Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-12-14
DECLINE OF RURAL POPULATION.

DECLINE OF RURAL POPULATION.
According to the calculations of Repre-
sentative Springer in the December Forum
and for which he takes the census of 1S9
as basis, the total increase has been abou
~ per cent. in the last decade. Blu
when the urban population of the Unite,
States is deducted it is found that the in
crease in rural districts has bee,
but per cent, and in his aggregation o
urban population, Mr.. Springer include
cities only of 5000 inhabitants and up
wards.
This calculation and its results, it will
be seen, fully sustain the position that ha.
been taken by the RECORD UNION con.
corning the drift to populous centers, and
the real decline of population in rural
parts. But Mr.. Springer, in our opinion,
places his minimum of cities at too low a
figure. If he were TO recast his figures,
by including towns of 5000 inhabitants,
the rural percentage of increase will de-
cline to very much lower figure. And
1t is probable that could the actual truth
be stated, and which will appear when the
full details of the census are given to the
public, there has been no increase what
ever in the rural population, but an abso-
lutte decline.
1t is fact that needs nothing more
than the statement of it to make it clear.
that American towns of 5000 inhabitants
take on enough of city life, and throw
about their people an influence SO near
akin to that of metropolitan residence that
it really serves to draw a sharp line be-
tween rural and urban life, and to sepa-
rate the former from the latter sufficiently
to create a distaste for the agricultural
home and desire for the advantages and
pleasures Of the town.
1t is to be Eorne in mind also that while
Mr.. Springer finds s per cent. of increase
in rural population, he does so by inslud-
ing-and very properly so-all the new
settlements upon the frontier, and the oc-
cupation of lands in the Far West and in
newly opened regions, SO that, with this
factor also taken into account, we are JUS
tilted in asserting that rural population in
the older States has notably declined.
This is indicated also by the fact that in
the older States, and especially those of
the north Atlantic coast and the middle
west, the increase in the population of
cities has been in the past decade all the
way from 90 per cent. in Illinois, to %
per cent in Connecticut
Mr.. Springer treats these facts in the
light of their probable influence upon the
future of political parties but those who
are considering the forces at work molding
our civilization, fashioning the characters
of the people and affecting our productive
capacity and the relation of labor to pro.
duction, will find in the facts far graver
grounds for concern than are involved in
political shifting. 1t is not necessary to
indicate these-they are obvious. Popula-
ton in the United States is rapidly con-
costing in large and small cities, and the
inclination for rural life is as rapidly de-
Ginning. Just what this means, the most
superficial must be able to see
1t is not condition of affairs that is
promising for the maintenance of the dig
nifty and independence and refinement of |
farm life. 1t may sharpen the wits and |
broaden the intelligence; it unquestion-
ably affords men better opportunities to
learn, to rise and to occupy better intel
lectual level, 10 more develop the intel
lectual and mental, to enjoy very much
more of the comforts and luxuries of life.
to satisfy in greater or lesser degree the
artistic taste and the love of variety, the
iesire for knowledge and to finish and
polish the worldly men and women.
But as against the advantages of city
life, with It's Libraries and colleges, its
music and art, its commercial whirl, socia!
activity and speculative rush, the loss to
he nation by the drift from rural to metro
,olitan environment is almost incalcula-
lie. 1t is loss in large degree of the
political independence of the primary
PRODUCERS; it is loss in the gain made by
he vicious influences of congested popula-
ions; it is loss in the small farm hold
ngs, and in the intensifying of the dispo-
ition to farm as an avocation only and
lot as vocation it is loss in the
Emulation it gives to land monopoly and
and it is loss that may well
ause grave concern, in the reduction of
he tiller's life to drudgery and the incul-
alton Of dislike for rural labor.
All these tend also to minimize the abil-
ty and the disposition of rural sections to
make farm life attractive, and to add TO
ural environments something OF the social
nd intellectual advantages, pleasures and
omforts of the town. With heavy and
rural population this may be
one, with freedom from the immoralities
nd vicious influences of the metropolis.