'Graphic and Tabular Representation of the Progress of Population in the United States from 1750 to 1990 [American Population Projection] Large lithograph graph table

38 x 66 cm; 'L. M. Zuncker, del.'), slightly yellowed, burnhole (buller?) through part of title (two letters affected),'Bvt. Major General Quarter Master General, U.S.A. (retired)'), dated 'Washington, D.C. August-September, 1889', giving a 'Graphic and Tabular Representation of the Progress of Population in the United States from 1750 to 1990'. With facsimile of Meigs's signature. The graph sweeps up in a curve to a steep rise in the latter decades, with a partial parallel estimate of the population 'had there been no war from 1861-65'. A column gives the 'Population of the United States' for each decade from 1750 to 1990, with the percentage increase for each decade. Beside this is another column giving the population for the country's inhabitants of 'African Descent' from 1790 to 1990, with percentage increase. Beneath the columns Meigs gives his sources as 'Bancroft' and the U.S. Census, and provides a projection of population density in 1990 for various countries and continents (including U.S., 399 to sq. Mile; England, 389; China, 420). He also predicts the number of 'new families [...] to be provided with new homesteads' from 1930 to 1940, and points out that this will require greater activity on the part of 'building trades, and [...] other lines of business'. A significant document in the study of American demographics, by an influential and well-connected individual, but Meigs's projections have proved wide of the mark. Between 1900 and 1990 he predicted an increase at a rate of 33.46% each decade, resulting in an American population of 1,206,400,000 in 1990, of which 85,957,000 were of African descent.Note: WorldCat records only one other copy of this important study (NY Historical Society)..