The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-08-30
[From the Chicago Journal

[From the Chicago Journal.J
There is hardly any idea connected
with Americas future glory on which
enthusiasts so love to dwell as upon her
ability to maintain and support an i'm
nense population. The latest estimate
by Rev. Joseph Cook placed the number
as high as 5000, 100000. And yet, in
spite of all predictions and statistical
calculations to the contrary, over produc-
tlOn In all departments of industrial life,
and yer-crowding in all lucrative pro-
LESSONS and trades, are the ugliest and
most prominent facts of our time. Prac-
Gcally, there is distressing dispropor-
ton of supply to every occurring demand.
Let any place be made vacant, and the
question is how to dispose of the vast
crowd Of superfuous applicants. One
would be surprised to see the number
and character of those who make their
appearance at every signal of want held
out by placard or advertisement in this
and all other large cities and towns
throughout the country.
In estimating the population OF this
country at the present time, one will be
sure to be misled by following statistical
tables, simply. These tables, indeed, tell
us that we have only about 40, 600, 900 of
people on hand to take care of, while in
many countries of the Old World the
ratio of population to each square mile
of available territory is many times
greater than with us. And the fact is
pointed to with triumphant emphasis by
these population enthusiasts, that in
these much more densely -inhabited lands
the bulk of the people succeed in getting
comfortable living. And then follows
the consolatory inference, Why cannot
an equal, or q greater, number be sup
ported here?
Before this question can be answered
intelhgently several things must be
taken into consideration. 1t is true,
America has an immense nominal area
of territory, but according to the latesS
report of our Land Commissioner, as
quoted by David A. Wells in q recent
magazine article, a large proportion of
what is called "pubhc land is positive
ly unfit for tillage and could not be made
productive without an expenditure
greater than the aggregate income to be
derived therefrom. According to the
same authority, the major part of tilla-
BILE land is now bought up ana held for
speculative purposes, or occupied by
owners and renters There is not the
slightest shadow of doubt but that, if
our arabic land was equita6W and econ
On1icGlly p0rceJed out, it could be made
to sustain twice and thrice the present
amount of population. But who has
any authority or power to make such
a distribution? Clearly no one but the
owners of the property. But will they
do it? For an adequate consideration,
allowing themselves to be judges, they
would, without doubt, be glad to dispose
of their property. But how shall the
surplus poor ever get means enough to
purchase this land? ''Aye, there's the
rubW A good deal of the popular talk,
therefore, about the army of unemployed
betal1ing themselves to farming, is SIM
ply "buncombe." They ought to do
that, it is true, and it would be good
move for them and the country, if they
could do it, but under existing condi-
lions it is wholly idle, if not NONSENSE
cal, to urge it. They haze no means,
and that settles the matter.
A second fact not generally taken into
account in estimating our population, is
the prevalent abundance OF labor-saving
machinery. If one man by the use of
this machinery does the work of five I'M
der ordinary conditions, and the remain
ing four continue idle for lack of oppor-
tunity to engage in other kinds Of work,
which is the case at present, then the
number of our population should be
multiplied by four if anything like prac-
teal accuracy is desired in the estimate.
According to this, we are really carrying
the load of $50, 100000 of people, instead
of 10000, 600; the use of labor-saving
machinery constituting the difference be-
tween the two estimates. In all discus
sions about the benefits of labor-saving
machinery hitherto carried on, the great
argument of it's advocates has been that
the use of it liberated host of men to
engage in other kinds of work, by which
the aggregate of productiveness was
greatly increased, and, therefore, the ex-
istence of this machinery was a great pub.
lie blessing But supposing there are nc
other hnds of work to do, because these
machines have invaded every branch
and avenue of industry, and have driven
the surplus laborers into the streets
what then? Clearly, no intelligent eati-
mate of our population can be had with
out taking the existence Of this machine
ny into account.
But leaving our own shores and glanc-
ing across the sea, where thousands Of
starving people line the roadsides, like
the broken debris Of retreatng army,
rs is the case in India to-day, one begins
to ask the question in all seriousness,
was Prot. Nautilus right in his prognos-
tications concerning this subject Of sur.
plus population? It has been custom.
airy hitherto to laugh at these Malthusiar
speculations as the offspring of a dis.
eased mind but it may be wiser plan
if our political enthusiasts and philoso-
pliers would cease laughing at the sup
posed absurdity of Nautilus, until they
have first returned practical answer tc