The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-11-08
POPULATION HERE AND ELSE.
WHERE.

The population of the United States in
creased from 30, 155, 1888 in 1880 to 81, go. go
in 1890. or as nearly as possible % per cent.
The population of England and Wales in
creased from Is, 972 439 in 1881 to %, COZ, 525
in 1891, or a trifle under u per cent. 1t
thus appears that the population of this
country is increasing about twice as fast
as that of England and Wales. The popu-
lation of Germany increased from $780,
704 in 1885 to 49, 416,476 in 1890, OF at about
the rate of 5 per cent in five years. or 10
per cent in the decade. The population Of
France increased from 3S,2l9, 600 in 1856 to
38. 343. 600 in 1891, which Is practically no
increase at all. The latest statistics show
no material increase in recent years in the
population of Italy, Spain or European
Russia. AS TO countries outside of Europe,
there is a decenniai increase of about II
per cent in British India. We have no
means OF measuring the increase, if there
is any, in China. or other countries in
Asia. japan appears to be increasing at
about the rate Of 4 per cent per decade.
Mexico shows an increase of about per
cent in the last decennal period. In Chile
there is no increase of consequence. while
the increase in Argentine is abnormal and
cannot serve as basis for statistical cal
culaions.
Thus it appears that the leading coun-
tries which are gaining in strength are the
United States, England, Germany and
British Itdia, and that the United States
is gaining twice as fast as the most rapid
grower among these.
history Of the migrations of peoples
would be interesting, but its value would
be limited, first, for he want of accurate
statistics. and secondly. because it is only
IN our own day that transportation has
become easy and cheap When land
transportation was chiefly conducted on
loot. and sea transportation was chiefly
carried on in small vessels of few hun
dred tons displacement, it took long
time to move hundred thousand people,
and II cost great deal of money. In the
ITO years which elapsed between the set.
Element of NORTH America by Europeans
and the Revolutionary War the colonies
only amassed 100000 people. though the
natural increase was large, and at times
imm gration was active, Now, New York
alone receives 3.00O.0 600 people in six years
Migrations OF people from places where
| tuO Vi ItC al duu wages
low to places where the conditions of lif,
are easy and wages liberal are checked
when the former become overcro wded anC
| the latter so depleted that the value o.
! labor rises. Thus whenever land becomes
really scarce In this country and wagei
! approximate To the European level Euro
pean immigration will decline, and maj
possibly cease altogether, especially a,
about that time elbow room will have be
come more abundant in the countries from
which we draw our supply of labor. Blu
it is evident from deceGnial increase O.
II per cent in England and 10 per cent il
Germany that that time has not come. /
cannot be looked for till the census returns
of England and Germany reveal a con
dition of things in those countries simila
to that which prevails in Spain. France ant
Italy.
For many decades to come a stead,
! growth of the population Of the Unite.
States may be expected. This country Will
hold great many people when its resource
are exploited under the pressure of neces
sity. The capacity of the country west o
the Ohio to sustain human life is mucl
vaster than that of New England ever was
when the want OF bread compels the peopl,
of the former region to exert the sam,
energy which early New Epglanders dis