The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-08-31
SURPLUS POPULATION.
Iabor-S Saving Machinery, Production,
Etc.-What Shall be Done for the Idle
Millions?

MILLIONS.
[From the Chicago Journal
There is hardly any idea connected
with Americas future glory on which
enthusiasts so love to dwell rs upon her
ability to maintain and support an i'm
mense population. The latest estimate
by Rev. Joseph Cook placed the number
as high as 5000, 900, 900. And yet, in
spite of all predictions and statistical
calculations to the contrary, over-produc-
ton in all departments Of industrial life,
and over-crowding in all lucrative pro-
LESSONS and trades, are the ugliest and
most prominent facts of our time. Prac-
tically, 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 nurnber
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, 900, 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
a comfortable living. And then follows
the consolatory inference, Why cannot
an equal, or a greater, number be sup
ported herel
Before this question can be answered
intelGgently, 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 a recent
what is called "public 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 e9uitd6iy and econ
OmjcaUy parceled 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
rub !" A good deal of the popular talk,
therefore, about the army of unemployed
betaking themselves to farming, is sim
ply buncombe." They ought to do
chat. it is true, and it would be a good
move for them and the country, if they
could do it, but under existing condi-
tons it is wholly idle, if not NONSENSE
cal, to urge it. They hare 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 100, 900, 600 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 a 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 great pub
lie blessing. But supposing there are nc
other kinds of work to do, because these
machines have invaded every branch
and avenue of industry, and have driven
tlb buTDluS ldDOitlb lluO Vic SllttNS-
what then? Clearly, no intelligent esti-
mate of our population can be had with
out taking the existence of this machine
ny into account.
But leaving our o'Sn shores and glanc-
ing across the sea, where thousands of
starving people line the roadsides, like
the broken debris of a retreating army,
as is the case in India to-day, one begins
to ask the question in all seriousness,
was Prof. Nautilus right in his prognos-
tications concerning this subject of sur
plus population? 1t has been custom
airy hitherto to laugh at these Malthusian
speculations as the offspring of dis
eased mind but it may be wiser plan
if our political enthusiasts and philoso-
pliers would cease laughing ut the sup
posed absurdity of Nautilus, until they
have first returned practical answer to
this-the greatest and most difficult
question of our time-What can be done
for the growing numbers of the unem-
ployed masses in this and other coun-
tries
Soaring Away the Eclipse.