Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-06-04
FLoCKlNG TO CITIES.


ban Population.
The rapid growth Of the population OF
our large cities have been made the sub
ent of frequent comment in this coun-
try, where the excess Of growth in ths
urban population has perhaps been
more rapid thsn elsewhere. Neyerthe-
less, that the movement in the United
States offers no exception to the general
rule is amply shown by the statistics o.
other nations. The same movement,
or, as it was generally denominated the
same evil, was discernible in Great
Britain, where it has been attributed
largely to the unfavorable circumstances
attending the tenure Of land and to the
growing dissatisfaction of tenant sarm-
crs; but recent statistics showed that
in France, the country par excellence OF
the peasant proprietor, the same thing
was taking place. For instance, in that
country, according to the figures given
by distinguished French economist, AZ
large towns embrace population of g.
900, 900, and the smaller towns apopula-
ton of 100000. The population Of
the purely rural districts embrace "a
800, 900. Now, although the excess of
births over deaths in the five
years, from 1876 to 1881, in the
towns and cities was. only 49,
800, the increase in popula-
ton was 1,ll9, LAG, leaving therefore
,08O, GAG to be accounted for by lmmi-
grafton. Now, the total foreign immi-
grafton during the period designated
was 259, ,263, so that even though the to-
tai foreign immigration had been alb
sorbed by the cities, it would still leave
an increase Of S2l 1888 persons at the
expense Of the rural districts. BY ref
orence to the census figures Of the two
dates named we find this was just what
is the case, for while the births in the
rural districts during the same period
exceeded the deaths by 46S, 497, the de-
crease in population was nevertheless
1852, 1856, showing that during the same
time no less than S2l 1888 persons must
have left the country which Is just the
number by which the population Of the
cities increased over and above the total
foreign emigration. Another startling
fact Is shown in that an investigation Of
the increase in the cities shows that the
forty-scvcn largest cities, although pos
scssing the smallest aggregate pOpula-
tion, gave by far the smallest number Of
births over deaths, and yet showed the
largest gain In population, thus proving
that the tendency to migrate from the
country to the city is directed to the
largest cities. The cause of this
movement has not yet been fully ac-
counted for in the older countries,
although, no doubt, the fcverish anxiety
to get rich and to make money by trad
ing and swindling, instead OF by intelli-
gent and honest work, is there rs here,
largely responsible for it. That con-
dtion prevails more among Americans
than among Europeans, and the move
mcnt is therefore greatly enhanced
among us, but besides this the greater
distance and the ncwncss Of the country
makes country life in this country less
attractive than city life, and here lies
another cause not to be found, at least,
in western Europe. The movement is
one which, whatever the cause, is
fraught with danger to the county rs n
chief factor in the mischievous tendency
already sufficiently developed among us
to increase the number of the very poor,
and add to the wealth Of the few rich,-
| National LiCe Stock Journal.