Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 58, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 December 1908 — Our Population Limit. [ARTICLE]

Our Population Limit.

It is often predicted that this country will have a population of at least 200,000,000, perhaps before the end of this century. The basis for this assumption is, of course, the remarkable growth of the last fifty years. But in order to double the present figures the country would have to look to something else than native fertility. Immigration has peopled the United States to a great extent. But immigration, as pointed out by Mr. W. S. Ross iter of the census bureau, cannot be relied upon to keep up the rate of Increase for a long period in the future. The limit fixed by this authority is 130,000,000, and after 1960 he thinks the population will remain stationary. Our gains from Immigration have always been fluctuating, not steady. Foreigners come here to better themselves. Whenever the prospect has changed they have ceased to come, and this will doubtless be the rule In the future.