of agriculture-the chief source of American Commerce and industry. We have not the pleasure of a personal acquaintance with Mr. CHARLES L. FLINT, the Secretary of the Massachsetts Board of Agriculture,* but his report, covering one hundred and eighty-six octavo pages, affords abundant evidence of his entire capacity to fill the office with benefit to the interests of agricul tural industry, and credit to himself. The report is a model of its kind. It not only embodies the Secretary's report, but embraces the reports of committees appointed to visit the country agricultural societies of the State. The first fourteen pages are occupied with a brief history of agriculture in Massachusetts.

Passing over this history we proceed to condense from the report of Mr. FLINT and the committee, the statistics and statements falling within the design and scope of this department of the Merchants' Magazine. Following the arrangement of the report we commence with

INDIAN CORN. In 1840 there were 1,775,074 bushels of Indian Corn raised in the State. In 1850 the number had risen to 2,295,856, showing an increase of 520,782 bushels in the ten years preceding 1850, or an annual average increase of about 52,078 bushels. The number of acres devoted to this crop is not given in the report, but the number of acres of tillage land, during the same ten years, had increased from 259,030 to 300,269, at the rate of about 4,000 acres annually. The average yield in 1840 was from 20 to 25 bushels per acre; at the present time it is at least 35 bushels. Mr. FLINT estimates the yield of corn in 1853 at 2,525,000 bushels. The Secretary expresses the opinion that Massachusetts can raise corn and put into the market, (and she has a good one at home,) cheaper than it can be brought from the West.

HAY. A very important crop. Scarcely anything raised in Massachusetts is of greater importance. The average yield of mowing land in 1840 was returned at threefourths of a ton per acre. The whole number of acres in 1830 was 440,930. In 1850 the number had increased to 528,025. The yield in 1840 was 467,537 tons; in 1850 it was 483,228, showing a small increase. The average yield per acre in 1853 is put down at about one ton and one-seventh per acre.

WHEAT. This crop has been gradually decreasing in Massachusetts. In 1840 this crop in Massachusetts amounted to 101,178 bushels, while in 1850 it was reduced to 28,487 bushels; showing an average annual decrease of about 9,269 bushels. In those parts of the State where it is still raised, however, it seems to be a remunerative crop. The average yield per acre is stated at 17 5-7 bushels, while in many localities it is 20, and even 25 bushels per acre.

RYE. The amount of rye raised in the State, in 1840, was 453,705 bushels. In 1850 it was 441,208 bushels. This crop has been cultivated in Massachusetts from an early date. It was introduced in 1632-3, and at that time cultivated on a very small scale. BARLEY. The average yield of barley in the State is about 21 bushels per acre. The number of bushels returned to the valuation committee in 1840 was 149,004 bushels, in 1850 it was 117,441 bushels; a falling off in ten years of 31,563 bushels.

OATS. A smaller quantity of oats is raised in Massachusetts than formerly. In 1840

• The Secretary was appointed in January, 1853, and entered upon his duties in the following February. His first report is dated January 23, 1854.

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