Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1898-12-15
POPULATION OF EUROPE.
Disquietins Statistics Which Upset
! Many Preconceived Notions OF
. the Old Countries.

1t has popularly been supposed that
the population of the monarchies and
unstable republics of Europe was de-
clining, or if not declining, increasing
at a ratio so small as to be almost inn
perceptible. For nearly half century
there has been a steady stream of emf
grafton from European countries to the
United States, South America and Aus
tralia, and no increase of population in
any European country from immigra-
ton from other countries than Europe.
The devastating wars which, theoreu-
cally, at least, reduce the population
of all military countries abroad. have
operated to the disadvantage of many
lands and especially those which have
maintained colonies the pacitication or
which requires military operations.
Again, the decrease of the birth rate
in some European countries has been
the subject of abstruse controversy
among physicians and men of science
and yet it appears from official figures
at hand that the increase in the total
population of Europe during the past
ten years has been nearly ten per cent,
a statement which, published in the
Revue Franchise de 'Etranger, of Paris,
has obtained corroboration in other
countries, and the correctness of which
| is proved by the records of countries in
which there have been censuses re-
| Gently.
At the beginning of the present CEN
tury the population of Europe was put
by Levasseur at 175,000,000. In 1880 it
was 22O 900, 900. In 1860 it was 200, ,000-
| COO. and in 1890 it was $50, 900. 1t is
| now $50, 100000, and the continuance OF
| the present rate of increase will make
| it 3S5, 100000 in 1900, ten per cent. in
| crease over what it was in 1890.
The yearly emigration from Europe
| is about 100000 at present, or 100000
| in a decade. In the absence of newcom-
| ers to make up this decrease and in
view of the backward and unprogres
| sive condition of many European coun-
| tries, it might be supposed that there
| would be no vast gain of population,
| but the contrary of this is shown. The
| number of inhabitants is increasing all
| the time, although the means of main
| tanning them are not increasing in like
ratio These are the figures given Of
the increases in European countries
during the past ten years: Russia, 14.5
per cent; Germany, 1l.5; Austria-Hun-
gary. 90; England, 3.5; Italy, AS;
France, 0.8. At this rate in 100 years
Russia would have 228lO00,000 inhab-
itants, Germany, 106, 100000; Austria,
| 10000, 900; England, G5,000,0C9; lt%ly,
| 4tO00,O 900, and France, 40O0O,O0O
The modest estimate which this
| French statistician makes of the
growth of population in his own coun-
try may, perhaps, disarm the answer
ing criticism of the German stAtistician
whose profound ethical treatment Of
"ratios" in population mas already out
run many volumes of Leipsic, Berlin
and Dresden publications, but the Eng
lish and Scotch statisticians are not
thus easily satisfied, and the Scotch
statisticians especially are obdurate
| when asked to revise, correct, amend, or
in any way modify their conclusions, as
to the population of other countries al
though in respect of the population of
Scotland they are less steadfast. Pos
sibly this is due to the fact that the:
population of Scotland varies compare
lively little, though there has been a
remarkable growth in late years of the
populate of its chief cities. The pres
ent population of Glasgow is in excess
of 100000, Edinburgh has 100000, and
Aberdeen 125, ,000.-N. y. Sun.