Show CAPACITY OF THE EARTH its population and the number it hold when will the earth have all the people upon it that it can accommodate that is a question which some sober economists and sociologists have lately thought fit to take into serious consideration bringing to bear upon it the light of statistical research before the british association for the advancement of science at its recent meeting mr Kaven a well known statistician estimated that whereas the total population of the earth is now a little eleias than one billion five hundred millions there is room on the earth for very nearly six billions of inhabitants that is toay when the space on the earth available for the support of human beings ia fully occupied it will be found capable of maintaining four and a half billions more of people than it now contains or four times as many people as there are now in the world this seems at first glance to be very encouraging to the human race but mr ravenstein says it is not because the ace is increasing in these days of civilization security and easy exchange among the nations so very much faster than it ever increased before that this margin will be exhausted and the world be full in a little over one hundred and eighty years by the year 2072 according to mr Raven steins calculations the earth will have the six billions of inhabitants who are all that there is room for and must asit were hang out the sign standing toom only living room there will be none it is interesting to know that there were other men of science present at the meeting of the british association when these figures were given out who did not at all agree with mr eaven steins conclusions they insisted that it is impossible to calculate at the present time what the ratio of increase of the worlds population will be a generation or two hence or what are the earths real capabilities for sustaining life not only may the ratio of increase be sensibly altered but the nourishing capacity of the earth may be added to many fold christian union |