Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-05-12
The Great Cities of the World.

.Tne treat Cities OF the World.
The present century has witnessed an increase
in the population of great cities, unexampled
within the historic period, and doubtless unriv-
aled since the world began. few statistics,
compiled from the census reports of Great
Britain and the United States, will show this.
To begin with England In 1901 the popula-
ton of London was about nine hundred thou
sand. By 1910 it had risen to more than
million and quarter; by 1880 to million
and half, and finally, by 1850, to two millions
and II third. But the growth of other English
cities has been proportiehately ever greater
Manchester, in 1901, had u population of only
eighty four thousand; it numbers now over
three hundred thousand. Liverpool, at the
beginning Of the century, had but eighty
thousand inhabitants, while fifty years later
they had increased to nearly four hundred
thousand. Birmingham, in 1901, had a popu-
lation of seventy-three thousand in 1850, it
had two hundred and fifty thousand. The
chief cities of Scotland increased not less rapid
ly. Glasgow, which had but seventy seven
thousand inhabitants in 1901, had three hum
dred and sxty-seven thousand half century
afterwards. And even Ireland exhibits q
growth, though to less degree, in city popula-
tlons. Dublin had but one hundred and eighty
thousand inhabitants in 1890 in 1850, it had
two hundred thousand
On the continent Of Europe, rs a general
rule, the great cities have likewise Increased in
population, though the ratio has been inferior
TO that witnessed in England and Scotland
Paris, spite Of the revolutions which have con-
vulsed it, has steadily risen from population
OF half million, at the beginning of the CEN
tury, to over million at the present time
Vienna, which had two hundred and thirty
thousand denizens in lSO0 has nearly five hun
dred thousand now. The population of Berlin,
in 1900, was about one hundred and fifty
thousand it is now three hundred more in
other words, it has trebeed in fifty years. Even
Naples, spite of tyranny, almost without q
parallel, has increased its population, in the
same interval, from three hundred thousand to
four hundred and sixteen thousand. Turin has
one hundred and thrty-fve thousand now,
against eighty thousand half century ago
Odessa, which had but eight thousand in 1903,
is estimated to have had over hundred thou
sand when the existing war began. A few
cities only have remained stationary, Or retro
gaded, of which Moscow, Amsterdam, and Rot
terdam are the principal. Venice itself, 30
long declining, increased from nincty-seven
thousand in 1887, to one hundred and twenty
six thousand in 1852.
But the cities of the United States have IN
creased in population more rapidly than those
either OF Continental Europe, Or of England.
In 1900, the inhabitants of Philadelphia were
but little over seventy tho lsand, whereas now
they may be fairly computed at over half
million. In 1900, New York had population
Of sixty thousand, now it has six hundred and
twelve thousand. Boston had twenty-four
thousand denizens half a century ago; in 1850
it had about one hundred and forty thousand
Pittsburgh had fifteen hundred in 1900; at
present it has over fifty thousand, exclusive of
Allegheny City, which is really suburb of it,
Cincinnati had seven hundred and fifty in 1905
it had one hundred and fifteen thousand in 1850
Baltimore had twenty-six thousand in 1900;
it has over a hundred and seventy thousand
now. Buffalo was y wilderness in 1900 and
even 50 late as 1910 had only fifteen hundred
inhabitants; 1t has now moro than turty-6ve
thousand. In addition, there are scores Of
towns in the west, which were not laid out. even
80 late as twenty years ago, which have now
ten or twenty thousand denizens.