Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-01-16
GROWTH IN ULATIoN-MILTTARY
STRENGTH 'a .F'' Ii .

pa STRENGTH. | ''7' 100
: The growth of population in Ohio is most
remarkable. In 1902 when the Constitu-
ton was formed, Ohio had $1,000 people.
In 1890 the census gave her 1000. From
1870 to 1920 it received an addition of $780,
OO0 persons. From 1920 to 1910 the addi-
ton was 93S,00O. From 1910 to 1860, it
was S20,O00. While the increase still con-
tinues immensely great, the ratio Of increase
has diminished u fact which is always ap-
parent when the basis Of population ismuch
enlarged, Taking into. view the surfssc ot
land, as well as the number of persons, no
State having as great density of habita-
tion has increased as rapidly, except Massa-
chusetts, where growth is almost entirely
that of Manufacturing towns. Ohio is
urainly an agricultural State. Hence its
rapid growth since it obtained a million of
people, is the more remarkable. This fact
has become of great Importance, since the
existence of the present war. We have
been called on to furnish what, even in the
old military States Of Europe, would be
deemed very large proportion OF soldiers.
The armies Of Europe do not exceed one
fiftieth of the people, while the able bodied
men of Ohio mustered into the United
States Army have reached full one-thiraeth.
If We may imagine the war to have occurred
at former period we have the means OF
constrasting our ability to meet such a de-
| mand, by contrasting, ut certain periods, the
men over twenty-one years OF age. Thus
compare the periods of 1912 1.-THE war with
Great Britain) the period of 1882 (South
Carolina nullification) and the present. The
able bodied men over twenty-one years Of
age were. ~ r,ti4 tE. -sg
In 1Al2, ..........,... $4,000
In 1874 '220000
In 1o6l... '.5OOD00
The strength of the State, for the pur
poses of war, is not shown merely by thi
growth; for, as the population grows dens'
nd towns are multiplied, the surplus o.
men who can be spared from the ordinar.
duties of life becomes much greater in pro
portion The same ratio of volunteers sup
piled in 1851, would have been impossible
in 1912, and been severely felt in 1892 A
present the various branches Of industry ar
little affected by the immense draft mad
upon the active labor of the State.
GROWTH OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION
With the growth of population in State
I where four-ffths of the people are yet agr
4 cultural, the growth of agricultural produt
ton must be correspondingly large. Th
censuses of the United States for lS40 an
1850, with the annual returns of crops, mad
'. under the direction of State laws, furnis
& the means of an accurate comparison. Tai
: ing the aggregate of all cereal crops, togetl
er with the potatoes, for three decennii
: periods, we have these results: +
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. Bushels.
;, In 1900 l46i6
= i'm 1879 82945,1
In 1890 34g
Ihave selected the last crop (lS60) b
cause the largest and most accurately take
we have ever had The increase of agr
q cultural products between 1910 and l8t
/ was nearly double the ratio Of the incrsa
in population. In the same period the il
: crease of domestic animals was in q rat
fully equal to that Of the people. Notwit
standing this increase of animal life,
manding increased means of support, aft
i deducting all the grain necessary for tt
j purpose, Ohio raised breadstuffs enoughf
Of ten millions of people-four times her actu
e: population. In other words, It exports fo
~ or values in various forms equivalent to t
z fuller illustration of the stimulus given
/, lproductiSe industry, by the utmost fresde
= Of labor, can be found than by CONTRAST
ing lite With the scarcity and even absolu
3r many countries of Europe Y We ackno,
\, edge the happy Proyidence which has Civ
us fertile lands and q salubrious climat
hut with these facts before us, we may "
claim that few people have applied mi
willingor intellig gent industry to the elelnel
3 which Nature has furnished.