The Delta independent., 1907-02-22

savage ID COHItnI Will ~IeSIluk II IVui
nature the simple necessaries of life
But the modern idea of duty is consef-
walton of the old and modelling of the
ew in order that posterity may have 2
falrer dwelling place and thus transmit
the outward impulse. The ideal of the
prudent, loving, careful head of every
family is the true ideal for a nation Of
rational men. The people of the United
States, as far as any perhaps, have
meant to follow this pattern, 1t is worth
while to consider how far they have
been successful and where they have
failed. For not for eight centuries has
any people found itself lowered with
such embarrassment of riches. n
The average man is often more i'm
terested in speculative theories than b
his plain duty toward himself and his
neighbor. The average state is filled
with visions of its place in the process
sion of the years. while it overlooks
the running account of daily expenses.
Problems we have found and trifled
with, in confusing number and variety;
but the problem of the future material
condition of our country, of an inventory
of its assets and liabilities, of the newt
able demands upon Its resources and the
careful adjustments by which alone
they may be preserved has thus far
been a subject for little more than .
passing thought. National security
calls for a just accounting of the bust
ness affairs of this great nation.
ALooK AHEAD.
Let US try to cast our minds twenty
or twenty-five years ahead and seA
what will then be our condition. The
main elements of this problep, whioh
above all others Is erowdix9 upon u !,
attention. are three: Possibilities OF
population, actual and possible natural
resources. and possibilities of productive
application of one to the other As the
prudent man. about settling himself IN
life. sums up his possessions. his oppor-
tunities for earning income and the de-
mands upon him of family to be far
ly cared for and left in a position to
begin the world at least as advanta-
geously as he himself, SO the people of
the United States should know with
reasonable exactness just where We
shall stand half a century from now.
INCREASE IN POPULATION.
The population index has thes mpllc
ity of ascertaincd vital statistics. Sub.
tracing from the total population ot
the country as returned by each cencu~
since 1850 the immigration for the de
cennial period, the ratio of increase for
the first decade is slightly over. am
for the second decade slightly und,r
fifteen per cent. So careful an obscrl
er as Leroy Beaulieu gives the naturAl
increase of our population as fiftt;''!
and two-tenths per thousand per yea
1t is fair. therefore, to reckon the Ir
crease by the excess of births ov,~
deaths at fifteen per cent on the ave.
age. for each decade. The additions Is
immigration are more variable. ], :
highly probable, however, that the oi.
coming tide will increase. Only in PEI
iods of severe depre ssion has immigrA
ton fallen much below the half millior
mark for the last twenty-five year
In good or fairly good times it has gon,
greatly above. In the two years befor,
1905 it exceeded SOC, 600 annually. whI,
for each of the last two years it h,~
exceeded | 100000. lti a conserva,i>r
n,Ne 70 II n 90.
year for increase of population frcn,
this source, or I, 500, 900 for each decade
Computed on this basis, the population
of the United States in the near futur,
will show these totals:
Population in 1910. 95.2iS, So
Population in 1920. ........ III. .O36. 22!'
Population in 1880. O......... l42. .09l .665
Population in 1910 ....... l7O, ,9O5, IL
Popu lation in 1850 ........ 2O4, OIL 22,G
The startling quality of these figures
is the magnitude of our problem. 1t Is
not even problem of tomorrow. bu,
of to-day. Within forty-four years We
shall have to meet the wants of more
than two million people. In less than
twenty years from this moment the
United States will have 1870. 900, 900 peo-
pie. Where are these people. not Of
some dim, distant age, but of this very
generation now growing to manhood.
to be employed and how supported:
When the searchlight is thus suddenly
turned on, we recognize not mere
speculation, but the grim face of that
specter which confronts the mem ployed,