St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-03-19
GREAT CITIES.
Their Growth and Progress in the Old World
and the New.
LOndon-Paris-New York-Advance of
Population During the Century.

past ages in regard TO the enormous size anu
large population of the great cities OF an
tiquity, there need not be any hesitation in
asserting that there were never before so
many large cities in the world as there are at
present. If Rome in the time Of the En-
peror Claudius had, as is alleged, nearly
seven millions of inhabitants, it is remarka-
bic that for more than a thousand years after
the fall of that great city there was no city in
Europe with so many as 100000 people
Indeed, at the beginning of the present
century there was no city in Europe with that
number of inhabitants, the most
populous being London with $780,
600 persons. There are now
five European cities with upward of a million
inhabitants, the first two of which contain, in
the aggregate, 100000 persons. In Amer
lea, at the beginning of the century, there
were no cities that would now be regarded as
more than fourth class towns; the population
of New York was about 60, O00 At the last
census there were twenty-six cities in the
United States which exceeded that figure.
London stands easily at the head of all
modern cities, yet it has added five times as
much to its population during the present
century as it did during the previous thou
sand years. There is difficulty about stat
ing the exact population OF London, because
England's metropolis u l5ot city in the or
binary sense, but aSfEggregation OF towns,
an ever spreading rrgrown aggregate OF
houses and streets, Snich is constantly in
Vading new territory and covering it with
buildings. Thus the old city of London had
at the last census but so, $40 inhabitants.
London, within the registrar generals tables
of mortality, had 3,S14, ST. people; the Lon
don School Board district had 1882, Al
people, while the London of the metropolitan
and city police districts had 4, 764, 312 inhabit
ants, nearly as many as the whole state of New
York. The latter figure may be taken as
the proper population of London, regarded
as a community. Its increase during the
previous ten years was $50, 900, or at the rate
of % per cent. It is easy to figure up what
the continuance of such rate of increase
would finally lead to- 1t would give London
at the next census nearly six millions of in
habitants and at the next succeeding one
1850 600. Of course this rate Of increase
may not be maintained, but that is matter
n which no one can speak with certainty.
When London had but 2, 200, 600 inhabitants
everyone said thai this wonderful growth
been growing faster than ever and with the
vlgor of young Western town. There, if
anywhere, will be solved the problem as to
how many people can exist in one great city.
Paris, once well abreast of London in pop
nlaton, now takes second place and will
have to 90 down TO third before many de-
cades. It's population at the last census was
2,269, 600, ii having increased about $40, 600
during the previous twenty years. Its rate of
increase is therefore comparatively slow, and
as the population of France is nearly sta
tionary, it must necessarily be slow in the
future,
New York is now the third of the great
cities OF the world, leaving out of considera-
ton the cities of China, of whose population
there is no reliable enumeration. The posi-
ton of New York as the mart of vast CONT
nent is uueQuaed but the narrowness Of
Manhattan Island and the inferior facilities
for rapid transit prior 10 the era of elevated
railways have been against it. Its pOpula-
ton OF 100000 at the last census should
have grown to $50, 600 at the next census,
and to 1000 900 at the succeeding one. If
the population of New York was reckoned on
the same basis as that of London it would
take in Brooklyn, Jersey City and a number
of small adjacent towns, with a united popu-
~ lation at the last census of $3.50, 600. The
aggregated community thus indicated is
growing at the rate of SO per cent. every ten
years, so that the total population gathered
here at the next census will be nearly 3, 000,-
600, and at the following census nearly
4, 100000. The population of Brooklyn is
increasing more rapidly than that Of New
York, its increase being at the rate of so per
cent. between 1860 and 1870, and 43 per
2S per cent. for the same decades for New
York. OF course, if these relative rates of
increase should be maintained it would only
be question of time when Brooklyn would
be the larger city of the two.
Following New York the great cities of the
world that have population of more than
100000 are Berlin 1,122, 600, Vienna
LOB, 900, and Constantinope | ,015, 900.
The capital Of Russia has only S75, 900, and
the other European capitals, not already be-
fore mentioned, will fall much below that
figure No doubt, st. Petersburg will, be-
fore the next census, have passed the 1000
600 limit and become entitled TO rank as one
of the great cities of the world.
OF cities which rank but second In their
respective countries the greatest is Phila-
delphia, with its S41, 600 inhabitants at the
last census and which will probably reach
l,060, 600 at the next enumeration. The
United States win then be the only country
IN The world with two cities of more than
1000, 600 inhabitants, and By the succeed
ing census Brooklyn viii be added to the list
- form a third, aud Chicago also to form a
fourth. By that time, however, Moscow will
have passed the 1000, coo limit and also
Glasgow aud possibly Liverpool.
At the last census there were in Great
Britain and ireland tweuty-seveu cities and
towns with upward ofl00, 900 inhabitants, an
increase Of seven over the number at the
previous census. In the United States there
were at the last census eighteen cities aud
towns with upward of 100, 900 inhabitants,
Ru increase Of four over the previous census.
No other country in Europe had so many
cities OF that size as We can show; Germany
had fourteen, France ten, AuStria-Hungary
FIVE and Russia niue; British India has
eighteen cities with 100, 600 inhabitants and
upward II is certainly remarkable that this
young republic should be in advance of such
countries as France, Germany and Austria,
with respect to large cities, aud so close upon
the heels of England, which, however, still
retains a good lead aud some of whose
younger towns are extremely vigorous in
their growth. Oldhsm may be taken as a
striking example Of this class, 1t having
nearly doubled its population in ten years,
the increase being from s., 900 10 152. 600
There are three or four cities In England
which may be expected to reach 100000 by
the next census, and probably the same
number in this country; but at the census
of 1900 twenty or thirty of our cities will
reach this figure. aud then We viii lead all
other nations Of tue world in the number of
cur large cities, although Great Britain NAV
n the meantime have added ten or more To
her list.
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