Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-08-12
LONDON A LONG WAY AHEAD.

The four largest cities in the United States,
New York, Philadelphia, Brooklyn and Chi.
cago, have total population of 3,113,684.
In 1870 their population was 2,311 ,290. They
have, therefore, increased about third in the
ten years. If they keep up this rate of growth
ten years longer, their total population in
1890 will be over four million, or an averrge
of one million each.
Yet now the population of these four cities,
of whose growth we are so proud, taken to-
gether, fall short of the population of London
alone. Even if we added St. Louis, we
should not make up so many as London con-
tains. If we put in Washington also, we get
anaggregate population about equal to that
of London.
London, therefore, contains about as many
people as New York, Philadelphia, Brooklyn,
Chicago, St. Louis, and Washington together.
Thoug h the latest census of that city was ia.
ken eight years ago, its increase has been
carefully estimated, and the population is
now put at 3,620,868, total which is proba-
bly, within the actual fgures The aggregate
population of the six American cities which
we have named is 3,650,548.
And even ten years from now, if London
continues to grow at the rate of increase
which it has shown during the last eight
years, it will have population equal to that
Of our four greatest cities put together. 1t
will contain over four millions Of people.
These comparisons are not only interesting
they are valuable also. They may tend to
subdue boastful spirit not uncommon in new
and growing countries, and they help US to
form some conception of the magnitude of
the greatest city the world has ever seen.
Assuming continuance of its present rate
of increase for century to come, some Eng
lish writers have imagined London as swol-
len to capital of mere than ten millions
population. But there is no warrant for any
such estimate, for history teaches that great
cities evidently reach the limit of their growth,
and thereafter show decline. When that
period will be attained by London, however,
is beyond the reach of anything like safe cal
culation, but the indications are that it
will have been passed before the next cen.
tury is over.
Add to New York the continuous popula-
tion which really belongs to it as a metropo-
Lis, and at the opening of the next century we
shall have population as large as that of
London now, provided our rate Of increase
for ten years past is kept up for twenty years
longer. 1t is, therefore, not all improbable,
indeed, it is very probable, that long before
the Twentieth century is ended, the cluster
of cities of which New York is the nucleus,
will contain more people than any other city
in the world. But for quarter of a century
to come London must take the lead, and con-
tinue to have population equal to that of
any other two of the great capitals.
Moreover, the perpetual aggrandizement
of great cities cannot be an unmixed blessing
to any country.
A DRoLL BLUNDER.-A doctor who had
one day allowed himself to drink too much,
was sent for, to see fashionable lady who
was ailing He sat down by the bedside, took
out his watch, and began to count her puise
as we'll as his obfuscated condition would per-
NIT. He counted: "One, two, three )" then
be got confused, and began again: "One,
two, three, four" Still confused he began
again, "One two" No, he could not do it.
Thoroughly ashamed of himself, he shut up
his watch muttering: "Tipsy, l declare -