The Washington times., 1903-08-28
The Growth of Population.
Production Keeps Pace With 1t, and
There Is No Danger of Crowding.

The recent bulletin issued by the
Census Bureau, which discusses the
increase of population in the United
States, affords an interesting study.
II shows that, exclusive of Alaska and
the Philippines, there were in 1900
approximately 100000 more inhab-
ilants in the country than there were
ten years before that time, or an in
crease of POI per cent. This is
greater percentage of increase than
was made by any other country III the
same period of time with the excep-
ton of Argentina.
Upon this basis Of growth, if stead
lily maintained, the population of the
United States fifty years hence should
be close TO 15O,00O,OOO or nearly dou-
bic what it was in 1900. 1t is not inn
probable. however, that in view of the
great tide of immigration which is
now flowing in, almost without re-
striction, that before 1850 the number
Of inhabitants will be twice what it Is
now, which viii mean that, instead OF
having a population of twenty-five
persons to each square mile of terri
tory, we shall have fifty 10 the square
mile.
Still, there is no danger that the
country will then be overcrowded, or
that any of us shall want for elbow
room, unless it be in the large cities
Not until our population has in
creased four times what it is now will
we be as densely huddled together as
are the people of continental Europe,
taken as a whole. Not until we have
increased fourteenfold throughout the
United States will the entire country
be as densely populated as Is Massa.
ckusetts, and not until the population
IS increased to sixteen times its pres
cnt number will we have as a nation
as many inhabitants to the square
mile as has Rhode Island. the most
densely populated state III the Union
Yet from Little Rhody" we hear no
complaint that anyone is crowded
There Is even room enough for the
smart set of Newport to move about
freely without becoming contaminated
with the common people.
With the growth of population
100000 in ten years, there has
been an enormous growth of produc-
ton which would seem to dispose Of,
and fatty contradict, the doctrine of
Malthus-if the theory that popula-
ton increases In the geometric ratio,
while production increases in the
arithmetic ratio, Is, in this day,
seriously entertained by anyone.
Certainly within the past ten years
production has more than kept pace
with population, for despite the IN
crease of the latter the former has
been so augmented that our exports
are now not 9nly larger actually, but
larger in proportion than they have
ever been before. With modern ap-
piIances, with agriculture rapidly be
coming reduced to a science. with If
ngation changing TIE arid regions OF
the West into fertile fields Astounding
with rich harvests, with the diverSifi-
cation of crops, there Is no danger
that production will not maintain Its
present comparison with populationSl
There IS still room enough III the
State of Texas alone 20 provide homes
for every man, woman, and child Iii
the United States, and after that were
done the density of population would
not be as great in Texas as 1t Is at
present IN Massachusetts.
II is a big country, this land Of
ours, with immense possibilities-cap-
able, perhaps, of supporting ten hun
bred millions of people or more.