The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-08
PLENTY OF ROOM.
There Is No Danger Of an Over-Pop-
ulatiOn of the American States.
[From the Baltimore sun.l

There Is No Danger Of an Over-Pop-
ulatiOn of the American States.
From the Baltimore Sun.l
There are those who fear that this
country is getting to be SO closely Popu-
lated that it will not offer inducements
TO European emigrants much longer
1t may be that the recent return of large
numbers of immigrants to Europe has
given impetus to these apprehensions.
Those who entertain such forebodings
can know nothing of the comparative
population of this and other countries.
The United States has a population Of
not quite forty millions, and the whole
continent south of us but forty-two mil
lions. Allowing three millions for Can
ada, here is a great continentwith only
eighty-fve millions of inhabitants,
while Europe, about a fifth part of
the size of America and Asia, has
over two hundred and seventy-one mil
lions. Asia, having a somewhat larger
territorial area than either of the other
great divisions of the earth, and a popu-
latiors in 1869 of 766, ,420, 900, of about
zoe, 0,000,0 more than America. The
Chicago Tribune in a late number makes
a comparison of the population OF. vari-
Gus European countries with our own.
Thus the island of Great Britain and
Ireland, with an area of about q 900
square miles, contains forty-two cities
with populations of 81 900 and upward,
their aggregate population being 8,012,-
200. OF these cities twenty-six have a
population of 10000 and upward, the to-
tai being 7,469,Ooo, and the average
466, 300
For comparison, take the New Eng
land States, with New York and New
Jersey. These states, exceeding Great
Britain and Ireland IN an area by 1000
square miles, contain only twenty-nine
cities with population of $1,000 and
upward, the total being 2,746,30O. Of
these only ten contain $4,000 inhabitants
and upward, the total being 2, ,152, 500, and
the average 215 ,250, or less than half
that of the &c British cities If we in
clude all the towns and cities in New
England, New York and New Jersey,
with 1000 inhabitants and upward, we
find II of them in all, with population
of 3,174,900. The number 1000 is
chosen as being one-third of the lowest
number of inhabitants in any of the
British cities referred to.
To narrow the comparison. England
proper, with an area of about 81 900
square miless, has no less than % cities,
containing q, 900 inhabitants and up
ward, the total being 6,322 800, and 16
of these cities contain $4,000 inhabitants
each and upward; the state Of New York
and Massachusetts, with an era exceed
ing that of England by $500 square
miles, only 19 cities containing 81 900
inhabitants and upward, the total being
2,269, 800, and only six of these cities
contain $4,000 and upward each. To go
one step further, England has 421 in
habitants to the square mile, while New
York and Massachusetts, have only LOG
to the square mile, or only about one
fourth as many. From these facts it is
safe to conclude that we still have room
for more, even in the most densely set
tied of our States.
England, however, is not the most
densely populated country in the world.
Little Belgium, which is about the size
of the State of Maryland, has 442 in
habitants TO the square mile; or more
than six times as many in all as Mary
land. With an equal density of popula-
tion Illinois would contain no less than
4,491, 900 inhabitants, or more than
Prussia, and nearly as many as England
and Scotland combined; and the United
States, as densely settled, would contain |
a population of 100000, 900, or 3OO,-
100000 more than the entire population
of the globe at the present time.
1t is of course true that large part |
Of the territory comprised within the |
United States IS incapable of supporting |
large population. There are great |
ranges of barren mountain and vast acres
of arid plains. But, on the other hand,
very little of the immense amount of
land which is productive is cultivated |
with the care and thoroughness it is in |
Europe. 1t would not be too much TO |
say that if all our arabic soil were avail |
ed of, as it is in England, Belgium,
and other European countries, it would |
make up for the sterility of such plains
and mountain ranges as are barren
There is no danger of our crowding one
another for century to come, and a
crowded posulation is not always a bles-
sing to the many.