The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1893-01-19
FAMINE INEVITABLE.
The Population of India Rapidly Rising
Above 900, 900, 900.

Above 3OO, 100000.
The population of the Indian empire
has risen within the memory of the
present generation from 220, 900, 900 to
2S9, 900, 900; it has been increasing at
the rate of $4,000 annually, and is
now rising at the rate of 5000, 900. If
no large famines occur it will considera-
bly, exceed 500, 900, 900 at the end of the
century now drawing to a close. Even
in the event of defamation from these
causes there will be an excess over the
300, 100000. This augmentation is coin
cident with growth in means and
resources of livelihood, and in material
prosperity of all kinds. The exporta-
ton of food grains in large quantities
continues.
The average population in the Indian
empire is very moderate. For all that
| the density in some parts is considera-
bic and in other parts too great On
the other hand there is large quan.
tity of cultivable land still unused. the
extent of which can be fully known by
| experience alone. Further, the exist
| ing cultivation can be made more and
more productive by agricultural science,
by development of irrigation in detail,
and by improved appliances for hus-
| bandry.
On the whole there is fair reason to
| nope that the magnificent area of lend
will be able to sustain it's people, and
that the accession Of teeming millions
decade after decade under the British
| rule may be welcomed without an af-
| terthought. On the other hand. there
have been and still are frequently re-
| curing causes to check the growth of
the population.
One fearfully potent cause, arising
from internal war, devastation, and
disorder which up to the present cen.
tury decimated the people has been
effectually stopped. But pestilence.
which in former centuries occasionally
stallsed through the land, still turks in
| many places. 1t is kept down by sani
| tation, by the diffusion of medical edu.
cation among the natives, and by the
publication 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 population, as imposed by sickness.
| will be gradually lessened. Then there
is terrible check resulting from IA
mine or scarcity.
The recorded experience of more than
a century shows that this scourge has
| appeared in one quarter or another once
in every three years. Its recurrence is
extremely probable. 1t springs from
| atmospheric conditions which may be
partially controlled, but can not 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. It's area may be in some
degree limited by irrigation works.
| The Conservation and propagation Of
forests will improve the supply of
moisture in the country. Great efforts
| without stint Of money, will be made
by the government to find wages and
employment for the multitude sudden
| ly thrown out of work by the cessation
of labor in the fields and the temporary
| paralysis of the hand looms, the pot
teries and other village industries. In
finite good will. indeed, be effected in
these various ways. But no admins
tration can guarantee security against
loss of life from hunger and from the
many ailments which ensue after pc
riod of physical depression. Therefore,
the population will be checked in some
degree by famine. The loss from that
cause appears to be about 500, 900 annu-
ally in a cycle of years. Washington
Post.