Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-09-27
NOT OVER 100000.
Natural Increase as a Factor in the
Growth Of Population.

| Is it true, then, that there has been
any appreciate increase during the
| present decade in the birth-rate, or,
on the other hand, any marked de-
crease in the death-rate, which would
| favOrably affect the average annual
| increase of our total numbers
! Doubtless the continued improvement
of sanitary conditions in the large
| towns and the general progress in
the conditions of living and in the
treatment of disease are adding stead
lily if not rapidly to the average
longevity of our people. But all indi-
cations would tend to confirm the i'm
preston that the average annual
birth-rate is declining rather than
gaining in the United States. In
France, for example, although the
modern improvements in sanitation,
treatment Of disease, and care Of
children are diminishing the death
rate, there has at the same time been
such falling off in the birth-rate
that the total population figures are
approximately maintained solely by
reason Of a moderate stream of immi-
grafton from Italy and other neigh
boring countries. 1t is pehaps true
that there are now some localities of
considerable extent in the United
States where, if it were not for the
fact that there is some immigration,
and also that there is a comparatively
"a b.rth-rate among the immigrants,
the total population would by no
means hold its own, on account of the
lover birth rate among the native
American element. An analytical
study Of the facts that the new census
will gather must throw much light
upon interesting questions touching
the present tendencies of population in
this country. If the statistics are to
be relied upon, the increase in popu1a-
ticn that was due to the excess of
births over deaths was about II per
cent. for the ten years 1880-90; but
further assuming the correctness of
the immigration statistics for the past
decade-f we accept the estimates
which call for population OF 80,OOO,-
900 this year, we shall have to look
to the excess of births over deaths for
d gain Of almost p per cent. To any
one at all familiar with vital statistics, |
it is evident without further discus |
sion that such a radical change in the |
conditions Of population increase in |
the United States could not possibly |
have taken place. Even if one were |
to be content with estimating that we |
should have gained population at the |
same average rate in the current de- |
cade as in the one preceding, it would |
still be necessary, on account Of the !
falling off in immigration, to rely
upon a considerably higher rate Of
gain in the excess Of births over
deaths in order to bring up the total.
And there is no sufficient reason to
believe that the actual census work
will show any such gain. If the de-
cade should have resulted, not in the
Of the same rate per
cent. Of gain as that Of the preceding
ten years, but simply in the gain Of
ike number Of peOple-namely, about
Y SOC, 000-our total population would
be, in round figures, 10000, 900. Those
who expect greater aggregate than
IS, 900, 900 will be disappointed.-
Monthly Review of Reviews.