It remains to be noticed that the Corporation is the largest landowner in the Borough, owning more than 2,000 acres of land (including its share of the sewage farm) and is the largest employer of labour, employing upwards of 4,000 persons. Also that in July, 1884, Birmingham was made an assize town; whereupon the Town Council took into immediate consideration the necessity of building Courts for Assizes, Quarter Sessions and Petty Sessions, and in July, 1886, approved of plans for the purpose. The “New Law Courts” as they are termed, will be erected in Corporation Street.
Population.—In the year 1839 the population of the Borough was estimated at 180,000. The following is the result of each subsequent census, namely:—
| YEAR. | HOUSES. | POPULATION. | INCREASE PER CENT. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1841 | 40,000 | 182,894 | 28·57 |
| 1851 | 48,894 | 232,841 | 27·30 |
| 1861 | 59,200 | 296,076 | 27·11 |
| 1871 | 74,416 | 343,787 | 16·10 |
| 1881 | 78,301 | 408,004 | 18·67 |
The population in 1886 is estimated to be about 427,000.
A still more striking example of the progress of the town is afforded by the following statement kindly prepared by Mr. S. Walliker, the energetic and courteous Postmaster of the town.
Statement Shewing the Growth of the Birmingham Post Office During the Past 20 Years.
| Total number of Letters, &c., delivered during the year. | Proportion of Letters, &c., to population, or number of letters to each individual. | No. of Telegraph Offices. | No. of Money-Order Offices. | No. of Boxes for Letters. | No. of Officers employed. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1866 | 13,023,200 | 39·46 | 9 | 9 | 60 | 162 |
| 1885-6 | 30,983,625 | 72·05 | 33 | 78 | 233 | 868 |
In 1871 (the year after the Telegraphs were transferred to the Post Office), the number of Telegraph Messages dealt with was 1,081,825, and in 1885-6, 3,111,662. The number of Parcels dealt with in 1885-6 was 2,492,689.