The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-10-06
RELATIVE PROSPERITY OF TOWN
AND COUNTRY.

In his annual report to the trustees
of the Peabody Fund, Dr. j.. L. NJ.
Curry states that for the fifteen years
ending in 1856. real estate ia the
counties Of Virginia had deprecated
$4,000. 600 and the personality $4,000
600. while in the cities real estate had
increased S29.OOOOOO and personally
more than 5000 goo"
To great extent similar condition
Of things exists throughout the South.
aud it deserves much more attention
than has been given 1t. At first It
would be thought improbable that the
towns Of a country could grow IN
prosperity without the rural parts
feeliug the same impulse Of improve
ment. The least to be expected was
that the latter would maintain their
position whatever it might be. IF they
retrograde. however, it can be only
for a time, because the prosperity Of
the towns must have retroactive
effect upon the prosperity Of the
country.
II is more preferable that the cities
should advance rapidly in wealth.
while the country for time even de
clines, than that the growth Of both
should be on very slow but uniform
lines. Cities are the beacon lights OF
foreign capital and enterprise, the
standing monuments of prosperous con
ditiOns for investment: and as they in
crease in prosperity they radiate IN
turn thousand beneficent influences
upon the sections Of country from
which they draw their support. 1t
would be impossible to overstate the
impression which New Orleans, Mem
phs, Atlanta. and Richmond have made
upon the material destinies Of the States
in which they are situated. That i'm
preston must indeed be profound, for
they are moi only the opponents to stran-
gers Of the enterprise and energy OF
their respective commonwealth, but
they also stimulate every town, every
county, every State that falls III the
scope Of their influence. II these cities
have thciven at the expense of the
country adjacent to them, it has been
for reasons that are only temporary.
One of these reasons is found in the
fact that when the result of the war
revolutionized the economic and social
life Of the South there Immediately
sprang up tendency among the rural
gentry to abandon their homes. Tie
sons Of those who remained, as they
grew up, sought their fortunes in com
munities where the conditions were
more favorable to prosperity, that Is.
in the cities. This tendency Of the
Young men still continues. while the
class of anie-bellum country gentlemen
is growing smaller and smaller every
year, until the day viii arrive when not
enougl will remain 10 constitute a
class. When this contamination Is
reached emigration from the country
will practically cease, for its spirit does
not extend to the middle ordor. The
number Of small planters and farmers
will increase every year, and with this
increase we shall see everywhere IN
rural districts an advance in prosperity.
In tue meanwhile. the cities have
shriven 10 no small degree, aud will
continue to thrive, by the inhax of this
small army Of emigrauts from the
country. who represent the best tradi-
lions and energies Of the South. Not
few of this class have brought to their
new homes what capital they contrived
TO save from the war, or Inherited, and
this has goue TO increase the volume OF
money employed in city trade aud man
ufacture.
That the Southern cities have adj
vanced 50 much more rapidly than the
country is also due to the fact that the
active material spirit Of the South bias
ir such communities received Its great
est stimulation from a close personal
association and cooperation not posi-