Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-03
Robert P. Porter on the Natural
Growth Of Population.
PREDICTS 30o,OOo,O00 FOR YEAR 200l
The New Auditor for the War
Department Calls.
PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATIONS

Robert P. Porter, the superintendent OF
the last census. the first caller to see
the President this morning. He had no
official business to discuss and he merely
paid his respects. Mr.. Porter has some in
teresting views to the probable popula-
ton of the United States at the close of
the present century.
Taking all past records as a basis
said Mr.. Porter, "the population of the
United States at the close of this century
ought to be at least 800 coo, 600, but no one
can prophesy this with any particle of hope
that it will be approximately correct. AT
the beginning of the nineteenth century-a
hundred years ago-all the statistcians of
prominence estimated that the population
of the United States at this time would be
100, 100000. These predictions were based
on the increase prior to that time
1.-The natural increment of healthy
country like England is 11a per cent year.
or about 10 per cent a decade. BY that is
meant the augmentation by birth, giving
no consideration to the growth by imml-
grafton If we should increase at the rate
of ~ per cent year by natural means and
continue along these lines for the next 100
years the population would be 3oo QUO ,ooo
not counting the increase by Immigration
but there is much in the census statistics
of ten years ago and now to cast doubt
upon the anticipated heavy increase.
I'm the larger cities of the country, for
instance, the tendency is apparently TO
smaller families. In some of the large
cities the size of the families has decreased
from five to four children. Suppose that in
the next thirty, forty or fifty years the de-
crease in the number OF chlldren 10 the
family is from four to three children, the
effect will be great. Then later, II the de-
crease should be to two children. as is the
tendency in France, the increment in pop
ulation would almost stop There Is no
doubt that as the population of a country
increases the fight for life becomes more
bitter and more serious. In France, as
well known, the population practically
stands still. Each family is satisfied with
two chldren-a boy and girl. The French
people go on the theory that the battle for
existence is terrible an affair now with
out adding TO its terrors by more people 10
share what there is to be divided. Nobody
can tell now whether such an idea viii a.
tain growth in this country in the future.
'fThe truth IS that the best actuary can
not predict with any accuracy for period
of more than ten twenty years In the
course of a few more years the young peo-
pie of this country may conclude, by reason
Of a desire to eVadc too much responsibility
in family affairs, that they will not marry
until they are several years oider tnan tne
average period for marriage now. The eff
feet of this on the population would De
great. Let US suppose that the m fiage-
able age for young men Is now Twenty-Five
do not remember the exact fgure. Ihey
decide not to marry until they are older
saw twenty-six The decrease here alone
would be 1,OO0.0CO children IN decade.
New War Department Auditor.
Frederick E. Rittman of Cleveland. Ohio,
whose nomination for auditor for the War
Department was prepared for the Senate
today, called on the President. Mr.. Ritz
man is here 20 enter upon his duties as soon
as his nomination is confirmed by the Sem
ate. Mr.. Rittman was for many years the
cashier of the old National Bank of Com
merce of Cleveland, and was winding up its
affairs when he was offered the authorship
here He is a personal friend of Senator
Hanna as was the late Auditor Morris
President Mckinley has not decided upon
deputy auditor for the department..
Porto Rican Attorney General.
The name of Asa E. Stratton of Troy,
Ala, was presented to the President to-
day as a candidate for attorney general of
Porto Rico, to succeed John H. Russell Of
Illinois, resigned, but the President said
that the nomination Of James F. Harlan
Of Illinois had been made out. Mr.. STRAIT
ton was agreed upon by both the Alabama
republican factions for the position and
was highly spoken of to the President.
Senator Deboe and Representative Bore
ing of Kentucky talked to the President
about Kentucky matters, especially regard
ing the nomination OF Judge James Danton
for collector to succeed John w. Yerkes.
Presidential Nominations.
The President today sent the following
nominations to the Senate:
Oscar f. Williams of New York, to be
consul general at Singapore; Frank R.
Mower of Ohio, to be consul at Antigua,
w. l.; Frederick E. Rittman Of Ohio to be
auditor for the War Department; Clinton
D. Macdougall Of New York, marshal of
! the United States for the northern district
| of New York; james F. Harlan O"Illinois,
| to be attorney general of Porto Rico; Capt
| II. A. Shaw, assistant surgeon, U. s. A.,
| to be surgeon of volunteers, with rank of
| major; Corporal George Steuenberg, Troop
| A, 11th Cavalry, u S. ", to be first lieu
| tenant; Commander Augustus G. Kellogg
Z. S. N, retired to be transferred from
| the furlough to the retired pay list in &C
cordance with the provisions Of section
| 1894 of the Revised Statutes