Evening star., 1950-07-26
Our Population and the Future

Our continental population gain of nearly
100000 since 1940-the greatest ten year
increase in our history-shows that our country,
despite forecasts to the contrary in the 1930s is
not entering a period of declining birth rates
and a leveling off of overall numbers. Actually,
the Census Bureaus recent count of noses points
to the exact opposite a continuing
growth of such vitality that our present total of
bit more than $50, 100000 may mount to as high
as 250,000y000 within the next so years.
The growth trend of course, has been world
wide in scope, with the earth's humans-now
totaling well over 10000 multiplying at
the rate of 2OO,000,0O0 every decade. Relatively
speaking, however with our own American
increase approximating 10 per cent of the entire
global increase since 1910, our national vitality
to the extent that it can be measured in
terms OF mounting numbers-SeemS particularly
impressive notably so because it has been accom-
panied by marked and steady improvement in
our living standards and in our agricultural and
industrial productivity. In that sense, even If
their population is expanding faster than ours
the Russians still lag far behind.
AS in the world at large, the steady popula-
ton increase in this country Is highly significant
1t involves much more than such things as
reapportionment of congressional seats or a
change in the relative Importance of our States
~,
and otherwise, 1t has profoundly meaningful
bearing on our future both as regards our
domestic life and our position in the international
balance of power Certainly if the present trend
continues (no one can be sure that it will or
Will not), its effects on us are bound to be far
reaching. For it will mean that within so years
there will be about 10O,000000 more Americans
than there are nova growth affecting virtually
every aspect of our existence as a Nation. AS for
the globe as whole-again assuming that the
present trend continues-there will be- by 1000
AID, an additional 10000 900 human beings.
Although great segments of humanity are
inadequately fed right now most students of
the subject are convinced that the earth
leaving aside the food-creating possibilities of
atomic energy-is bountiful enough, if properly
used to provide a good life for an immensely
increased population. In any case, as far as
the United States is concerned there is no
doubt that it is sufficiently rich and productive
to support much more than an additional
100,000,000 Americans. Indeed, according to such
organizations as the Brookings Institution,
our country, when and If its people number
300,000000, should be able-with its vast internal
market and its capacity to produce-to attain
"a plane Of living some eight times as high as
that now prevailing"
Similarly, other experts have estimated that
five decades from now, our national income
If 1t keeps on increasing as it has since 1900,
along with our growing population-will be a
trillion dollars year, or more than four times
the present figure. All this, of course, is condi-
toned on such factors as an enduring peace,
steady improvement in productivity, the wise
use of our natural resources, the maintenance
of fiscal stability and continuing vigor in our
ree-enterprise system. Given those things,
then this Nation, with its steadily increasing
numbers, will have an opportunity to achieve
the most advanced and happiest civilization in
the history of the world.