Growth of a Nation

With most citizens counted, census figures last week began to outline the decade's major population shifts and growth of the U. S. Trends could be detected which would eventually be reflected politically in the reapportionment of the House of Representatives. Cities grew larger at the expense of small towns and country districts. Villages in the wheat belt lost 25% of their inhabitants. Great migrations have occurred to the Pacific coast and to Southern cities. New England barely moved.

But never before in U. S. history has a state equalled California's gain between Census counts. Census estimators figured that California has added two million people to its 3,426,861 of 1920. Three factors explain the gain: 1) industrial development including the cinema; 2) Asiatic trade; 3) good climate for sick or elderly citizens to enjoy years of leisure.* Sample of California's growth: Beverly Hills, picturesquely perched above Los Angeles, from 674 in 1920 to 17,428 in 1930, a gain of 2,485%. Some Beverly Hillers: Funnyman Will Rogers, Cinemactors Fairbanks, Barrymore, Gilbert, Mix, Lloyd, Cinemactresses Pickford, Davies. Cinemakers Laemmle, Mayer, Lasky, De Mille.

Other census facts:

P: Record gain: Smackover, Ark., from less than 100 in 1920 to 2,544 in 1930./- Cause: oil.

P: West Branch, Iowa. Birthplace "of President Hoover, dropped from 688 to 651. A Democrat's comment: "Probably all 37 went to Washington to work for the Government."

P: First formal protest against the accuracy of the census count was filed by Mayor James E. Dunne who was sure Providence, R. I., had more than 250,288 residents.

P: Philadelphia, with 1,823,779 in 1920 made an estimated gain of only 30,000, grieved that it failed to get into the two million class.

P: Also disappointed was Cleveland which, despite boasts, failed to pass the million mark. With a population of only about 850,000, it will drop from "fifth biggest" city to eighth or tenth.

P: Big-city growths: Springfield, Mass., 15%-, Baltimore, 7%, Buffalo, 12%, Milwaukee. 24%, San Francisco, 22%, Houston, Tex., 110%, Dallas, 63%, Memphis, 55%, Knoxville, 34%.

P: New England's textile centres lost ground.

* But many a citizen who goes to California to loaf soon finds himself vigorously engaged in some new occupation.

/- Rain-flooded creeks rose menacingly around Smackover last week, did a million dollars dam age to surrounding oil fields. Its city hall be came relief headquarters. Measles developed in its refugee camp. A woman bore a child while floating downstream on a raft. The Red river raged with high water. An Arkansas tornado snorted through Elaine, left 17 dead behind.

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