European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 27, 1977, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday May 27, 1977 the stars and stripes Page 5 population shifting to South West new York up migrating Ameri cans Are moving More and More to the South and West and by the end of 1976 those two areas surpassed the rest of the country in population according to a study by the metropolitan life insurance co. The company said the pattern of Migra Tion from the Northeast and North Central states has been a continuing one. The largest numerical increase 328, 000occurred in California the most pop Ulous state which now has 21,674,000 residents the company said. The next largest increase occurred in Texas the third most populous state which recorded a growth of 252,000, and reached a total of 12.600.000. The highest rate of growth in the year occurred in Alaska 5.14 per cent. The study also showed life expectancy in the . Increased to 72.8 years in 1976. Up from 72.5 years in 1975. But the Overall . Population growth rate decreased in 1976 because of a higher death rate. The . Population reached 215,998,000. In 1976, the study showed but the increase was Only 1.5 million or 0.73 per cent Over 1975. The company said there were 3.165.000 births in 1976. 11,500 More than 1975. But there were 17.000 More deaths in 1976 than 1975, a total of 1,912.000. Population of the . By state based on statistics supplied by metropolitan life insurance co. Numbers in thousands Ala alas Ari Zark Cal Colcon Mcgeo Flahav Idaho Iii in Iowa Kinky Lime Malmd jan1977 3.687 389 2.295 2,111 21,674 2,601 3,127 695 4,984 8,480896 839 11,255 5.307 2,877 2.324 3.444 3,869 1,075 5.808 4,160 Jan 1976 3.637 370 2.242 2.123 21.346 2.552 3.106705 4.956 8,393874 826 11.204 5.317 2,870 2,284 3,411 3.821 1,063 5.830 4,132 apr 1970 3.444 303 1.775 1.923 19.971 2.210 3.032583 4,588 6.791770 713 11.113 5,196 2.825 2.249 3.221 3.642994 5.689 3.924 Mich min miss to Mont neb a enc Nonh a Jim Noohi okla re part Vava his soften Tex Utah was wis Wyo us 9.1133.985 2,366 4.785757 1359618 5,487 846827 7,3441,181 18.10110.688 2,7872,348 11.873478 5,0591.831 926 2,866689 4,23312.600 1.2423.636 4.662396 215.998 9.1353,935 2,3484,767 7511,547 s985,475 638816 7,3381,157 18.09610,748 2.7322,300 11,857474 5.0081,810 9282,837 6834,192 12,3481.218 3,5824.611 382214.435 8,8823.806 2,217 4,678694 1,485489 5.064 618738 7,1711.017 18.242 10,6572,559 2,09211,801 4454.651 1,744 9502,591 666 3,92611.199 1.0593,413 4.418332 204,402 grand slam for purposes of testing a 120-ton locomotive travelling at 81.5 Miles per boor slams into a tractor trailer Rig carrying a nuclear fuels cask filled with helium. The test Wai con ducted at Albuquerque n.m., to deter mine the strength of the cask. The locomotive cab was crushed the cask dented and the test was pronounced Success by scientists. A nuclear cask survives crash in test Albuquerque a a 12