The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-13
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A few years ago subject much dis
cussed for . short time vas whether
the rapid increase In population would
not end before long In - overcrowding
the world that human beings would be
eneaged In . constant battle for enough
to Hive upon. Gome rahid people even
now claim that the whole world = en-
gagged In a constant struggle for enough
to eat. This is absolutely untrue. The
struggle 10 to accumulate property or
to enjoy some OF the Injuries OF life.
II every man only did sufficient work
In the course of day to earn enough
to get food and enough clothing to pro-
tect him from the elements. SO many
more would be employed that none need
be without food. Even a. It h. the
number Of those who die Of starvation
through their inability to get food.
under normal circumstances. forms %
small percentage Of the worlds popu-
lation as to be inappreciabis. We ex-
ciude from this consideration . local
famine. because that arises from en-
tirely different causes. A famine oc-
ours. not because there Is an insufficient
supply Of food In the world. but because
for . time food ana population are wide
" separated
A Belgian statistician named Gen.
Brialmont now comes to tho front with
the theory that In four hundred years
the world viii not produce food enough
to support it, population. He estimates
the rate OF Increase and then gives the
average area which viii produce food
enough to support one person. and ar
CUES that within four centuries the area
Of the earth viii BE- insufficient for It,
population. without repeating the WELL
established figures which represent the
available area, 1t Is sufficient to use the
accepted fact that there are about
5000, 900 900 acres Of land on which
food can be grown. The statistictan.
accepting the estimate that In 1910 the
worlds population was GsS. ooo.0 coo and In
1895 It was 1,54o 0Oo. 900. assumes that the
annual increase Is SO per cent 1t fol-
lows that in 1878 the worlds population
win be $50. 900 900, and by 1895 It will
be e. SOC. ooo, 900.
But he Is met by the statistics Of an
other ingenious calculator, which would
seem TO show that the increase At the
rate Of ss is too high. The Dietetic
and Hygienio Gazette. working back
wards. figures out that upon the per-
csntags used by Briaimont the popu-
iation of the earth In 1915 was only
| Ii. 600 900. Making allowance for wars.
plaques and famines. and assuming
that it takes 200 years for the popula-
| ton to double. Ii Is found that, based
upon the earih's present population.
| the number OF people at the beginning
| Of the Christian era was shly 1000. 600.
| This disposes entirely Of Brialmont's
| premises, so that much longer period
| than 400 years must elapse before the
| world is overpopulated. 1t will be con-
| ceded that with every generation the
| percentage OF increase must gradually
| become higher. but IL IL evidently not
SO high as the Belgian assumes.
One very important fact Is overlooked
| and that Is the rapid advancement being
made In the utilization Of food resources.
| II has been predicted that chemists
| would devise process for manufac-
turing food stutfs out Of coal and other
| minerals: but without looking 20 far
ahead as that. 1t Is certain that every
| year 10 adding TO our knowledge OF tho
| science OF sustaining life. Chemistry
/ win soon dispense with the great waste
In food consumption. It win supply
humanity with all the means Of sus-
tsnance, without compelling ii. - it
does now. 10 overload the stomach
with refuse which serves no purpose In
a~oraing enjoyment or giving nourIsh-
men..