Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1871-05-20
POPULATION.
Europe and the United states Gem
paFed-BpeeulatlOns Rs 10 FHtuFs
Increase.

PaFod-speeuIatIons as 10 Future
Increase.
The President, during the last ses.
sion Of Congress, in compliance with
a resolution Of the Senate, transmitted
to that body the report of Samuel B.
Ruggless, delegate from the United
States to the International Congress
at the Hague, In the year 1889. II
concludes as follows:
"PREFAToRY TO PART OF THE
REPORT on THE COMPARATIVE PRO
GREss OF POPULATION IN EUROPE
AND THE UNITED STATES.
1.-THE preparation of this part of the
report has been unavoidably delayed
blythe necessity Of obtaining numerous
statistics Of the population OF the varl-
GUS nations of Europe, net only at diff
ferent periods, but frequently with
boundaries largely changed, rendering
the population tables Of little value.
1t was also necessary to await the
completion Of the recent census Of the
United States in 1870 to show its pro-
gress in comparison wlth'that Of the
States Of Europe as q hole, and also
separately, and especially those who
are to contribute, to auy considerable
degree, to the emigration into the
United States. Reserving the full ex-
hibition Of these interesting particulars
for detailed report, it may now be
stated, in general, that the rate of in.
crease of the population Of Europe dur
ing the century from 1770 to 1870 has
varied Int little from one per cent.
yearly, or ten per cent. compounded
at the end Of every decade, having
been largest in some Of the earlier pOr-
tiOns Of the period, and diminishing
with the last three or four decades un-
til the present time, when it is but little
more than six-tenths Of one per cent.
yearly, compounded at the end of the
decade. Its population in 1870 did
not exceed 100, 600, 900. In view of the
diminishing fecundity in marriages,
Shown by the latter "A in the United
Kingdom, and only 3.3 in France, for
each MARRIAGE and the constantly
increasing laxity and changing man
ners Of the civilized world, the rate of
the increase of its population may very
possibly continue to diminish, so that
it would hardly be safe to assume,
even for the United States, a greater
ratio for the remainder of the present
century, from 1870 to 1900, than two
and half per cent. yearly, and for
Europe, six-tenths of one per cent.
voarlVy hofh ~ ha o0v,oy0unJol - H.
end of each decade. 1t should, how
ever, be borne in mind that a largely
increased and steadily continued 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
higher figure. At the moderate rates
above specified, compounded every
ten years, the population of Europe,
in 1870 to the aggregate OF
29S, 100000, at six. tenths OF one per
cent. yearly, will be increased in the
year 1900 to 354, ,9l7, $50; that of the
United States, 38, ,554, $40, estimated at
two and one-half per cent, to 1902
495; estimated at three per cent. S4,-
7O5,O49. Adopting the lowest of the
estimates for the United
States for its population in 1900, being
in round numbers 75,000,0 900, and re-
ducing the rate of increase for the fifty
years next succeeding to one per cent.
per annum, compounded at the end
Of every decade, and the rate of in-
crease in Europe to One-half OF one
per cent yearly, similarly compound
ed, their comparative population in
1850 would stand in round numbers as
follows:
4o3, 3,OOO,O00
The United States ..,,....- 120, 100000
Total "..""..,....,..."......, 100000
"If the rate in the United States
should be, as some suppose, as high
as two per cent. yearly, decennially
compounded, the population in 1880
would be 179,000,O00. 1t should be
understood that by the term United
States is intended only the portion of
America now possessed by the Ma
tional Union. 1t should also be borne
in mind that while the aggregate pop
ulation of the United State and Eu.
rope may amount to exceed 573,5O0,-
900, the proportionate amounts Of
each may largely vary with The vary
ing volume Of emigration. On the
one hand it is possible that the aggre-
gate itself may be largely increased,
especially if reliance can be placed on
sanguine estimates heretofore made in
official documents, while on the other
hand, it may be seriously diminished
by war, pestilence or other unforeseen
calamities. In respect, however, to
any possible danger of general famine,
it may bA safely assumed that with
the cereal capacities Of the United
states, now demonstrated by expert
ence, its seventy-five million inhabi-
tants in 1900 will be fully able to sup
ply cereal food sufficient not only for
themselves, but for at least two hum
dred millions Of the population of
Europe