The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-03-24
The Growth Of Our Cities.

The census figures as they come to us
every few days from Washington in-
crease in interest. The growth of the
population in forty years from IL, 069,-
453 to so, 155, 783 is in itself startling
fact There are few people who are
fully conscious that we have now nearly
10, zoo, 900 more inhabitants than when
the civil war with the South was begun,
but it is true. In ten years we have
gained over 4 ,O00,0 900. This gain shows
many curious facts, especially in the
population of cities, which are worth
considering as the centers of population.
New York has grown in ten years from
942, 292 to 1,206, $50. This, however, is
not as important as the increase in Chi
cago, the population of which was $685.
977 in 1870, and is now 500, 304. Brook
lyn's increase was marked, but Chicago
gained nearly 100000 more inhabitants
than her Eastern compeer, Brooklyn
having advanced from 1896, 099 to $780,
689. If Chicago keeps this pace for
the next ten years she will be the third
city of the Union and seriously challenge
Philadelphia. The increase in Boston
is notable, especially as everybody looks
upon Boston as thoroughly provincial
town, but it is due in considerable part
municipality. Twenty years ago there
were in Boston 1T ,S12; now there are
362, 535. st. Louis has only increased
&c, 900 during the last ten years, which
is in marked contrast with the tremend
Gus bound of Chicago. San Francisco
has done very well, rising in the decade
from 149, 473 to 233, $50. Philadelphia
shares the same advance as New York,
gaining over 10000 inhabitants in ten
years. Washington indicates gratifying
progress. Twenty years ago there
were but 61.122 people in the capital;
now there are 147 ,307, placing it as a
city above Louisville, Detroit and New
ark. The greatest changes viii be found
in the West. Thus, Denver, which was
unknown in 1860, and had only 4,759
in 1880, has now population of $3.50
perhaps the most notable increase in
the whole list of American cities. Oak
land, Cal, San Francisco's chief suburb,
which had about 10000 ten years ago,
has now "a, 800. Omaha has jumped
from 16,OS3 to 30,518, while Kansas
City, 80, 260 in 1870, is now 55,813. All
the Western cities, without exception,
show large percentage of gain. The
same holds true in a smaller degree of
the manufacturing towns like Paterson,
IN. LONcn st1O L d1I hltCIs MASS. w q
have also old fashioned, quiet places
like Hartford, which has only advanced
5000 in ten years. Camden feels the
influence of Philadelphia by an increase
of q 900 in ten years, being now thriv
ing city of 41,65s, making as rapid an
advance as St. Paul. The Southern
towns do not show good results. Atlanta
is the only city of note in which marked
progress is visible, rising from 81, 7S9 to
"a, 1913. Memphis has fallen away,
having been 40, 226 in 1870, and now is
1898. Charleston has gained about
1000 in ten years. and only 5000 in
twenty years. Savannah is almost at a
standstill, having 2S,135 in 1870 and
only 3n,6S1 to-day. Mobile has fallen
away from 32,O34 in 1870 TO 31,205.
Richmond has gained considerable
addition, advancing from GLOSS to 63,-
803. The tides of growth run toward
the West and the manufacturing centers.