The Irish standard., 1901-02-02
OUR POPULATION.
Predictions of The Census for tho
Coming Century by Director
General Merriam.

r
population is concerned, there is some
opportunity to make comparison
OF the year 1900 with the last YEAR
OF the century about to end and to
show the enormous strides, not only
! in the number of our people, but also
in the industrial and material situa-
ton, says w. r. Merriam, in the New
York Herald
1t also affords to the speculative
mind an opportunity to peer into the
future, and prophesy, perhaps, with
that delightful uncertainty which
characterizes all prophecy. as to what
is in store for us in the year 1000.
We were fairly launched as nation
in 1900, with q trifie over 100000
people scattered throughout the
states and western territories. Most
OF the inhabitants engaged in pas
toral pursuits. There were NO cities
OF Importance. and comparatively few
of the leading statesmen had any idea
of the tremendous growth that would
come to us in the century just expir-
ing. 1t is hardly possible that the
eminent statesman and democratic
leader. Jefferson, who laid down such
wise rules for the government of tho
country, could have had the slightest
idea what would be the size or gov
eminent of a great city like Chicago
or New York in the year A. d. 1901.
Some Of the wise things attributed
to him do not seem to be adapted
to present conditions.
The rpupt ,yl,icb horr,r J,r>
last, shows that we have, including
Alaska and the Hawaiian islands,
something more than 76,3o5,0OO peo-
pie. All this in a hundred years! The
percentage of growth has been much
larger in America than In any inn
por'ant nation that prctrnds to take
y regular census. This is accounted
for III many ways. practically by the
invitation Of all the countries of Eu-
rope to send their people here. that
homes would be granted and equal
opportunities afforded them Thus
Immigration has largely accounted for
percentage of our increase.
The movement toward the west has
been constant. While all the awricul-
tural lands in the United States are
not taken up, yet Il considerable por-
ton OF them are, and the tide must
soon turn back from the Pacific coast,
checked ON the western side of the
country by he ocean.
1t is not likely that the percentage
of growth viii be as great in the ten
decades following as it has been in
the past. AS a matter of fact, it is
we'll known that the increase in the
number of people in cungcsicd coun-
tries is very much less Than in newer
i regions. For cNampIr, in Germany,
one of the strongest of the great ma
tinns of th" Garth, the increase is
something like II per cent. each
: decade; in England about the same
and in France not to exceed two per
cent. 50 HAT il is very difficult to
make Il hard aud fast rule of increase
SO far as population is concerned.
THINK il j. safe To say that the
per cent. of growth in America will
gradually diminish durinm the next
hundred wears. IL. however. ~ rate OF
IS per cont. nrr"',~r is continued, VIC
may look for s"mrihiu" like 400 ,o0O.-
COO people in Tia" year 1000.
!; Prof. l'ritrhcit. formerly supcrin-
tendent of the Goctclic survey, esti-
mates tha; the year 1000 will find
about $50, 100000. 1t is possible that
, the latter figure is more nearly corr
rect. There arc so many elements
that enter into the situation that it
is not possible to prophcsy the popu.
lation in he year 1000 with any de.
gree of accuracy.
J The great cities of New York and
Chicago will undoubtedly continue to
increase, and increase with great ra-
pidty. New York is likely to have
; 30 100000 people at The end of the
next century, and Chicago in propor-
; ton.
The Indications point to a remark
able expansion in our commerce. ow-
ing to the increase of trade with tho
orient, und We may fairly indulge
in the hope and belief that the vest
crn side of the continent will en-
nance in population and material
growth in a proportionately larger
way than heretofore.
Nl'''-h thSlC Oo
great shipl'uildng and vast manufac-
turing enterprises growing out of the
trade with China and the Philippine
islnnds.
think one is justified in the belief
that Il great city, perhaps the cquiva-
lent of Chicago, will find resting
place on the sea on the western side
OF the continent in response to tho
commercialism that is now ahead Of
us.
While we will have new problems Of
: governmental policy confronting us,
, am one of those who believe that
we shall solve them as we go along,
, and that our country will continue
, to offer the best opportunities in life
, for the greatest number of people,
and that Il century hence we shall
still be the greatest republic of the
| worlds history and continue in cur
{ material and intellectual growth as
| foretold by the fathers.
, How COrcnns Pray.
A returned sojourner in Corea tells
! that he asked native priest: Tell me
, why you people knecl down before a
. stone, or piece of wood, or any mani
mate object, and pray to it? Why not
nrav to God as Christians do?" ST