DECREASE AFTER 1980

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23083, 7 July 1938, Page 13

DECREASE AFTER 1980

AMERICA'S POPULATION REPORT TO THE PRESIDENT INCREASE AMONG INDIANS (Received July 6, 7.40 p.m.) "WASHINGTON. July 6 The population of the United States will reach its peak at 158,000,000 in the yeai 1930, but after that it will slowly decrease unless births increase or immigration policies are altered, according to a report of the National Resources Committee to President Roosevelt. The committee found that the rate of growth during the depression period was only half that of the decade 192030, which was below that of any previous decade. The committee is not alarmed by the prospect of a gradual decline, and suggests it might afford a chance to work out better human relations. Surprisingly, the American Indian is the most rapidly increasing racial stock. The whites and negroes are reproducing at an equal rate, but the negro death rate is the higher.

In a report recently on the population trends in the United States, Mr. Leon E. Truesdell, chief statistician for population, stated that in 1790, when the first census was taken, the population was only 3,929,214. Each subsequent 10-yearly census up to 1860 showed an increase of about one-third over tho preceding one; from 1860 to 1910 the decennial increase was around 20 or 25 jx'r cent; for the last two census decades tho figures have been only 15 or 16 per cent; and for tho period from 1930 to 1940 the increase seems likely to bo not more than 7 or 8 per cent. Mr. Truesdell stated that an important factor in the slowing-down of tho population increase was the change in the situation in respect of immigration. Between 1920 and 1930 the average annual net immigration was about .300,000, while since 1930 tho excess of departures over arrivals has averaged about 50,000 a year. Further, the birth rate has fallen from 24.3 per 1000 in 1921 to 16.9 in 1935. Tho total population of the United States at the 1930 census was 122,775,046, including 11,891,143 negroes and 332,397 American Indians.