2 THE AUDUBON. .B Urb Bila 
seaside. The impact upon the cliffs, flowers and wildlife has been enormous, 
In eight years, the number of cars in Vienna, Austria, has increased from 
80,000 to over 300,000, with 550,000 expected by 1980. The famed Vienna 
Woods are threatened with both housing developments and highways. 
The Population Reference Bureau (1755 Massachusetts Ave. N. W., 
Washington, D. C.) has declared that increased population growth is a threat 
to outdoor recreation. Congressman Henry Reuss of Wisconsin, in a House 
speech recently, told of the threat to wildlife: 16 mammals, 34 birds, 1 
reptile and 25 fishes are classed as endangered species in the U.S.A. We 
know that the Prairie Chicken in Illinois is in danger, and we are aware 
that the national emblem, the Bald Eagle, now numbers less than 5000 
birds. Others faced with extinction are the Grizzly Bear, Key Deer, Whoop- 
ing Crane, Black-footed Ferret, Ivory-billed Woodpecker, Everglade Kite, 
California Condor, Nene Goose, Green Turtle, Attwater’s Prairie Chicken, 
and the Aleutian Canada Goose. In 1934, we had 120,000,000 acres of wet- 
lands. A recent study finds less than 30,000,000 remaining acres of habitat 
of good quality for waterfowl. 
Population research indicates that by 1980, the Chicago Metropolitan 
Area will have 24% million more persons to breathe the same air, use present 
or decreased water supplies, contribute to waste disposal problems, and 
tie up transportation. By 1980, there will be 800,000 more grade and high 
school children than there were in 1960, and the number of senior citizens 
will have increased by 200,000. There will be over one-half million new 
households, with needs for more cars and houses. 
Although we represent only 6% of the world population, we consume 
half of the raw materials. Of 29 principal minerals, 18 are imported. Ten 
of them must be sought outside the Western Hemisphere. If other nations 
raise their standards of living, what impact will this have on our imports? 
A story is told of an Eastern farmer who had five children, 61 grandchildren, 
338 great-grandchildren, and 6 great-great-grandchildren, for a total of 410 
living descendants. Had all newlyweds of the year 1888 followed this same 
pattern, they would have produced 218 million living descendants by 1960. 
By 2032, those marriages alone would have been responsible — in 72 years — 
for a population equal to the present crowded China mainland. 
General Dwight Eisenhower has indicated strong support for govern- 
ment entry into the field of population planning. The late President Ken- 
nedy considered the world population growth “staggering.” President John- 
son has indicated even stronger interest than the two previous presidents. 
Senator Ernest Gruening has proposed a White House Conference on Popula- 
tion Problems, and his resolution is now before Congress. Senator Joseph 
Clark of Pennsylvania has made a Senate speech on “The Time Has Come 
to Speak Out on the Problem of Population Control.” NET, (National Edu- 
cational Television, 10 Columbus Circle, New York, N.Y. 10019) has re- 
leased a 51-page pamphlet on the issue, called “The Population Problem.” 
Beacon Press of Boston has recently published “The Silent Explosion” 
by Phillip Appleman. 
The Natural Resources Council of Ilinois will examine the population 
problem as it affects outdoor conservation, in the 12th Annual Conference 
at Camp Sagawau in Lemont on Oct. 1, 2; 3, 1965. A more detailed announce- 
ment is printed elsewhere in this issue. 
615 Rochdale Circle, Lombard, III. 60148 
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