St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-11-28
INDIA's sWARMING MILLIONS.
The Population Is Now Nearly
roo 600 600 and Is Growing

The Population Is Now Nearly
3OO,OOO,OOO and Is Growing.
Denver Republican.
The population Of the Indian empire
has risen within the memory of the
present generation from 220,000,000 to
269,000,000. 1t has been increasing at
the rate of 100000 annually. and is
now rising at the rate of 100000. If
no large famineS occur it will consider
ably exceed 300.000,000 at the end of the
century now drawing to close. Even
in the event of a defamation from these
causes there will be an excess over the
800, 100000. This augmentation is coin
cident with growth in means and re-
sources of livelihood and in material
prosperity of all kinds. The exporta-
ton of food grains in vast quantities
continues. The average of population
in the Indian empire is very moderate.
For all that, the density in some parts
is considerable and in other parts too
great. On the other hand, there is
large quantity of cultivatable land still
unused, the extent of which. according
to the Fortnighty Review, can be fully
known by experience alone. Further,
the existing cultivation can be made
more and more productive by agricult-
ural science, by development of irrlga-
ton in detail, and by improved appli-
ances for huSbandry. OH the whole,
there is fair reason to hope that the
magnificent area of land will be able to
sustain it's people. and that the acces-
sion of teeming millions, decade after
decade, under the British rule may be
welcomed without an afterthought. On
the other hand. there have been, and
still are. frequently recurring causes to
check the growth of the population.
One fearfully potent cause arising
from internal war, devastation and dis
order, which up to the present century
decimated the people, has been effect
ually stopped. But pestilence, which in
former centuries occasionally stalked
through the land, still turks in many
places. 1t is kept down by sanitation.
by the diffusion of medical education
among the natives, and by the purifica-
ton of the water supply. The water
works are to be found in almost every
town; in the great cities they may be
compared with anything of their kind
in any country. The check on popula-
ton, as imposed by sickness, will be
gradually lessened. Then there is the
terrible check resulting from famine or
scarcity.
The recorded experience of more than
a century shows that this scOurge has
appeared in one quarter OF another once
in every three years. Its recurrence is
extremely probable. 1t springs from
atmospheric conditions which may be
partially controlled. but cannot be
wholly averted by the power of man.
Its terrible power is in part weakened
by railway communication supplying
the markets which have been depleted
from scarcity. Its area may be in some
degree limited by irrigation works.
The conservation and propagation of
forests will improve the supply of moist
ure in the country. Great efforts, with
out stint of money, will be made by the
government to find wages and employ
ment for the multitudes suddenly thrown
out of work by the cessation OF labor in
the fields, and the temporary paralysis
of the hand looms, the potteries and
other village Industries. Infinite good
will, indeed. be effected in these various
ways. But no administration can guar
antee security against loss of life from
hunger, and from the many ailments
which ensue after period of physical
depression. Therefore the population
will be checked in some degree by
famine The loss from that cause ap-
pears to be about 100000 annually in
cycle OF wears.