Evening star., 1940-07-29
Population 10 Reach
StandstiII or Drop BY
1880, Board Says
Motion Of Older Persons
Predicted in Survey
By Planning Agency

A Nation Of older persons. with
the population coming to q standstill
or declining after reaching l58, $780,
600 in 1880, was predicted yesterday
by the National Resources Planning
Board In . critical survey of human
and material resources of the United
States.
Forty years hence the number of
persons from IS to 64 will almost
double In number and persons over
ga will almost triple, the board said.
At the same time. the number of
children years OF age and under
will decline Is per cent and those
from to 10 will drop IA per cent,
it was said.
The 1910 population of the country
was estimated at l3l, $4,000
Increase In Homes for AGED Seen.
The board saw an increase In the
number of homes for the aged and
mental hospitals attending the
changes in ages OF the people. Other
problems will arise with the de-
clining number Of young children,
1t was predicted.
The board surveyed resources from
the standpoint of national defense
and found a critical problem arising
should the countries which are the
sources OF some needed imports be-
come oelligerent nations. It also
suggested the need for 4 review of
the patent system to determine
whether it is in keeping with the
needs for human progress and The
economic good.
The planning body criticized the
Federal Government for what it de-
seribed As its lack of planned So
operation in research and for it's
extreme" delays in issuing Federal
reports.
Although pointing out that tn.
United States approaches self.
sufaciency in its domestic supplies
OF minerals important for national
defense more nearly than any other
country, the board declared that il
= national emergency the limited
domestic supplies would have to be
supplemented
Problem Of Imports.
"As we are almost entirely de.
pendent upon imports for our sup
plies of tin and nickel, an acute
problem presents itself during times
OF war" the board wrote. Our for
eign sources are vulnerable to
blockade"
After declaring that the depres-
sion cost the Nation some 5000 .O0o.-
000, 900 in income from 1929 to 1897.
the board struck at the "maladJust-
ments" IN the relationship between
production, purchasing power, in
come, employment and investment
Such maladjustments have brought
about depression and the suffering
and waste that result, the board
asserted.
I'm an effort to bring our eco
nomic system into better adjustment
by improving its organization and
emciency," the board said, "the
basic question arises of how much
adjustment Of key economic proc
esses is necessary. The problem,
moreover, is to determine what
types of changes will tend to in
crease national production and con-
sumption, without limiting the civil
liberties and freedom that are in
herent in our domestic field"
The board criticized the different
sets of policies followed in the regu-
lation OF transportation facilities
railroads, highways, airways, water
ways and pipe lines.
Conflicts in Policies.
Conflicts in these policies are
now serious and far reaching" 1t
said, calling for a co-ordinated
transportation policy.
The board assailed ''unfettered
competition" in the bituminous coal
industry which it said has led to
waste of irreplaceable resources"
and asked for g. remedy effectively
Is balance production against 2e-
quirements.
In regard to the lag" in recrea-
tional facilities, the board said that
"one of the most serious problems at
present is providing facilities for the
millions of unemployed citizerg, in
order to help maintain their morale
and physical vigor."
Expressing concern over the health
Of the Nation, the board said q third
Of the population is receiving in
adequate or no medical service. An
even larger part of the population
suffers from economic burdens cre-
ated by illness, 1t declared.
The board also discussed prob
lens Of education and public works,
and the conservation Of land, forests,