The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1869-06-29

The most interesting questions com
corning the United States viii be
decided to a great extent, by the
national census next year.
The growth Of this country in pop
ulation aud wealth ever since the
formation of the Constitution has
been Of unprecedented rapidity.
Doubters have constantly said that
it is impossible for this rate Of growth
to be maintained that the advance
upon the newly settled lands cannot
continue to be great enough to eoun-
terbalanee the falling off in the older
communities on the seahoard.
Should the enumeration Of 1870 show
that the rate of growth is not dimin-
ishing, it win 90 far to sustain the
expectation of a steady extension Of
the population of the country until
its entire territory is thickly settled.
On the other hand, it has been
made a question how far the temper
airy disturbances Of the last ten years,
the war and its consequences, will
prove to have retarded the growth
Of the country. That a million OF
men in the prime Of life were taken
out Of their families and Of produc-
tive industry by the war, is of itself
most serious fact In that growth.
But it has always been noticed that
in thickly-settled countries the waste
Of life in war is quickly repaired.
Even the frightful distinctions OF
Napoleon's wars, among Frenchmen,
is said TO have left no trace after a
generation. 1t remains to be seen
whether such a loss can be so quick
~ made up in new country, in
which the powers Of growth seemed
already to be strained to the utmost,
Doubtless the answers to these
questions seem to conflict. If it APP
pear that the war has seriously re-
tarded the aggregate growth Of the
country, this will be an element of
difficulty in estimating the general
rate Of progress, as it is now, apart
from the war. But this element can
be eliminated by skilful inyestiga-
tor, who will carefully compare the
returns for different sections of the
country. Whatever effect the war
has in disturbing population will be
greatest in the southern states and
will vary in proportion to the num-
Der Of troops furnished by different
regions. In examining these returns
separately, it viii be seen, if any
check to increase the number APP
pears, how much Of it is due the war,
and how much to more permanent
causes.
The United States have an era OF
! 3,578,392 square miles, or $780,
170,880 acaes /; nearly an acre for
every dollar of the national debt.
The population of 1860 was 81, 443,-
321. 1t was then computed by the
/ Census Bureau that the mean annual
increase Of population is three per
cent, and that the United States
would probably contain in
1870 population Of ....s......... 1892, So
1880 population OF .........,....... 56,4JO,2 4l
lgun a rou,,latinn of II 1lR Qgf
1890 population Of ,....,.........10 100, 355, 80,
The last number is greater than
the present population of Great
Britain, France, Spain, and Prussia
together, and far greater than any
number of civilized people ever yet
united in one nation. Yet with Hlif
population the United States would
have but twenty-eight inhabitants
to the square mile--less than one
third the present density of the pop
ulation of New York state, which il
nearly ninety-four to the square mile
There is perhaps no doubt in any
ones mind that the whole territory
of the United States is, on the aver
age, naturally capable Of supporting
J a population as dense as that Of Mas
, sachusetts. Yet that state now hai
one hundred and seventy-thrce in
habitants to every square mile, anC
the United States, when equally well
peopled, will contain 6l9,000,000 o
inhabitants. 1t seems very long
time to look forward to the end Q
, this century, but the country nov
has nearly fourteen times the mum
Der Of people for whom the fedora
Constitution was first framed anc
the child born this year, il il affair
the age Of three score and ten, vii
{ in all probability be a citizen Of
t nation Of 1872, 100000 people; ma
ton greater than the Christend0m o
/ to-day a nation Of which the great
est empire OF modern times, il
wealth, in military strength, and j
tie volume Of intelligent mind an'
tho number Of skilled hands at worl
within it, would form but 4 province