Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-09-21
rom the Philadslpnia Press.

rom the Phiadslpnia Press.
Increase OF Populasuon In tho United
states.
1t is evident, from the partial returns
already made by those who have been
taking the census returns OF 1850, that
the extraordinary ratio of increase OF
population which has prevailed in for
mer years has been fully maintained
throughout the country during the las,
decade. This is an annual addition to
the population Of three per cent, and il
is singular fact that since 1890 this
ratio has been adhered to with wonder.
ful certainty and fidelity. Beginning
with population OF 1927 in 1890
and adding three per cent annually, the
estimated result under that rule and the
official census returns did not in any
year show a variation Of zoe, 900, and IN
1850 the discrepancy was only 53,872
and the actual population 23,l9l,87
the estimated population being 23,l38.
OO4. The estimated population of 1850
according to this rule, Is 3O,986, IS l, and
there is little reason to doubt the close
approximation OF that estimate to thu
actual population Of the country.
In the beginning Of the present cen
fury political economists we're much i'm
pressed with the rapid ADVANCE in popu'
lation which had previously been mad.
10 our country, because it had doubled
its population every twenty-five years
q rate Of progression not quite equal t.
an annual increase Of three per cent, to
which we have referred above.
This increase. which far exceeds that
Of any other country, is not owing
solely to the large foreign emigration Il
America. This IS but one cause. 1t il
fixed law Of population that ,texpands
with much more rapidity in nations
where land is cheap, the soil productive
rcmunera i've labor abundant, and where
the means of comfortable livelihood
are freely offered to all who earnestly
seek for them, than in countries where
want and distress frequently prevail, and
where it is the unfortunate fate OF the
masses to lead lives of hopeless indi
gence and misery.
No peop 9 are more prolific than t. G
inhabitants Of the compar ativelv new
agricultural districts Of the United
States, where early marriages are con.
trscted, where a wife almost invaria bly
proves a.heIpmate rather than pecuniary
burden, where fas ms are cheap, and
honest industry certain to reap q ricl
reward for its labors.
While our population has increased
80 wonderfully since 1890, the territorial
expansion since that period has almost
kept pace with it. The density If pop
ulat'on per square mile, in 1890, was
4.79, and in 1850, although the popula
ton meanw.ile was increased in the
proportion Of six to one, the density was
100 The most tbickly populated State
in the Union in 1850, was Massachu
sets, which contained 1880 to each
square mile. It would require popu
ation of about 36s,OOO,OOO IN the
present States aud Territories to estab
'sh in them a density equal to that O.
the old Bay State. There is, therefore
ample room for centuri.s of rapid
growth Of population before our whole
country becomes as thickIy settled al
one Of the exist ng States, and The pres
ent ratio Of increase will probably moi
diminish as long as new and sparseIy set
tied States ana Territories continue te
attract emigration, and to open up new
avenues to profitable industry.
The population Of 1900 is estimated
at 9s,595,5l2, and if we are engaged il
no desoloting wars or violent intestine
connections before that period, this est
mate will probably prove as correct al
hose which have preceded it, because
the great basis Of national abundance
aud wealth Is tfQad enough to com
fortably sustain ] much larger popu
latiOn.
JOHN 5. Brush, youth nineteen
i