New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-07
GROWING POPULOUS.

T,uly. we are a great country If the Treasury
Dcpartmcnt is TO be believed growing country
in marvellous sense. Our people not only in
crease constantly in number, but have somehow
learned 10 increase 40 per cent faster irrespective
Of immigration than they did four years ago.
This seems incredible 1t is not known that any
dreadful pcsence swept off a larger proportion
Of the people in 1891 80, nor Is it known that in
the fiscal year 1S9i'95 the people have enjoyed
any extraordinary immunity from disease and
death. But the Treasury Department officially
records the fact Its estimates Of population, on
which all sorts Of official computations are based.
of currency in circulation, debts per capita. reve-
nue. per capita and consumption Of various arti-
ces per capita, show an increase In lS9l-C OF
ABS 900 in population. Of which. still according
10 Treasury statistics, the addition by immlGra-
tion was 623. OS4 leaving about $4,000 for excess
of births over deaths. which was 126 per cent
Of the population at the beginning of the year.
Rut in the blessed year just closed, 1894 the
official statement shows an increase in population
Of I AIS 600 Of which, still according TO Treasury
records. only 276 1876 came from immigration,
so that the other increase from excess of births
over deaths was l2O2 900, or 176 per cent of the
population ar the beginning Of the year.
It is safe to say that no such marvellous change
in the condition of a people has ever been wit
messed in SO short a tme-or else no such mar
ycllous statistics have ever been officially pub
lished In any civiliZed nation In either case. II
is clearly the work Of the present Administration,
which has either blessed the Nation with greater
fertility or immunity from death, or else has in
fatcd It's numbers by official expansion of figures.
II is very curious. too. that while 1912 was
no Of
births over deaths was only 1.26 per cent, the
excess in the following year, according to the
same official statements, rose to Lilo per cent.
and in the panic year Of 1S93-4 II rose TO LOB
per cent. always according to the official state
ments In other countries records indicate mat
financial disaster tends to retard growth OF pop
ulation but under this blessed Administration
we have changed all that.
Mr. Ford. who is striving to make himself an
honorable name by improvement of the stalls
teal work Of Government, should really let the
public into the secret Of this matter. Has he
some private information that the increase OF
population by excess Of births over deaths has
thus astonishingly mounted 40 per cent III four
years? Or is he seeking fame by manufacturing
a population on paper? If the really startling
work Is that Of some subordinate or rival in the
Treasury Department. he may well look to his
laurels For Government which manufactures
Treasury balances every month"; and can manu-
facture inhabitants for itself ut this progressive
rate. may presumably exalt the enterprising ex-
pander Of the Nation to high place and honor.
1t Is perhaps useful to add that II the excess
of births over deaths the same as that of the
last decade, shown by the Treasury tables OF
population. then the actual population Of the
United States June 1 was about Co. 119OOO The
Treasury Department made ii 60 $4,000 and the
people want to know whether there is solid
Treasury information that they are growing more
prolific. or by the virtue of some patent medicine
resisting disease and gaining in longevity.