Fergus County Democrat., 1913-11-18
THE POPULATION Of
Ireland IS Increasing
TIDE or EMIGRATION APPEARS
TO HAVE BEEN CHECKED
At LAST.

Boston Transcript: That the tide Of
Irish national life. which has been
steadily ebbing for Is years, has
turned and that the "old sod" prom
ises to take on new vigor, is the claim
made by Francis ]. Kilkenny, origina-
tor of the Irish home-going movement.
In a statement to the press year ago
he asserted that a new era has already
dawned for Ireland, which is now sub
stantiated by figures of the recent Irish
census. Today he is out with new cal
culations which show that for the first
time in more than 20 years the popu-
lation of Ireland is increasing. During
the fiscal year ended June 30, 1912,
it appears that the birth rate exceeded
by 1,102 the loss by death and emigra-
ton. For tge same time the deaths
from all causes were the lowest since
1871. and the infant mortality the low
est ever recorded, being only 86 in
every 1000.
"The population of Ireland was at
high-water mark in 1841. the official
figures for that year being S,175, ,124,"
says Mr.. Kilkenny. Between. 1841
and 1851 the loss by death and emf
grafton amounted to over 100000.
Census statistics for the 10 years end
ed in 1861 showed decrease of over
II per cent: in 1871, the returns
showed a 611 per cent. decrease: in
1881, about AZ per cent; in 1891, 3
per cent, and in 1901, per cent. For
the decade ended 1911 it was only
about 112 per cent, and now for a
single year there is shown an increase
instead of the constant decrease. /
am satisfied that the next 1O-year cen.
sus figures instead of showing de.
crease will display a most satisfac-
tory increase in the population of the
island.
The census returns Of April 2, 1911,
make the total population 4,39O,21O
viz: 2.192.O4S males, 2,198,17 females
being decrease from the prior census
Of 68,556, or the smallest since the de
cade 1871-1881; however, in one prov
ince Geinster) there was an increase
Of 9,215, or nearly per cent So 1t is
shown that Ireland at the time of hel
low tide has about half the population
that she had Is years ago; and that
she is therefore the only country In
the civilized world whose population
has been terribly depleted through re
strictive legislation.
sIreland has suffered q heavy losi
from emigration. The drain upon hel
population in this direction even dur
ing the past five years averages 30,
900 annually. In 1907, $4,000 left Ire
land for other countries; in 1908, %,
900: 1909, $4,000; 1910, $4,000; 1911
10000; 1912. $4,000.
From May l, 1851, to March 81
1911, nearly 100000 natives OF Ire
land emigrated to other countries
The larger portion Of these emigrant
were between the ages of ID and y
years. Remuenrative employment II
ireland for men and women will nell
largely to check this drain upon ne
population.
zone good sign of Ireland's grow
ing prosperity is the increase In tn
number of inhabited houses. IN
number of inhabited houses In lSl
was reported at 861, 1873. or an increas
of 1921 over the returns for 1sol
while the returns also show that
better and more modern class OF CO..
tages is being built than in forme
years. Another sign promising grea
things for the future of Ireland Is tina
the vast estates formerly held by az
solute landlords are now being cult
waited by the Irish occupiers OF tn
soil, who, under the land act OF lso
and subsequent acts, have become tn
owners thereof. The land acts
1903 and 1909, the laborers' cottage az
of 1906 and the old-age pension act
1908 were enabling measures whlc
have given much relief and encourag
ment to the Irish people,"