Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-06-21
URBAN POPULATION.

contemporary remarks: 1.-THE Paris Journal
DIES Debats devotes an exceedingly able article to
the census of the U. States in 1885," and fur
nishes its readers with the following extract from
it:
"Thereis in this youthful nation" says the Journalist
ian extraordinary vgo and all it does and u.s. upon pro-
portions hitherto unparalleled The growth of the cities
affords the most remarkable example. In 1890 there
were In the whole country only three agglomeraons
with more than 10000 souls Philadelphia occupying the
first rank, had 43ooO New York. next in order had 49,
0oo Now, count up in the Union seven cities Of
more than 100 900 each New York with Brookivn and
Jersey City, which suburbs separated only bv rivers
has 65oooo 1t is the third City of western civilization
for Europe has only two which exceed it-London an
Paris Philadelphia has 100000 Baltimore 1863 600; Bos
ton 1879 600: New Orleans 10000 Cincinnati in 1880
offered respectively only 5000 and 5000 populations
have to-day 10000 and 5000 If take the fourteen
most populous cities the Austrian Empire their popua.
ton at 372000 The fourteen principal centres of
the American Union already contain within fraction
2O00000 The unprecedented progress of town popua.
ton In the Unon exceeding largely that the country
accounts among other things for the fact that nearly the
whole quantity OF breadstu raised is consumed at home;
and that in spite of the extreme fertility ofthe grain
and their general cultivation there is but limited and
slowly increasing amount exported And thus it hap
pens to the amazement OF the commercial world that since
the opening OF the British markets foreign cereals the
United States have supplied less than France: result
never Tor moment anticipated
Inc same general observations will apply
with equal truth to the growth of English cities
and towns The same powerful causes are at
work In that country and in this trans atlantic
empire. The activity of trade superinduced by
abundant materials upon which to operate, stimu-
lated and encouraged by free and equal laws, are
the springs which set in motion and kee D in mo-
ton the great commercial machine.
Towns and cities are properly and should never
to be allowed to be anything more than the APP
pendages of the country. They are at first only
Its agents and dependents, though if favourably
situated for carrying on the lucrative business of
foreign commerce, they acquire in manner
separate and independent existence. But in the
beginning they are simply the offspring of popu-
ous and wealthy country which requires capital
to be accumulated at advantageous points fer the
purpose OF conducting its business operations
Theastonishng growth of many of the inland
cities of this Republic is striking illustration of
the truth of this fact The two great cities, now
contending for the diadem of the west have been
built up by the rapidly created business Of the ter
ritories trading to them the civilization and set
Element of which is the greatest material triumph
OF modern civilization. But these commercial
vents, created at first by the necessities of the
country, the development of its resources, after
they have grown to be populous, repay the debt of
gratitude by ere aing domestic market. Thus
the benefits become reciprocal and these tespec-