Red River prospector. (Red River, Taos County, N.M.) 1900-190?, 1907-03-07
INMIl Q

Philadelphia.-The latest estimate
Of the total population of the world is
1,4S7, 800, 900, yet a French statistician,
DR.. Meslier, has just published some
figures by which he strives to prove
that the human race is dying out.
Limited TO the birth rate in Europe
IN and a few other countries of white
population, DR.. Meslier appears to
have established his case. His figures,
at any rate, are startling, but, as he
leaves out of consideration some of
the most populous countries and pro
life peoples-the Asiatic races-it is
doubtful If he maintains his position.
Taking the years of 1881 to 1908, he
says that for every thousand married
women from Is to 55 years of age
taken from different countries the
births have decreased in England is
per cent, ten per cent. in Scotland,
ten per cent. in Bavaria, seven per
cent. in Italy, seven per cent. in
Sweden, IL per cent. in Russia, II per
cent. in France, II per cent. in Den,
mark. Is per cent. in New Zealand. "a
per cent. in Saxony, 20 per cent. in
the state Of Victoria and 80 per cent,
in New South Wales. AS the census
returns of the United States for 1900
are as yet incomplete, there are nc
satisfactory figures upon which DR.
Meslier a carry his comparisons to
this country.
If the birth rate figures are missing
the mortality statistics of some SO OF
the principal cities of the United
States show that there is an appreci
able decrease in all but two cities
New Orleans and Columbus-between
1890 and 1900.
Birth Rate of Past.
The ancients did not leave any very
authentic records of the population oil
their cities or countries, but such frag
mentary information as has descended
to our times shows a steady and con
tsnuous growth in the number of the
worlds people, says the Philadelphia
Ledger. While the birth rate, proper
%tionately, was perhaps greater in some
parts of the world 1000 years ago thar
it is to-day, long years of warfare ant
commissions of nature, to say nothing
of accident, assassination and disease
kept the growth of population within
a narrow rate of progression.
Only the barest estimates Of the
population of the world are possible
before the nineteenth century. Ever
now a universal census is wanting. Blu.
the present means of estimating leaC
to more reasonable results than were
possible so recently as a hundred
years ago.
The cry that the human race il
dying out was not unfamiliar IL
ancient Rome and in Sparta. Effort!
were made in those states to rectify
the failing birth rate by enacting vari
GUS laws. In the meantime a new
world has been discovered and thu
globes population, despite innumer
able natural and artificial drawbacks
has grown probably a hundredfold.
1.-THE American Idea"
An American woman, Mrs. Lydia X
commander, known as a mi sui
fragist, has just published a book un
der the title, The American Idea," il
which she tries to show that what sh,
calls the American race-not Indians
but the people who have stamped thei
individuality upon the country-is dis
appearing. She declares that two Chi
dren are the limit of an American fam
lily, rich or poor, educated or unedu
Gated.
About a century ago Prof. Malthu
in a voluminouS exposition attempte,
to prove that In a few centuries tn.
world would have progression of in
las in the food supply. The Ma
thusian theory still continues to alarm
certain lyceum platform orators, bu