The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-04-22
The French Census.

The census returns in France show
that the population remains nearly sta
tionary. Since 1876 there has been an
increase of $3.50, $40, whereas during the
preceding five years there had been
gain of S02,867 which was partly due
to the emigration of families from the
provinces annexed to Germany. For a
nation of 81, 100000 this is a very low
rate of increase, and, inasmuch as the
losses due to emigration are scarcely
worth mentioning, it can only be ac-
counted for by the birth-rate, which is
the smallest known in Europe. Not
withstanding the heavy inroads of en-
igration to America and Australia,
equaling 100000 a year, Great Britain,
with birth-rate of 81 per thousand, now
has population of 35,246,562, an in
crease of 1889, 224 during ten years:
and Germany, with birth-rate of 40
per thousand. has population of 49,
100000, an increase of 4, 1856, 900. during
the same period. Austria Hungary,
with a birth-rate of 43 per thousand
would have had an even larger in
crease if the death-rate, which was 20 in
Great Britain and rs in Germany, had
not been 30 per thousand. In France the
death-rate is only 81, the popular idea
that the Partisan dies young being fall
lacious, for. the Boulevards as well as
the streets of London have their octo-
oenarians and centenarians, and So is
roughly computed in the cafes as the
average age in the Capital. But the
birth-rate is exceptionally low-26 per
thousand-so that the margin for natu-
Tal increase is very small. An increase
of 389, $40 in five years is an average gain
of n, 344 year with population of
100000 This is lower rate than
the differences from the vital statistics
would have justified. The next census
will show larger population in Great
Britain than in France.
Another tendency revealed by the
recent census is movement Of population
from country to town. In 1876 the
proportion of urban to rural popula-
ton was II, $50, 724 to 24,945, 064, The
proportion will now run considerably
above 50 to 65, for the population of all
the agricultural departments has de-
clined, and there has been marked
increase in the towns and industrial
quarters, especially in Paris, Lille,
Lyons, Marseilles, Havre and Rouen.
The Department of the Seine, or Paris,
has added 337 900 to speculation since
1876. This is an annual increase. of o.
400 as compared with 1884 for the
whole nation. That is to say, the Cap
ital, with less than a thirteenth of the
whole population of France absorbs
within 10000 of the whole annual in
crease. At this rate Paris seems des-
tined to remain the second city of
modern times, although France has been
already outstripped in aggregate popula-
ton by the United States, Germany and
Austria-Hungary, and will soon yield
the next place to Great Britain, which is
nearly on level with it. London, with
a population of 4,764,313 (within the
police districts) has the browning posi-
ton; Paris with 2,747,000 is second;
New York with /, 942. 900, with Brook
Ign, Jersey City, Hoboken and Long
Island City added) is third; Berlin with
1922, $50 fourth; Vienna with LOB, 857
fifth and St. Petersburg, Moscow and
Constantinople, which exceeded 600, 900
ten years ago, vying with Philadelphia,
Calcutta and Bombay for the next place.
Pekin being left out OF account, mas
much as its population has never been
definitely ascertained.- Y. Sun.