New-York tribune., 1901-03-26
INDIAN CENSUS FIGURES.

II seems appalling TO learn from official re-
ports that in the last ten years the population
of the Central Provinces of India has decreased
by considerably more than million. or So
per cent. The Central Provinces include Jubbul-
Dur Narbada Nagpur, Bustar and ChattisGarh
and Seeonee, name reminiscent of Mowgli $
four footed friends They are almost entirely
within the tropics, and form one of the poorest
and least important parts of the empire. The
figures given Indicate doubtless. the effects OF
the famInes Of 1897 and 1900 Some of the de-
crease NAV be due TO emigration but the vast
mass of II must he charged 10 death. Nor are
the figures of actual decrease all. We must
consider The potential decrease-if we may so
express it, In normal conditions the popula tion
should have increased L per cent. as ii did in
the preceding decennial period. We must add
the figures of that failure to increase to those OF
the actual decrease. There should have beer
an increase of 1IS90O0 Instead there was a
decrease of I.116,000 The total loss, actual
and potential was thus 2.655,nO0. so that today
the region has only l1.714.o00 inhabitants, in
stead of the l4.3G9.OO0 it should have-or would
have had but for the famine.
That as we have said, seems appalling and
is appalling 1t will scarcely do, however, TO
jump az the conclusion that such the re-
government over India In the first place the
worst of this loss fell upon the native States
among the Central Provinces In the second
place if il had not been for the works and
bounty of the government the ravaCes Of famine
would have been vastly greater than they
were; rs they were in former years. And in
the third place it is well known that while
before the British occupation the population OF
India was small and stationary, il not actually
diminishing, since that event II has grown
steadily and rapidly until il has reached enor-
nous proportions. That is indicated by the
fact. already cited. that from 1881 10 1891 the
population Of the Central Provinces increased
! by II per cent. II is quite safe 10 say that
since the British conquest the population of the
empire has considerably more than doubled,
and it has done so because of that conquest or
because of the peace and the improved sanitary,
industrial and other conditions which that con
quest imposed upon the land
We have, then. the curious phenomenon of
life being protected until 1t becomes self-de-
structive. For civilization has caused the in
crease Of population. and that increase has so
overcrOwded the land that in bad seasons there
is not enough food for the people and they
perish of famine. The solution Of the appar-
emily paradoxicaI problem is, however. not diff
cult 10 Hnd IL Hes not IN aDandonlng nut IN
still further promoting the process of civiliza-
ton. The prohibition of wars, the quarantin-
ing Of pestlence the destruction of dangerous
beasts and serpents, the publication of water
supplies and the Introduction of sanitation and
therapeutics have led TO vast increase of popu-
lation. II remains for extension of irriga-
ton TO make men comparatively independent of
the weather. for improved agricultural methods
10 double the productivity of the soil and for
added railroad and other transportation facili-
ties 10 put all parts of the empire into more i'm
mediate touch, each with the other BY such
means the census may he made to show all
gain and no loss.