Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-01-03
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The VAsTNEss OF LoNDoN.-We Americans
are so accustomed to expatiating on the rapid
growth of our cities, the most Of US are sur
prised to hear that the capitals of Europe in
crease nearly as fast. The growth Of Paris,
Vienna and Berlin, on the continent. and Of
London, and Liverpool, GLASGOW and Manches.
ter, in England, have been especially rapid.
But no city in the old world has thriven like
the great British metropolis. In 1901, for
example, the population Of London was $685.
$685. now it is two millions and a half; in
other words at the beginning of the century,
it was hardly more than third as large as it
at present. We think Philadelphia, with
half million of inhabitants, a large town;
but London is five times as large. In fact,
the latter city contains as many inhabitants as
the State Of Pennsylvania, and more than all
the great cities of the United States together.
Nor does there seem, at present, any hkeli-
hood of this enormous metropolis decreasing
in size. On the contrary, there is every indi-
cation of its continued growth, The sewer.
age commissioners, in view Of its probable
necessities in the future, are already project.
ing drainage for six millions of inhabitants.
a population which London will yet contain,
if the increase goes on for half a century at
the present ratio.
1t is curious to examine the statistics in de-
haIA VI buGll d vast tuStEOpOli6. Every y6dIl
there are eight thousand children bern in
London, according to the Edinburgh Reeie,c-
a competent authority. Yet the majority of
the adult population, in spite of this, is the
country born, there having been, at the last
census, out of one million three hundred and
ninety five persons, twenty years CID and up
wards, only six huI bred and forty five thou.
sand born in London. Every sixteenth ner-
son of full age, is native Of Ireland. There
is always permanent stock on hand, SO to
speak, of three hundred and fifty thousand
manageable, but unmarried women. There
are six hundred thousand scholars, six thou
sand schools, twelve hundred places of wor.
ship, and a million church going people. Eff.
ty Thousand persons are always resident in
poor houses, prisons, and other Institutions
while they are fed out Of public or privateN
resources. Twenty Thousand individuals ars
employed constantly in killing or selling ami
NAL food thirty thousand in making or vend-
ing beverages; and twenty five thousand in
doctoring, preaching, and managing law
suits. 10 complete the catalogue, there are
thirty thousand clerks two hundred thou.
sand domestic servants; thirty thousand tail
ors; forty thousand chair makers, and one
hundred thousand needle women.
In Horace Mathews work, and of others of
similar character, may be found statistics az
to how this enormous population is led.
London has the richest as well as the poorest
people in the world among its inhabitants.
Thousands of persons get up, every morning,
without knowing how to buy breakfast. On
the other hand, there are, during the fashion.
able season, seventy thousand people in Ion
don, who have nothing to do but amuse
themselves. Several wealthy men-most of
them noblemen-own whole squares of.hous.
es andstores, and receive incomes of above
million of dollars, annually, from this source.
There is one acre of ground, in the British
metropolis, which pays the interest, on long
lease, of four million dollars; and several that
are worth, estimatedi in this not excessive way,
from two 10 three millions. Ancient Rome
has been thoughtto have been the richest and
most populous city that ever existed. But
the best historical students eoRoede that Lon.
don already surpasses what that city was,
even in the palmiest days; and even those
who rate the population Of old Rome at q
higher figure confess that London, before the
end of the century, viii be ahead. --PkiIG-
deLphia Leger.