PAST, PRESENT, AND PROSPECTIVE POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES. We have published in former volumes of the Merchants' Magazine similar statements of the progress of population in the United States. The following was recently communicated to the National Intelligencer by WILLIAM DARBY, a venerable statistician. "The two tabular views which follow," says Mr. Darby, "will show that data are not wanting which enable us to demonstrate the certainty of cause and effect. With these remarks the two inclosed tables are submitted to your disposal. I find, let me observe, that one thing has prevailed through every decennial period of our history."

TABLE I.-POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES, AS RECORDED IN THE TABULAR VIEW OF THE SEVEN ENUMERATIONS MADE BY THE DECENNIAL CENSUS, 1780 TO 1850, INCLUSIVE. 1790. 1800. 3,929,872 5,805,952

1810. 7,289,841

1820. 9,638,131

1830. 12,866,920

1840. 17,063,353

1850. 23,144,126

TABLE II.-PROSPECTIVE VIEW OF THE POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES FROM 1860 TO 1950, INCLUSIVE, ON THE RATIO OF ONE-AND A THIRD DECENNIALLY, AS FOUND BY TABLE I,

POPULATION AND COMMERCE OF AUSTRALIA.

British Parliamentary papers, recently published, furnish statements of the population trade, &c., of the Australian Colonies, to the beginning of 1851. At that date the respective position of each Province was as follows:

The population of Van Dieman's Land is not given for a later period than 1847, when it was 70,164, including 24,188 convicts.

The total value of wool exported in 1850 from New South Wales and

Victoria was...

From South Australia...

£1,614,241

From Western Australia..

15,482

131,730

From Van Dieman's Land.

451,203

From South Australia the export of minerals was..

362,568

MORTALITY OF COMMERCIAL CITIES.

RATIO OF DEATHS TO POPULATION IN NEW YORK, BALTIMORE, BOSTON, AND CHARLESTON.

The following comparative table of mortality of the cities of New York, Baltimore, Boston, and Charleston, for the year 1851, has been prepared by Dr. J. GILMAN, of the Baltimore Board of Health:

The following table shows the sex, condition, and age of the above:

By the above table it appears that the ratio of deaths to the population is as fol

The population of the globe is supposed to be under a thousand millions, or, according to M. Hassel, 937,856,000. If, then, says a French writer, all mankind were collected in one place, every four individuals occupying a square metre, the whole might be contained in a field ten miles square. Thus, generally speaking, the population of a country might be packed, without much squeezing, in its capital. But the mean idea this gives us of the number of the human race, is counterbalanced by its capabil ity of extension. The new world is said to contain of productive land 4,000,000 square miles of middling quality, each capable of supporting two hundred inhabitants; and 6,000,000 of a better quality, capable of supporting five hundred persons. According to this calculation, the population of the new world, as peace and civilization advance, may attain to the extent of 4,000,000,000. If we suppose the surface of the old world to be double that of America, (and notwithstanding the comparative pover ty of the land, this calculation may be accepted, if we say nothing of Australia and the various archipelagoes,) it would support 8,000,000,000; and thus the aggregate population of the entire globe might amount to 12,000,000,000, or twelve times the present number.

* Not reported.

JOURNAL OF MINING AND MANUFACTURES.

MANUFACTURING TOWNS OF THE UNITED STATES.

NUMBER I.

CLINTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

LOCATION AND POPULATION

OF

OF

CLINTON GINGHAM MANUFACTORY-MANUFACTURE BRUSSELS CARPETS-E. B. BIGELOW, THE INVENTOR-NOTICES OF HIS STEAM-LOOM AND CARPETING IN ENGLAND-LANCASTER QUILT COMPANY-CARPET BAGS-WOOLEN, FORK, AND COMB FACTORIES-IRON FOUNDRY-BOARDING-HOUSES OF THE OPERATIVES -WAGES-CHURCHES, ETC.

We recently passed a day at this village in visiting the several manufacturing establishments, and with the aid of EDWIN BYNNER, Esq., the editor of the Clinton Saturday Courant, Mr. A. S. Carleton, and the brothers Bigelow, we are able to lay before the readers of the Merchants' Magazine a comprehensive and tolerably accurate sketch of this interesting manufacturing village.

Clinton, geographically speaking, is a small town in the County of Worcester, Mass., contains less than 5,000 acres, including highways and all surfaces covered with water, and was set off from Lancaster in 1849. It is bounded on the north and west by Lancaster and Sterling; south by Boylston; east by Bolton and Berlin; all of which towns were originally integral portions of old Lancaster, or, as it was termed, the Nashaway Plantation, which dates back as far as 1643, being the oldest and one of the most beautiful towns in the county, and was ceded to the whites by Sholan, Sachem of the Nashaway tribe of Indians. It is conveniently situated about thirty-five miles west from Boston, and thirteen miles north from Worcester, having direct railroad communication with both cities, and contains about 2,800 inhabitants.

The town is chiefly celebrated for its manufactures-which are extensive and unique in their character-for the rapidity of its growth, the excellence and extent of its system of common schools, and the public spirit of its inhabitants. Clinton is "virtually the creation of a single mind,” that of ERASTUS B. BIGELOW, Esq., the celebrated inventor and adapter of machinery for numerous woven fabrics; whose genius may be said to have been cradled in its lap. We shall have occasion to speak of the character and genius of Mr. Bigelow in a future number of the Merchants' Magazine.

The most important manufactures produced in Clinton are the fabrics known throughout the States, and elsewhere, as Lancaster ginghams, Brussels carpets, coach lace, figured counterpanes, tweeds, yarns, fancy cassimeres, carpet bags, combs, and machinery. First in importance, and deservedly rated as the most perfect establishment in the United States, is the Gingham," or "Lancaster Mills." This immeuse establishment, entirely built of brick, was erected in 1843, on the banks of the Nashua, in the easterly portion of the town, and contains 21,000 spindles, and 600 looms, with necessary machinery for carding, spinning, &c. The driving power consists of three breast wheels, 26 feet in diameter, with 14 feet buckets-on one line of shafting, with which is connected a steam-engine of some 200 horse-power, to insure a sufficient power in dry seasons, giving an entire propelling force of 600 horse-power; the whole of which, however, is seldom or ever required. The large dye-house connected with this establishment, is supposed to be the most perfect of the kind in the world One great and desirable result from the erection of this mill is the reduction effected in the price of its fabric; as, while ginghams of the quality here made, were formerly as high as from 16 to 18 cents per yard; the average price of those of this company is about 101, wholesale.

The capital invested amounts to $900,000. The number of hands employed averages about 800; of which two-thirds are females, whose wages, exclusive of board, range from $2 to $4 per week. The entire range of buildings is heated by steam, in the production of which 1,500 tons of anthracite coal are annually consumed.

The whole surface covered with the buildings of this establishment exceeds 4 acres; one room alone, in which the weaving is done, covering nearly two, or to be more exact, 1 acres. About 70 large tenements of a handsome and uniform appearance, are occupied by the operatives. The daily product of the mill exceeds 13,000 yards, or between 4,000,000 and 5,000,000 annually. Its entire arrangement is of the most perfect description, and in its vast completeness, it stands as a splendid monument to the genius and masterly power of the mind of its projector. The Clinton Company, with a capital of $400,000, ranks second among the incorporated establishments. Like all the larger manufactories of the town, this also was designed and completed by the Messrs. Bigelow. Here is woven coach lace of the most beautiful patterns; tweeds, cassimeres, and pantaloon stuffs of an excellent fabric, and constantly in demand. About 200 hands are usually employed, turning out 1,200,000 yards of coach lace and 800,000 yards of the other description of goods, annually. This company has also a machine shop, in which the greater portion of the machinery working in Clinton has been manufactured. This mill was commenced in the spring of 1838.

The "Bigelow Carpet Company" was commenced in the fall of 1849. Though the youngest of the establishments which give to Clinton her growing importance, it is perhaps the most interesting, and destined to be one of the largest of the number. Though now but in its infancy, 500 yards of Brussels carpet, of a quality heretofore unequalled, of the most varied and beautiful patterns and colors, are daily produced from 28 looms; consuming 700 pounds of worsted, and about 400 pounds of linen yarn in the same length of time. This building is also of brick, two stories and attic, 200 feet long by 42 wide. The machinery is propelled by a steam-engine of thirty horse-power, and the consumption of coal is equal to 400 tons, annually. One hundred hands are employed-about half of which number are females. The dying, weaving, and finishing are the only branches now performed in the present building; the spinning, &c., being done elsewhere.

During the time it has been in operation, the works have been constantly employed so great has been the demand for the new fabric, which heretofore has been woven solely by hand, by which means five yards was the maximum of the product of a day's labor. By the beautiful loom of Mr. Bigelow, from 20 to 25 yards are easily obtained by the attendance of one girl. The beautiful process by which the wires are taken from, and uniformly replaced in the warp, in the manufacture of this fabric, is the theme of universal admiration; the machine working as though gifted with almost human intelligence. Like all the products of Mr. Bigelow's wonderful inventive power, the machinery of this establishment is of the most perfect description; and to those who delight in the marvelous triumphs of science, no greater treat can be afforded than to witness its operation.*

It is eminently worthy of note in this place, that five of the leading carpet manufacturers in England have taken licenses to run looms for the manufacture of carpets under the patents of E. B. BIGELOW, Esq., and are now erecting extensive works.

The steam loom invented by Mr. Bigelow, for the manufacture of Brussels carpeting, is thus noticed in the Worcester (England) Herald, (March, 1852:-) "Several manufacturers and foremen from carpet establishments in Kidderminister

*The Carpet Factory is not an incorporated company, but is owned by E. B. & F. Bigelow, and H. P. Fairbanks.

have visited the premises of Messrs. Crossley, at Halifax, and inspected Bigelow's steam loom. The universal report is that the loom complies with the two main conditions of success-cheapness in the working and excellence in the work. It makes two yards of good Brussels in the hour, and thus equals the united exertions of four men. What effect this loom will have upon the town and trade of Kidderminster has become an important problem The loom makes two yards per hour. Suppose the attendant receives 3d. per hour, and the cost of engine power, and extra power, and interest of extra capital above the cost of four hand looms (which would make the same quantity of carpet) be 3d. more, the carpets which would cost 10d. per yard for weaving in the hand loom will cost 3d. only. Add to this another 1d. per yard for better quality of material, which the weavers insist is necessary in the steam loom, the utmost expense to be set against the hand loom 104d. is 4d. If the weavers on the average earn 20s, per week at present when receiving 104d., it is plain they cannot earn more than 7s. 6d. at 4d.; therefore it is impossible for them to compete with the steam loom. But there are circumstances which will save them from utter and immediate ruin as a class. First, the patentee will require a royalty of 4d. per yard. If they manufacture Brussels themselves they will be able of course to undersell those who have to pay a royalty, but it would not be their policy to do so; therefore the cost of weaving steam Brussels may be fairly reckoned at 8d. per yard for the unexpired portion of the fourteen years' patent. Secondly, the steam loom under its present arrangement of parts requires a higher room than those in the present factories, and there must be a great outlay in this respect before power looms can be introduced at all. Then the manufacturers have no market in which to sell their hand looms, and, generally speaking, no loose capital, and therefore they cannot buy the expensive steam looms, engine, and necessary apparatus. Many of them will be consequently driven to compete with the power looms, by means of reduced profits and reduced expenditure in the shape of wages; and there can be no doubt that until the monopoly created by the patent expires there will be an existence for the hand looms. After that time it must be given up. Of course the progress of invention may introduce a loom which will be as efficient as Bigelow's, much more compact, and much less costly. In that case an earlier destruction of the hand loom will occur. there is another contingency to be thought of. Should the continent be disturbed by war, and a general and long-continued stagnation of trade arrive, the hand-loom weavers will be driven by hunger and despair to accept such terms as will only find them the barest existence, and then their work may drive the steam Brussels, burdened with the royalty, out of the market. We hope, however, that no such dismal alternatives may occur, but that the trade may revive to such an extent as to create a demand that neither steam nor hand loom may be able to supply. The poor weavers are already in a pitiable case, and the heart must be hard indeed that does not feel sorrow at their present sufferings and melancholy prospects."

But

The London Morning Chronicle of October 15th, 1851, in noticing "carpets, floorcloth, &c.," (class xix.,) says:

"At the eleventh hour, power-loom manufactured Brussels was deposited in the American division-the merit of the invention and application of this important discovery being due to Mr. Bigelow, of the United States. Evidence of the successful application of a much-wished-for invention is all that could be desired."

From the same journal of later date, we extract the following notice of the carpet weaving of Mr. E. B. Bigelow:

"The American department has again received an important accession of strength in the shape of some specimens of Brussels carpet, woven upon power-looms. Although various attempts have been made to adapt the power-loom to carpet weaving in this country, there is not, we believe, at this moment, any machinery perfected for that object. Our American brethren have, therefore, gained another step ahead of us, and have won another laurel on this well-contested field of the industrial arts. The looms upon which these carpets were woven have been for some time in use; and upwards of 800-the majority of which are at work in the manufactory of Mr. Bigelow, the inventor-are employed in the States. Each loom requires only the attendance of one girl, while, in the ordinary mode of carpet-weaving by hand, a weaver is required, and a boy or girl to 'draw. In addition to this saving of labor, the power-loom is stated to be capable of producing four times the quantity in the same space of time 41

VOL. XXVII-NO. V.