Is there an way through xml to make each population point in a city add 1 hammer to its output?

short answer: no.

I suppose it wouldn't be all that difficult with python but would probably cause a lot of lag.

best way would be in the SDK

Lag? Far simpler, but a little cluttered: Have the city founded with 1 citizen, then make it so every time the city grows, a free citizen is given. That "should" be possible.

But then i don't know jack about python, so i could be waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay off.

still though, something getting used as much as that would be, especially on a large map would most likely slow the game down by a power of 5, unless it was within the SDK.

I didn't want it done in python for that reason, but I thought maybe there was an xml entry for the default "worker" (non-city specialist) without any bonuses added.

Just add one hammer to all terrain yields and specialists. That citizen is doing something, right?