Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-06-24
Editorial Comment
1t Is Still a Growing Country

NbOSlOI Transcript
, An estimate of the pUpulat ion OF
the United States, as of Jan. /,
1924, places it at l12,2S6,000, a sain
of 1,943,000 during the preceding
year. These are the figures oil the
National Bureau of Economic Re-
search, Inc. They are in substantial
agreement with other estimates. Not
only Is the country growing at the
rate OF about 100000 a year, but IL
has been showing tendency in the
past few years to increase the per-
centage of growth. Restriction of
immigration under the new law will
have it's effect, but the figures for
1928 show that the gain from the
excess of immigration over emil
grafton as the law then stood, was
less than the gain from the ex-
cess of births over deaths The
majority of the new Americans are
in the native born infant class.
That may comfort some people who
think that even with a restricted
immigration the foreign born popu-
lation will increase out of >propor-
ton to the increase in the native
born.
1t is of interest to compare the
figures for the United States with
the figures for the world. Recent
complications place the total of the
earth's inhabitants at about 1,7OO,-
100000. On that basis, about one
person in fifteen among the popula-
ton of the world is a resident of
the United States. The experts esti-
mate that world population has
doubled in about one hundred years,
The population of the United States
has doubled in about forty. If it
maintains growth in the present
ratio it will double again in about
the same length of time. But here
in case where, perhaps. it is unsafe
to base prediction on the ex-
perience of the past.
Some people may wonder whether
or not the country is in danger of
becoming so thickly peopIed that it
will be increa singly difficult for the
great majority to live in comfort.
On that point, expert opinion is
reassuring. o. 7. Austin. statis-
tician of the National City Bank,
who, several years ago, contributed
an article on population to the
Encyclopedia Americana. made the
statement that IF all the people of
the entire world were set down in
continental United States, exclusive
OF Alaska. our average density of
population per square mile would be
less than that of England today"
1t would seem that people now liv-
ing need not worry for fear that
they or their immediate descendants
Will be in danger of being crowded
out of the country or of finding
existence within 1t increasingly
difficult.
1t is true. Of course, that con-
tinued growth in population means
continued increase in demand for
the products of the country as well
as for the articles 1t imports in ex-
change for the wares it has to send
abroad. But, during the years in
which the population of the country
has doubled. the national wealth, as
measured in dollars, has increa sed
from about $4,000, 900 to more
than 100000, ooe, 900. Without
entering upon discussion of the
exact significance Of such figures, it
may be said that great increase in
the national wealth is reflected in
the mode OF life of the people.
Americans live better today than
they did forty years ago. 1t is trite
to say that the Injuries Of yesterday
day. yet it is measurably true.
There are more Americans than
ever before. but there is greater
stock of wealth and greater
productive power on which to draw.
The question involved in the in
crease in population relates, there
fore, to quality and assimilabilitv
rather than to quantity. Therein is
justification for reasonable re-
striction Of immigration. And
therein Is argument in favor of eff
1ectlve measures to see that in
crease In facilities for education and
the training of good citizens goes
with this increase in numbers. -.