The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-04
When America Is Grown
POPULATION.
ny FREDERIC J. HAsKIN.

- = Z
ny FREDERIC j. HAsKIN.
The American nation Is yet in It's
youth. The periods Of depression
tho growing pains OF the boy In knick-
erbockers. They are painful at the
time, but instead OF being cause for
pesslmism they are In truth the earn
est OF hope. They have Invariably re-
suited In a reimbursement OF conditions
for better things on larger scale. 1t
does not require the Inspiration of 4
prophet to project upon tho screen OF
the future the picture of what the
United states will be when it comes
among nations. The mathematician
by his exact skin predicted years ago
what we are to-day. The same cal
culation which has never failed TO
forecast the totals OF our decennial
ccnsuses shows that by the year 1000
ton OF 3S5,00000o. This is five times
greater than the American population
to-day. In the past ninety years the
increase was tenfold.
The present territory Of the country
will be amply able to take care OF
that immense number of people. No
one regards Maryland as an over
crowded State. but II tho density Of
Its population We're extended all over
the country there would be the $751;
100000 people predicted for tho year
1000. II the density OF the New Eng
land States and the States OF the North
Atlantic group north OF the Potomac
were extended, the country would have
nearer 400, 100000. The predicted pop
latlon OF ninety years hence would
give 1873 persons to the square mile,
leaving five acres to each person.
To carry the illustration little
farther. If the whole country had as
many people to It's size as Rhode
Tel n
l.250,000,000. The basis OF Massachu-
sets population would carry ii be-
yond the 1,000,0o0,000 mark. II all
the States were in Pennsyfyanip's
class the total would be 420,oo0,o0o.
There is no doubt OF the ability OF
quota of citizens. even II the matlle-
maticlan 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
be made habitable. Population is not
evenly distributed now. and 1t will
never be. The same reasons which
have caused the building OF the me-
tropolis of Manhattan will contiue to
operate. New York will grow enor..
mously. other great cities VIII expand
and new great cities will arise.
But, for the sake OF graphic pic
ture OF our great destiny. let it be
assumed that the cities Of today VIII
tho whole country. New York will in
ninety years be the biggest city In
the world. with 100000 people. TO
SLOWER in the coming nine decades
than 1t has been In the past. Chicago
Will be there with 100000. twice as
great as the New York Of to-day.
Philadelphia will have 100000. and
Will be as large as the London of 1908.
Cleveland, Buffalo San Francisco. Gin
oinnati and Pittsburg will be over the
100000 mark and the 'millionaires'
Will include New Orleans. Detroit MIL
waukee,; washington; NeT pG Le VI,
mond. Atlanta and Memphis will be as
tlargc as the st. Louis OF to-day, and
Omaha will be bigger than Boston Is
now. The town Of 10000 now Will have
100000 then.
This is hint OF the destiny which
men ment Of the year 1000 viii be tie re-
suit OF all the years that lie in be-
| tween now and then. The growth Is
goag on new the r growing dasr pains are
| those already grown up. have even now
| a much greater contract In caring for
their people than the United States
iwill have when all of these predictions
I United dea States and Mexico We're to 5e
forclbly removed to the State Of Ohio
| the Buckeye State would be no more
crowded than is the habtable portion
of Japan to-day.
| try In the next ninety years Will no,
| be nearly as remarkable as the growtl
1 OF England In the century following
the loss OF its. American colonies. =
n mi To, 1nSc
ful to contemplate than the London :, 9,
Ito-day would have been to the mind:
graced the reign OF Queen Anne q,
4 When Columbus discovered Ame TIC
\ only 50.000,0O0. 1t Is now 4oo'oou,oou
4 and the habltable area Of. europe y
4 Just about the same as that OF ",
4 United States, leaving out Alaska am
4 the Islands Of the sea.
to meet tho responsibility Of the greia
growth of the country Is inevlaapif;
(. From movements now under way
is possible to foresee some g. OF tmeS
changes. The arid deserts of the grea
4 West will be turned into Wonderfull!
4 fertile fields and gardens. lrrigatio,,,
& and the science Of dry farming WI
|reclaim every possible square men
soil, and the desert YIN he b Pa ~ pr roc
Tho swamp lands Of the country WI
be drained and turned into productiv
! fields, Tho everglades of Southern
FLORIDA will be transformed from q
. impnssatle morass, and In ninety year
!, from now will be famed as the riches
! GARDEN Of tropical fruits In the worit
The broad acres OF the swamps OF tn
Southern Mississippi Valley VIII D
: reclaimed for the. use OF the tarnel
!, WHO will supply tho people with cot
! ton for their backs and sugar for thei
! tables. a.,
The Panama Canal will then DO ~
!, fthee United states will have a metro
!. lpolltan city on4the canal zone, free
I, by science from every terror Of tn
!, VII have built up great ports on til
: QUIZ Glt Of Of Mexico, New Orleans and Gal
!. weston will outstrlp the ratio Of II
i crease and Will be we'll In nj the mi
!. ~ IL. 5,,,ill he }connecyed with the Gu