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of Somerset it was only -2. This want of progi-ession has not on 

 previous censusses been exhibited in our county. In the first 60 

 years of this century the people of Somersetshire increased 63 per 

 cent., and in one decennium no less than 17 per cent. 



The acreage is large; 1,047,000 acres will at the usual rate 

 sustain 140,000 persons of the famiUes of farm labourers only. 

 Moreover there are scattered manufactures of leather and textile 

 fabrics supporting about 20,000 people, and their supplementary 

 tradesmen. The seven considerable towns, Bath, Bedminster, 

 Taunton, Bridgwater, Frome, Yeovil, and Westou-sur-mer contain 

 nearly 130,000 persons, and the coalfield may support about 

 20,000 more. The valuation is, through the fertility of the land, 

 extraordinarily high, not less than three millions and a quarter a 

 year,* which is twice the value of Wilts, half as much again as 

 Gloucestershire, and considerably more than Devon. Again the 

 profits of nicome tax payers are far larger than are usual elsewhere. 

 Our county (which has few or none of large landowners), pays 

 income tax on 8 millions, Devon on 6, Wilts on 3, Gloucester on 

 4, and Dorset on 2. 



Wealth seems to accumulate, but men seem to decay in all 

 sorts of places, alike in Bath, in the small manufacturing towns, 

 in the open country, and in the coal districts. It is obvious that 

 those who leave this county are the men who have not shared in 

 the increase of wealth. The £300,000 a year raised in poor ratest 

 is only a fleabite, but that there should be 30,000 persons anxious 

 to receive public alms is a very formidable fact, 



I will endeavour to show in what parts the decline was found. 

 First, in Bath there was a decrease of 2000. In Frome of 700 ; 

 Ilminster, 50 ; Wiveliscombe, 130 ; Milverton, 250 ; Wellington, 

 400 ; Canningtou, 130 ; Crewkeme, 290 ; The Cokers, 200 ; South 

 Petherton, 180; Wincanton, 40 ; Mells, 200; Beckington, 140 ; 

 Wedmore, 250. Banwell, Cheddar, Winscombe, Axbridge, Wring- 

 ton, Chew Magna, Paulton, Timsbuiy, Camerton, Clutton, Bath- 

 easton, Keynsham, Nailsea, and Yatton, villages of all sorts, in all 

 localities have begun to show a loss of people almost all over the 

 county. On the other hand there was growth along the coast : 

 * Poor-Kate Valuation, £2,610,000. f Of which two thirds go to the poor. 



