Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-06-20
THEFuNGoIn GRnWTH OFIoWNs.

THEFUNGOID GROWTH OF TOWNS.
All history and all political economy
point TO contented and prosperous agri-
cultural population as the most solid basis
of national wealth-and health and perma-
nency. Therefore the general focking Of
negroes into our Southern towns and viii
lagos since the war has been regarded as
unfortunate by all classes Of thinkers. Nor
has this downward tendency among US been
altogether confined to the blacks. Thou
sands and thousands OF white farm boys
after four years of the -joyial atmosphere OF
the campfire, found the old life in the coun-
try too inonotonous and isolated, and have
sought in cities the social pleasures to
which they became accustomed during the
war. But the census reveals, further,
that This preference for town over
country, is spreading In the North
even more extensively than in the South.l
The growth of towns everywhere during
the last deca lie, is out Of all proportion to
the increase in the popula ion at large. At
the present rate, tive decades more will
suffice to develop in this country the conf
iition Of England, where the town folks
actually outDumber the yeomanry. Such q
contamination is not at all desirable from a
philanthopic or political standpoint. 1t is
the greed of money that builds cities and at
tracts people to them; and the geed ct
money is not scrupulous nor over charit-
able-so that, practically speaking, cities are
impossible without sinkholes Of filth, dis
ease and sin; large proportion OF the
denizens must live in close, uhhealthy
quarters. and put up with food more or less
stale and unwholesome. Physical degrada-
to- begets political and moral. The whole
coustry suffers fromthe germs of disease,
bodily and social, That are bred in the
weeds and mushroom growth Of cities, ard
which no Board of Health has ever dared to
prune or cut down, because they make
money for somebody. vsreo a
/ We would not be -misun derstood as de-
precating the proper growth and expansion
of cities. They are concomitants of civili-
cation, and are newt ble wherever any
progress has been msde in Che useful and
industrial arts. But their development
calls for degree OF care and attention, con-
slant and istelieeut, that is seldom given
them. They have persistent tendency to
fungold, unhealthy growth, which ought
to be Topped and prained with astrong hand
The tendency 20 crowd tie low and marshy
portions of city with the, ,tenements Of
those classes who are least able to take care
of themselves-and all for cheapness-is ar
evil confessed by all. The mischiefs rising
thence extend to all classes. A public and
confessed nuisance ought certainly to 81
absted, if man be rational animal ant
value his own life. Louis Napoleon wipe(
out square miles OF Paris, because his ply
sicians pronounced them pestilentisl. w
believe that intelligent freemen are capable
of protecting themselves, withou
the Intervention of Napoleons as il
Palis, or of Ben Buffers as in New
Orleans during the war. We boast of on
: progress and civilization; our children vii
grow fat laughing at our selfconceit. Why
! we 90 not practice the plainest lessons
hygiene in the building of our cities wher
we risk the lives of hundreds of thousands
True, there are many who huddle into tn
TOWNS that have no business there, and
i the present sickness should drive half Gu
t town darkies back to the cornfelds whenc
: they came, it would be a relief to both cit
, and country, and blessing to all. W
) hope the loafers and shittless, of both color
: NAV take to heart the bitter lesson that eli
g life is not good for any who cannot afol
n TO live in cleanliness and eat wholeson
J. food.