Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1880-07-17
GROWTH OF POPULATION.
why Do the Northern Cities Increase
So Fast?

why Do the Northern Cities Increase
So Fast?
From the Cincinnati Commercial.
The most noticeable feature of the
new census is the enormous growth of
the Northern section of the country COM
pared to the Southern and Central pOr-
tions. 1t is true not only of the
Northwest but of the whole North, be-
ginning at the Atlantic coast and taking
the country through to the Pacific.
In 1870 the old City of Boston had co.
c. less inhabitants than st. Louis. As
general rule our earlier settled cities do
not grow as fast as the young cities of
the West; but in the decade Just past
Boston has gained on ST. Louis till she
is now only 10000 behind her. With her
smaller population her gain has been
nearly twice as great in actual numbers.
In 1870 Baltimore was 1900 ahead of
Boston. Since then BOstOn's gain is 114,-
900, that of Baltimore $1,000; SO that
Boston has now 15,OC0 more people than
Baltimore. The latter city would seem
to have almost every advantage over
Boston, too, and yet there is this differ
ence in their growth.
Cincinnati is near enough to the South
to feel somewhat this invidiOus influence,
whatever it is, and her growth, though
respectable, has not kept pace with the
expectations of many citizens. Indian
apOlis, on the contrary, though only
some fifty miles north of Cincinnati. ap-
pears to be near enough the charmed
line to be hit by the boom, and has near
| ly doubled her population i'm ten years.
The growth of Cleveland is remarkable.
Chicago, in spite of the fire, has increas-
ed more than Philadelphia, which, even
in 1870, had well-nigh 100000 inhabi-
tants. Chicago and Cleveland together
have grown nearly quarter million in
ten years.
There is not an exception to the rule
along the line of Northern cities. st.
Paul has doubled her population out
right. Minneapolis is actually almost
four times as large as it was at the last
census, being now 60 greater than st.
Paul. Milwaukee has a population
larger than Louisville. Detroit, with a
population 2O,C0O less than Louisville i'm
1870, has gained more than twice as
rapidly as the Kentucky city. Denver
has jumped from &C . to $4,000.
No natural reason exists for this
whOlly-One-sided increase. The climate
along the Northern lakes is raw and
windy, and the cold SO great in winter
that the mercury sometimes sinks to 2(
degrees below zero. The soil is moi
marvelOusly productive either, compared
to that of the south. Much of the North
western region lacks timber enough fol
fuel and burning. Still the current OF
immigration sets that way in mighty
irresistible stream.
The South has certainly every natura
advantage to offer the settler. The eli
mate is mild and mostly healthy, ant
the soil is rich. Delicious fruits ant
vegetables grow there in abundanc,
such as no cOaxing can produce i'm tn
cold North, even in lighthouses. In man,
. parts the settler can raise almost tn
whole food for his family, from hi
truck PATCH" as they call it. And still
, immigrants will not 60 there. The fash
ion will not start. Why, it is impossible
say, unless there is an ineradicabl
prejudice in the world against the Soil
South. ~ si3E