Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-07-29
CANINE OF rAe fuTuRE.


Possibilities Of the Extinction of tbs
Human Race by Starvation.
Mr.. Rayonstein, a member Of tho
British association for thl advancement
u science. has been computing the
probable increase u tho human race on
tho earth. ic arrives at tho startling
conclusion that In 1872 years the density
o. Population upon the globe will No such
that the means Of subsistence win be- Ia.
adequate 10 It's support. lie o,timatai
the population Of the world Of the pres.
out year no ,40s. 900. 900. lie finds TINT
the average increase every ton years 1,
about per cont.
The section Of The country sim open 10
colonization comprises parts OF Africa,
North nnd South America, Australia,
some outlying islands, tho s,,plos anl
deserts Tho total area OF Hll the habit.
able lands IN the world is over iG,OOO0lC
Of square miles, OF this nrea tho fertile
or comparatively fertile lands arc over
2s,ODO, 600 Of square miles, the bare rrass
lands or stcppta il,OOj,O 900, aud the bare
descr,s 1900, 1870 square milcA
To tho stcppcs ho gllocnlosa popnlf.
ton Of ten TO the square mile. aud 10 tho
desert regions ono 10 the square milo.
Tho bulk Of the population would, there.
fore, hgvo TO sub'i1t On tho 2S,O00,OOl
square miles Of fertile lands. C1mpar.
ing tho density Of populAtion-in India
10 TO the square milo, In China 9gj to
the square mile and in Japan 2Gi 70 the
square milo--ho arrives ut tho conclu.
sion that a world population Of 2J3 20
the square mile In the cultiyable regions
would be a fair estimate.
This 21i persons 90 tho square mile
will be reached IN Is! years at the pres.
ent ruto OF increase, when tho total pop.
ulation Of the eultiyablo aioa would DO
$3.50, 50O,0 900, and 90, total number the
earth woullfool Z, J1i 100000
ANY further increase OF population
must cithor be provided for by diminu.
ton Of subsistence 10 each individual or
by some improved mode Of production,
or by keeping down tho future birth rate
below tho death rate. Mr., Raycnstciu'a
statistics do not concern Us OF tho pres.
Ont generation very vitality. We can
leave tho solution 10 our great.grand.
children. We hayo increased and innl.
tphcd very comfortably In spite Of tho
lugubHous warnings OF Mr. Nautilus,
and perhaps they ul.D will multiply and
increase IN spite Of Mr., Rayonstcin.
II any racg must 90 10 tho wall, Il may
be confidently predicted 1t will not DO
the white race, There will be II Oar
wiuian survival OF tho fttest. Tho weak.
or mces will Disappear before tho
stronger Tho Indian will ultimately
vanish from this continent, aud tho Arr.
eau In his native land bids fair to be
dccimated.
Tho teudencyof population 10 the cities
must also bc takon into account IN any
comparison Of people to areas Of reason.
able subsistence. Concentration In large
towns always tends 10 increased produc-
ton within wido circuit around them,
especially in tho line Of fruits and were.
tables. Two hundred years hence tho
desert lands which Mr.. RGyenBtoln re.
CARDS aa incapable IT cultivation may
blossom rs the roe. Already irrigation
Is working wonders In tho unproinising
soil in some OF our western statcs. Mod.
orn science viii teach many ways OF ia.
cFensing the food upply.
Mr.. Rayenstoins speculations are
plausible and his statistics suggestive
enough, but the figures Of today may b.
utterly falsihol by tho lgurrs Of 200
years hence. Many things may later.
yeno In tho meantime 10 keep down pop
ulation or increase tho food supply Tho
extinction Of the raco by starvation IS a
very remote contingency indeed, and
Mr.. Raveusieins ls3 years bid fair TO
stretch out indefinitely before that con.
tlngeucY occugs. baltimore sun.