Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1900-08-24
TOO MANY OF US.
This World Is Becoming Altogether
Too Thickly yPopuintcd-somo
Startling Facts.


Human beings and wild animals
have one great thing in common, the
| fight for life, and every year that
| fight for life becomes harder and
harder in proportion as the world be-
comes more thickly populated with
people, all striving after the same
thing-money! The world is every year
becoming more crowded. More people
are born in proportion to those that
die. To take an example of this we
have but to turn to these United
States, a young country. where every
thing is in the highest degree favor
able to great proliiicacy. During the
so years from 1900 to 1910 the popula-
ton of the United States doubled
twice. From 1850 to 1855 the increase
was 10 per cent. The average per
cent. of the entire national increase
was 32.7 per cent. since 1900. Between
1850 and 1850 the population leaped
from 23,1o1 S76 to 50,l55.7s3. Therefore
the numbe- of inhabitants was more
than doubled in so years, notwith-
standing the fact of the war between
the federal and confederate states,
says the Cincinnati Enquirer.
As a setback against this phenome-
nal increase of human life, however,
turn to China. The Chinese, as n ma
ton, date back some 5000 years. The
country is five times the size of Ger
many, and warmer and more fruitful
than Europe, producing in great
many parts two harvests year. Why,
then, is China not peopled so densely
that there is scarcely breathing room
for its inhabitants? For, taking
America as an example, the popula-
tion of China should now be S59,559,-
1913, 106, ,7o9, ,670, ,1e9, ,710,52s, whereas in
reality the country is less densely pop
ulated, on an average, than Belgium or
Saxony. The answer is to be found
in the fact that among the Chinese in
fanticide is encouraged by law. A
terrible, and yet. the Celestials will
tell you, the only really sensible way
to provide for the nations well being.
In the last 1oO years Europe has
doubled its population. Between 1920
and 1880 the figures rose from 200 ,0o0,-
600 to $50 O00, 900 notwithstanding the
Crimean and Franco Prussian wars.
Yet this gain is overshadowed by
Americas. There is one factor in the
over-population theory that must be
taken into account, and that is to be
found in the fact that whereas certain
nations increase enormously others
stand still, while some paipably lessen.
Yet, if towns are TO go on increasing,
as London has done of past years,
England will beyond doubt sooner or
later be confronted with n very seri-
Gus problem-the want of stretching
room"
The entire globe measures some
600, ,Oo0, 900 100000 square yards, or,
allowing yard as standing room for
four persons, there is room for 2,4OO,-
OOo, 900, 600 900 people. The population
of England and Wales doubled be-
tween 1901 and 1851. At the same
rate in lC0 years England's population
would multiply itself by four, in 200
by l6, in coo by 1,COO coo and in 1900
years by 600, 600, 900, ,OOO, ,0OO. 900, which
would mean that in 5000 years 10
every square yard of land there would
be 1898 1-3 persons instead of four, or
in other words, the earth would becov-
cred with men in columns of s33 1-3
each, standing on one another's
heads!
Such picture as the above is
enough to fill the sanest man with
horror. What is to be the end of this
terrible increase? But the picture of
life 1900 years ahead, taking for
granted that evolution will go on
working as ii has worked in the past.
is appalling. What is to be the an
swer to the problem of over-popula-
ton? Sooner or later the world will
be brought face to face with the work
ing out of some solution of it,