PREFACE. 



THE most important event of 1890, as affecting the contents of this volume, 

 was the United States census, which was taken in June, and is going rapidly 

 through the usual processes of computation and tabulation. Many of the most 

 significant results have been reached already, and a brief summary of them will 

 be found in the article " United States Census," together with tables convenient 

 for quick reference and a colored chart. In each State article the population of 

 that State by counties is given, with the population in 1880 and the increase or 

 decrease. In. the Census article the tables showing the size and condition of 

 cities are instructive ; and in this connection the reader will also be interested in 

 the article " Cities, American, Recent Growth of," which we have continued 

 through four volumes of the "Annual Cyclopaedia." The present article treats 

 of eighty-four cities in the United States and Canada. For still further informa- 

 tion as to the growth of our country, the reader should consult the articles 

 " Commerce of the United States," " Financial Review of 1890," and " United 

 States Finances," those on the discoveries of Tin and Salt, and those on the new 

 States, Idaho and Wyoming, each of which is accompanied by a colored map 

 prepared expressly for this work. There is also a large colored map of Ontario, 

 the most important province of the Dominion of Canada. 



As a proper accompaniment to our many scientific articles, we present this 

 year a history and description of the National Academy of Sciences, with notices 

 of all the members and a portrait of each one that has held the office of president. 

 The article on "Associations for the Advancement of Science " is full as usual, with 

 portraits of the British and American presidents. Other records of scientific 

 progress may be found in the articles on " Astronomy," " Chemistry," " Metal- 

 lurgy," " Meteorology," " Physics," and " Physiology " all prepared by experts, 

 and making an almost complete story of the year's attainments while the arti- 

 cles " Koch, Robert," and " Tuberculous Diseases " tell all that is known of the 

 scientific achievement that excited the deepest popular interest the world over. 



The present condition of Newfoundland, now the center of so much interest, 

 is fully set forth by one of her eminent citizens, with a full-page map, engraved 

 expressly to accompany the article. We also present a view of the island of 

 Heligoland, which has just passed from British to German possession. Other 

 geographical topics are presented in the usual full article on " Geographical 

 Progress." 



Events in music and the fine arts are recorded under those titles, and the 

 three articles on American, British, and Continental literature show what has 



