The daily gazette., 1875-11-22
THE GROWTH OF LARGE CITIES


the Eastern States, as throughout the
civilized world, is TO accumulate in
great cities. 1t seems indeed from the
most trustworthy returns, that there has
been for some years no increase at all
in the rural population of this part of
the country, Notwithstanding the large
yearly excess of births over Deaths
Our towns are thus growing not only
by their natural increase, but by
absorption from the surplus of the
agricultural districts. The race after
wealth draws more and moIe of our
people to the centres of population,
and when it gets them there it seems
inevitably more and mere to divide
them into separate communities. The
larger city grows the more sharply
the line is drawn. Another great
cause of the growth of our large cities
is the steady tide of emigration flow
ing towards our shores large proper
ton of which remains permanently in
the great towns. Though the volume
of emigration has of late very much
| fallen Oft, it still forms a fruitful
| source of wealth and increased popu-
lation. The total number of alien
passengers who landed at the port of
New York alone during the year 1874
was lac, ,041, a less number than came
in any year since 1862, and 126,777
less than in 1878. During the last fis-
cal year the total number of immigrants
landing in the United States was 3d.
330, embracing every race, nationality
| and condition of mankind. OF that
number China furnished 13, 776, who
for the most part went to swell the
population of San Francisco. 1t is
curious fact in our most recent emf
grafton statistics that after Germany,
Ireland and England, China sends us
the largest number or emigrants. The
economic value OF each emigrant, re-
garded as mere machine, is placed at
$500, which added to the material
wealth of the country during the last
fiscal year $3.50, ,o73, 200. For the five
fiscal years ending June 30, 1874, the
total number Of immigrants arriving
in the United States aggregated l.
SS6, sol adding to the wealth of the
nation 80 600 200, 800. This colossal
sum only represents the muscular
power of the new corners, while each
one brings more or less actual money
to start his fortunesin the New World.
1t is impossible to make an intelligent
estimate of the social value of the
mass of emigrants whicRis constantly
absorbed into our body polite. 1nfor-
nation received at the Bureau of Sta
tistics, Washington shows the follow
ing immigration at the port of New
York during the month OF September
in 1874 and In 1875:
1874. 4........................i6,3S0 $50
1910. ................... 9,349
Decrease, 1875. 5................ 7,031
During the fiscal year ended June
, 80. 1915, there arrived in the United
States 227, 49o immigrants, which is
. $50, 149 below the number that arrived
in 1874, and less than one half the
number arrived in 1873. With a re-
vival of trade and commerce, the in
auguration of new industrial enter
| prises and the development of the
vast agricultural districts of the Far
West, will come a demand for labor
which, let us trust, may once again
swell this Pactolian stream to its for
mer dimensions. NeH York, more
than any other city, has grown by
reason OF this never ceasing flow oil
| cInlREdtlOD, SOusluCEdDIy OfeT ultN
per cent. of the new corners arrive al
/, this port, and Of these a very larg,
portion remain here. OF such divers,
material Is the population Of New
York composed, that not even in i'm
perial Rome were so .msny peoples
and races mingled together. 1t is
however, much to be desired, for the
interests of the emigrants themselve!
, rs we'll as those of the country at large
that these new arrivals should settle il
= the rural districts Those prudent anc
. industrious immigrants who hav,
gone Immediately West and turned
t their attention patiently and steadily
to agricultural pursuits, have in mos
cases become owners of land ant
possessors OF modest competence
While those others, by far the create
part, who remain here or in other larg,
Eastern cities, exhaust themselves will
= few exceptions in life long struggl
against poverty, and seldom rise abov,
the condition Of day laberers. Whei
will the working man learn that h,
can draw his subsistence and that o
L his family more surely from the sol
than from the uncertain employment
Of an overcrowded city, World.