The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-06-20

IN which Mr.. HaSkin will project the
future of the United States toward
the time when America is grown -
They look forward to the year 1000,
but they are not merely imaginative
conjectures, as they base all predic-
lions upon the natural growth of
conditions now obtaining. Today's
article tells of the grown-up America
in respect to Population. The others
will treat of Wealth, Agriculture,
Manufactures. Applied Science, Educa-
ton and Political Importance. All will
preach the truths of optimism.l
advertiser Correspondence, Copyright
by Frederic J. Haskin)
The American nation is yet in
its youth. The periods of depres-
sion which it sometimes suffers are
but the growing pains of the boy in
knickerbockers. They are painful at
the time, but instead of being cause
for pessimism they are in truth the
earnest of hope. They have invariably
resulted in a readjustment of condi-
tons for better things on a larger
scale. 1t does not require the inspira-
ton of prophet to project upon the
screen of the future the picture of
what the United States will be when
it comes to it's estate as a full grown
man among nations. The mathema-
tician by his exact skill predicted
TIL.
same calculation which has never fail
ed to forecast the totals of our de-
cennial censuses shows that by the
year 1000. the United States will have
a population of 3S5, OOO, 900. This is five
times greater than the American popu-
lation today. In the past ninety years
the increase was ten-fold.
The present territory of the country
viii be amply able to take care of
that immense number of people No
one regards Maryland as an over
crowded state; but if the density of
its population We're extended all over
the country there would be the 3S5,00O,-
900 people predicted for the year 1000.
If the density of the New England
States and the states of the North
Atlantic group north of the Potomac
were extended, the country would have
nearer four hundred million. The
predicted population of ninety years
hence would give 12S persons to the
square mile, leaving five acres to each
person.
To carry the Illustration a little
farther, if the whole country had as
many people to it's size as Rhode ISL
and it would have a population Of
billion and a quarter. The basis of
Massachusetts population would car
ry it beyond the billion mark. If all
the states were in Pennsylvania class
the total would be 100000, 900.
There is no doubt of the ability of
the country to take care of its full
quota of citizens, even if the mathema-
tician is Understanding the mark.
of course these figures are made upon
the basis that all of the territory of
the country will be Inhabited. That
cannot be hoped for, because much of
the great mountain ranges can never
be made habitable. Population is not
evenly distributed now. and it will
never be- The same reasons which
have caused the building of the me-
tropolis of Manhattan will continue to
operate. New York will grow enor-
mously, other great cities will expand
and new great cities will arise.
But, for the sake of graphic pic
ture of our great destiny, let it be
Nf
increase in accordance with the ratio
which will govern the population of
the whole country. New York will in
ninety years be the biggest city in
the world with 100000 people. To
attain this. its growth viii BE- much
slower in the coming nine decades
than it has been in the past Chicago
will be there with eight million. twice
as great as the New York of today
Philadelphia will have six million, and
will be as large as the London of 1905
cleveland. Buffalo. san Francisco, Gin
and Pittsburg will be over the
two million mark and the million
aires" will include New Orleans, De-
troit Milwaukee. washington, New
ark. Louisville. Minneapolis and st.
Paul. Richmond, Atlanta and Mem
phis will be as large as the st. Louis
of today and Omaha will be bigger
than Boston is now. The town OF
now will have
hundred thousand then.
This is a hint of the destiny which
Is surely ahead of this richest and
newest of countries. The accomplish
ment of the year 1000 will be the re-
suit of all the years that lie in be-
tween now and then. The growth is |
going on now, the growing pains are
evidence of it. The older nations. |
those already grown up, have even |
now a much greater contract in car
ng for their people than the United |
States will have when all of these |
predictions are realized. If every
body in the United States and Mexico !
we're to be forcibly removed to the |
state of Ohio. the Buckeye state
would be no more crowded than is
he habitabIe portion of Japan today
The predicted growth of this eoun-
~ in the next ninety years will not
,e nearly as remarkable as the growth
# England in the century following
10 lose Of ire American colonies. \