Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1870-10-13
EDUCATIONAL.
CITIZEN.
For the Chronicle.
Ge0grapbv,

For the Chronicle.
Geography.
The opening of the Schools through
out the County during this month will
bring into operation the plans of teachers
with regard tothe branches to be taught.
No teacher can succeed who has no de-
finite.method ofteaching:each one of the
usual branches of study. Our expert
ence with various schools, and our as
sociation with teachers have convinced
US that, aside from.the mental culture OBJ
tanned from the study, no branch is of
so little benefit topupils as the one above
mentioned. We have asked the ques-
tion often, and of teachers, "What is
the population of the United States?"
Only an approximate answer was desir.
ed, and if any general idea of the num-
Der had been manifest in their answers
we would have been satisfied. Not three
out Of dozen of many seeking positions
as teachers, had the most foreign idea of
the population of our Nation or State.
While pupils are drilled upon names of
Counties, Rivers. Lakes and Insignificant
features of foreign lands, they are left
in ignorance of what should be first
learned-home Geography.
7 Teachers should, in connection with
text book lessons. make their classes
familiar with the natural history of
their own Districts, Townships, Coun-
ties and State.
The following observations made upon
the last Census returns may be of bene-
fit to teachers who are seeking outside
information upon this subject. In some
of the New England States there has
been a decrease in population. New
Hampshire has lost since 1850, S,470.
Vermont, in the same ratio. Massachu-
sets has gained 16 per cent within the
last five years, and has now 1873 inhabi-
tants to the square mile, greater than
possessed by many European nations.
The percentage gain in New England
has been in the aggregate about 10 per
cent, and is now 3,50O,0OO. Her annu-
al immigration is about 10000. Excess
Of number of women over that of the
men near $4,000. The population of
Boston has increased since 1865 from
231 ,467 to 253 1923, but chiefly by addi-
ton of suburban towns. In the North
western States the increase of popula-
tion has been much more rapid. Illinois
leads the way. From dataalready given
her population will reach 2,5O0,0O0 or
within 240, 900 of our own State. From
statistics at hand the gain in Ohio will
reach 400, ,O00.and give population of
2,750,OOO.
The extravagant expectations of our
city inhabitants have teen badly disap-
pointed in most cases. Cleveland, Chi
cago and Washington City have been
among the few that have come up to the
estimated number. In 1860 Chicago had
10 900, now, $4,000, Washington has
increased during the same time one hum
dred per cent-present population 109,-
900. Cleveland in 1850 had about 4S, 900,
DOW she numbers 93, OILS. Toledo has in
creased in the same ratio; present num-
Der 81 ,693.
Population of Colum bus-31, ,S36; of
Dayton, 3O,336; of Pittsburg, 4s6, ,254; of
Allegheny, 57,09S.
The developments of the census place
this country fourth on the list of nations
which contain cities of more than one
hundred thousand inhabitants. Ofsuch
cities there are fifteen in the United
States, viz: New York, Philadelphia,
Brooklyn, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago,
st. Louis, Cincinnati, New Orleans,
Washington, Buffalo, Newark, San
Francisco, Louisville and Pittsburgh.
There are but three countries that ex-
ceed this number of cities Of one hun
dred thousand and more population, viz:
The East Indies, with 81 cities; Great
Britain, with 16; and China, with 16.
The order of other nations in this re-
spect is as follows; Turkey, 10; France,
g., Italy, Z; Russia,5; Belgium and Spain,
each 4; Austria, 8; and Holland, 2.
We may, hereafter, give some interes-
ting facts with regard TO our own ceun-
ty-a valuable kind of Geography not
usually found in text books. !