The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1845-01-22
LOOK AHEAD.

The following calculations, made up for
Hunts Merchants Magazine, have startling
and powerful interest. To think that within
a century from this time the territory OF the
Uni,ei States will contain population Of
three hundred millions, and that IN less than
6fty wears il will contain hundred millions,
is indeed interesting, and shows III n striking
light the magnitude of the responsibility Of
those who have and who shall hereafter have
the destines Of this mighty Republic in their
hsnds. The calculation do not seem 10 be
eytravasant, and are probably very near the
truh.
In 1910, the UniieI States had n popula-
tion of q ,06S, Cos. Allowing its future in
crease TO be at the rate Of thirty-three and
oae-third per cent. for each succeeding peri
OIL of ten years. we shall number, in 1910, 500,
lal GIL. Past experience warrants rs TO
expect this increase. in 1890, our number
was ], 927.s27, Supposins tito have increas-
ed each decade, in the ratio Of thirteen and
pne-thiri per cent. it would, in 1910, have
amounted to 1850, 256; bcin. more than
h,lf million less than our actual number. as
shown by the census. With 300, 100000, we
should have less than one hundred and fifty to
the square mile for our whole territory, and
but two hundred and twenty to the square mile
for orr organized states AMI te. ritories. Eng
land has three hundred TO the square mile.
ltdo5e not, then, sce.l probahic that our prog
res-iYe increase will be materially checked
within the one hundred years unnicr consider
alton. At the end oftliat period Canada will
probably number at least 20,000.00O. IL we
suppose the portion Of our country east and
west Of the Appalachian chain of mountains.
known as the Atlantic Slope, TO possess at
Tint time 40,0O0,000, or near five times its
present number, there will he left 26n, 900. 900,
for the great central region between the Gulf
Of Mexico and Canada, and for the country
west of the Rocky mountains. Allowing the
Oregon Territory 10000, 300, there will be
left $50, 000,0O0, for that portion of the Amer
ic States lying in the basins of the Mobile,
Mississippi and st. Lawrence. Ii TO these VIC
a Id 10000, 600 for Canada, we have 1900,
0)0 as the probable number that wi inherit
the North American valley at the end Of the
one hundred years. commencing in 1910.
Ii We suppose one-third, or 90, 100000 of this
nrlber to reside IN the country as culiivators
AMI artisans there will be 10000, 900 left for
the towns, enough 10 people three hundred
md sixty. each containing hall million.
This dose not seem As incredible as that the
valley ofthe Nile, scarcely twelve miles broad,
should have once, rs historians tell us contain
ed twenty thousand cities.
But, lest one hundred years seem too long
10 he relied on, in a calculation having so many
elements, let us see how matters will stand
fifty years from 1Si0, or forty-seven years
from this time The ratio of increase we
have adopted cannot be objected to as cxtrav-
agant for this period. In 1850, according to
fhlt ratio, our number will be 1000, 900.
OF :hcse % ,000,000 will be fair allowance
for the Atlantic slope. OF the remaining go
100000, 100000 may reside west Of the
Rocky mountains, leaving 4s.000,00O for the
great valley within the Si#,es. Ifto these We
hdi 5.0U0.0O0 as the population OF Canada,
we have an aggregate Of 100000 for the
Nurlh American valley. One-thirl, or saw
1,,0)0,00O, being set down as farming labor |
CT, and rural artisans, there will remain 35,- |
oO,000 for the towns, which might be seventy
in numhef, having, each half Il million Of souls.
II CAN scarcely be doubted that, within the |
f'rty-seren years, our agriculture will he so |
improved, as TO require less than one third tC |
furnish food and raw materials Tor the whole !
population. Good judges have said that we |
are not now more than twenty or thirty years
behind England in our hasbandrv. 1t is Ger
tain that we arc rapidly adopting hcrimprove-
men:s in this branch of industry; and il isnot
80 be doubted, that very many new improve
!T-nts will he brought out, both in Europe
sad AMERICA, which will tend to lessen the |
The labor nsHe.aary in the production of food
AMI raw materials,