The times., 1898-11-21
THE OLD COUNTRIES.
Some Interesting: Facts Concerning
Their Population
CFrom the New York srn-D

From the New York SUn-)
1t has popularity been supposed that the
population of the monarchies and unsta-
BILE republics of Europe was declining, or
II not declining. increasing at ratio So
small as to be almost imperceptible- For
nearly half a century there has been
steady stream of emigration from Eu-
ropean countries to the United States.
South America and Australia, and no in
crease OF population in any European
country from immigration from other
countries than Europe The devastating
wars which. theoretically, at least. Te-
duce the population Of all military coun-
tries abroad, have operated TO the disad-
vantage of many lands, and especially
those which have maintained colonies the
pacifcation OF 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 10 per cent, a statement
which, published in the Revue Franchise
de IEaranger of Paris, has obtained cor
roboration in other countries and the cor
rectness of which is provided by the
records of countries in which there have
been cenSuSeS recently.
At the beginning OF the present century
the population of Europe was put by Lev
asseur at I75,O0O.OG0 In 1880 it was 22000O.-
COO In 1860 it was 100000. and in 1880
it was 35OGeD.OG9 II is now $50, 0o9,0t0. and
the continuance of the present rate Of
increase will make it 3S5.C)0,0 coo in i9l0 10
per cent increase over what it was in ls99.
The yearly emigration from Europe IS
about 50O.G00 ut present, or 50oeo00 in
decade. In the absence of newcomers to
make up this decrease. and in View of the
backward and unprogTessive condition of
many European countries. ii might be
supposed that there would b. no vast gain
of population. but the contrary of this is
shown The number of inhabitants IS
increasing ali the time although the
means of maintaining them are not in
creaSing in like ratio. These are the fig
ures given of the increases in European
countries during the past ten years: Rus
sia. I45 per cent: Germany, II.5; Austria
Hungary. 9.6; England. 3.5; Italy. 45;
France. 0.S. At this rate in 100 years
Russia would have 22Se01.OO0 inhabitants. {.
England 100000; Italy. 44,9O0OoO. and
! France 100000.
The modest estimate which this French
| statistician makes of the growth Of pop
ulation in his own country may. perhaps.
| disarm the answering criticism of the
| German statistician. whose profound
ethical treatment of ratios IN popula-
| ton has already outrm many volumes of
/ Leipsic Berlin and Dresden publications.
| but the English and Scotch statisticiaus
| are not thus easily satisfied. and the
! Scotch statisticians. especially. are OBJ
| durate when asked to revise, correct.
amend or in any way modify their con
clusions as to the population of other
| countries. although in respect of the pop
| ulation of Scotland they are less stead
fast. Possibly this is due to the fact that
the population of Scotland varies COM
paratively little, although there has been
| a remarkable growth in late years Of the
| population of its chief cities. The pres
ent population of Glasgow is in excess
of 7eO,OO0 Edinburgh has 100000 and Alb
| erdeen l25.00a