National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1871-05-19
Population In Europe and the States.


Of Congress, in compliance with n reso-
luton OF the Senate, transmitted 10 that
body the report OF Samuel Is. Ruggles,
delegate from the United States to the
international Congress mt the Hague, in
the year 1869. 1t concludes as follows :
The preparation Of this part Of the re-
port has been unavoidably delayed by
the necessity OF obtaining numerous sta
tstics Of the population of the various
nations Of Europe, not only at different
periods, but frequently with boundaries
largely changed, rendering the popula-
ton tables of but little value. II was
also necessary to await the completion of
the recent Census OF 1870, TO show its
progress in comparison with that OF the
States in Europe ~ n whole and also
separately and especially those who are
to contribute, in any considerable de-
gree, TO the emigration into the United
States.
Reserving the full exhibition Of these
interesting particulars for n detailed re-
port, it may now be stated in general
that the rate of increase of the popula-
ton of Europe during the century from
ITO to 1870 has varied but little from
one per cent. yearly or ten per cent. com
pounded at the end Of every decade, hay
ing been largest in some Of the earlier
portions of the period, and diminishing
with the last three or four decades To
the present time, when it is but little
more than six-tenths of one per cent
yearly, compounded at the end of each
decade. It's population in 1870 did not
exceed 900, 1000, 900. In view of the di-
minishing fecundity in marriages Shown
by the latter 4. 4 in the United Kingdom,
and only g. 3 in France for each marriage,
and the constantly increasing laxity and
changing manners of the civilized world.
the rate Of increase of its population
may very possibly continue to diminish,
so that it would be hardly safe to as
sumo, even for the United States,
greater ratio for the remainder OF the
present century, from 1870 to 1900, than
tv7 and half per cent. yearly, and of
Elrope six -tenths of one per cent. year
ly, both to be coml ounded at the end of
each decade 1t should however, be
borne in mind that n largely increased
and com. uous flow of European or of
Asiatic emigration into the United States
may increase its population three or three
and half per cent per annum, or even
a higher figure.
At the moderate rates above specified,
compounded every ten years, the popu
lation of Europe, amounting in 1870 to
the aggregate of 29S, 600, 900, at six -tenths
of one per cent. yearly, will be increased
in the year 1900 to 354, OF, $50 that of
the United States, now 3S, ,554, TO- esti-
mated at two and half per cent. to
rs, 302, ,495 estimated at three per cent,
"a, 705, ,049.
Adopting the lowest of the preceding
estimates for its population in 1900, be-
ing in round numbers 100000, and
reducing the rate of increase for the
next fifty years to one per cent per an
nun, compounding at the end of each
decade, and the rate of increase in Eu-
rope to one-haf of one per cent yearly,
similarly compounded, their compara-
tive populations in 1850, would stand in
round numbers as follows: Europe,
453, 600 900, United States, 100, 100000
.otal, 573,50O,0O0. If the rate in the
United States should be, as some sup
oose as high as two per cent. yearly,
lecenially compounded, the population
n 1850 would be 179,000,000.
1t should be understood that by the
erm "United States is meant only
hat portion of America now possessed
~ the National Union. 1t should also
,e borne in mind that while the aggre-
rate population of Europe and the Uni
ed States may amount to or exceed 573,
10000, the proportionate amounts of
ach may largely vary with the varying
olume of immigration. On the one {
and, while it is possible that the aggre- ,
ate itself may be largely increased, es- |
ecially if reliance can be placed on SAN .
uine estimates heretofore made in Off ;
ial documents; while, on the other ,
and, it may be seriously diminished by
'ar, pestilence, or other unforeseen ca :
lmities 4
In respect, however, to any possible ;
anger OF general famine, it may safely
e assumed that with the cereal capaci-
es of the United States, now demon !
rated by experience, its 100000 in !
abitants in 1900 will be fully able to ,
lpply cereal food sufficient not only for !
but for at least 200, ,000,00 ,
the population of Europe.