Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1882-03-30
Our Present and Future POpu'a'
ton.

llOnh
The official figures of foreign immi-
grafton into the United States for the
year 1881, present some facts and lore
shadow others that are really startIihg'
The number of immigrants that came
over in thar year was $4,000. During
the latter mart of the year and especial
" during December, this tide was ht'S'
four per cent. greater than during .he
corresponding periods of 1851. Inc
disturbed States of Europe, especially
Germany, from which about one''h1ro
of our foreign migrants come, makes
il probable that the increase IN 1907
over 1881 will be even greater than Ii'a'
or 1881 over 1880, and consequently
that during the current year we shall
receive considerably over 1900, 900 for
eign immigrants.
When we consider that III this couh-
try the natural increase OF popuIauoh
by the excess of births over deaths
doubles the resident population IN less
than twenty-five years, it will be seen
tsat it would require only about thirty
wears of the present influx of foreign
population, together with the natural
increase to amount to a number equal
to the present population of the Onlteo
States and Territories, or about 5o,ooo, :
900. If to this we add the natural IN
crease of the present population al d
rate of doubling every twenty 'hve
wears it would give total population
of not less than 100000 in 1911.
When we consider that it has taken
| 900 Years for the accumulation OF the
present SO, 900. 600 Of population OF 'he
J U nited States, it seems at first thouSh'
| almost incredible that within the life
time of the great majority OF men no"
living the population will be over three
times as great now; and yet it seems
almost beyond question that this Will
be the case. Population increases With
such enormous rapidity, not only IN
America, but in all parts of the GLOBE
and especially where it has the foster
ing influences of civilization, that it is
one of the great puzzles of human lie
TO know what has thus far prevented
every part of the world from being
overcrowded with human beings. In
Europe, Notwithstanding all the loss
f lite by wars and epidemics and al
the decrease of populatio by em'gra
grafton, the increase is enormous. II
1880 the whole of Europe contained
| little over 0O,000,e00 of people. Th'
same territory now contains over 800,
| O0O, 900, thus showing that the average
doubling period of European popula
. ton is about 100 years. England
doubles her population about ever!
| fifty years and Scotland in even short
er period.
i A census circular truly says that thu
+ history of the world shows no sucl
o great and persistent movement OF pop
f ulation as that now in progress to TIN
\, country except that which overdowe
q from the north upon the Roman En-
nire. nor eau it be doubted that the1
n are many men now living who wi
a witness as momentous results in I'll
l. history of mankind from the preser
n movement OF population to Amerlc
n as were experienced for similar cause
a in the fifth and sixth century in FL
h rope. These results however, Will
ejuuite as important, will necessarily [
4 of a totally different character. lnstea
! of a barbarian horde suhverting an e
v tablished civilization as then, ours
# the movement of an already cIvillze
IL and cultivated people into the hithert
|. unpeopled regions in the centre of tn
" American continent, to create thef'
Il within the next half century, cities an
p improvements, population and industr
!. equal to that in the centre OF Europ