The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-01-14

AAN D. INV tF |af
One of The most remarkable Of all
TIE economic phsnomonas of the pres.
ent age is the dispIoporlion in tho
growth Of the town and country, re-
effectively. tho balance of prosperity
being notably in favor Of the town.
This fact is TO be observed ia all the
most civilized parts OF the world, the
more civilized the nation, indeed, lhc
more striking Che advance Of the cities
as compared with Chat Of the rural dis
trcis.
This phenomenon, for IN It's most inn
poriaut aspects it is eminently such. is
peculiarly conspicuous in The Southern
States. 1t IS especially obvious here in
Virginia. There is probably not atown,
and we might even go 80 FAR Us TO say
village. in The larger sense, ia this Com
monweslth. that has not grown in pop
uladon. and proporiioualely in thrift
eiuce lhe war. There are, on the o.ber
hand. feT rural districts chat have rot
declined 10 both. There could not, ia-
deed. Dee O more striking contrast thau
that existing between lhe condition Of
our towns aud the condition Of the as
ricul,urol sections
What is TIE caure Of this difference ?
How can the country decline ga pos
pelily ct she very moment that Che
cities are advancing? The answers TO
these two questions involve each other.
The courtry 10 sinking in prosperity,
because the agricultural interests uo
declining 90 the lowest degree of de-
preston. I'm consequence of this iact
it is being largely abandoned by the
Young men Of energy and delormina-
ton, as we'll as by those Of a ripper $50.
who can convert what property they
possess into money. Our cities are be-
coming Cillsof refuge as well as fields
oil adventure for those who regard the
prospects a agriculture and landed
property with despair And tie num-
Der OF lhese is increasing every month";.
Not only the agricultural depression,
bat also the social isolation OF the coun-
try districts IS driving the representa-
tive men and families 90 Che citiog. aud
tits being gradually given up at the
South to the Gloss that has always oc-
cupiod ). at lhe North.
With this increase In their population
from outside, IN addition % their nat
uial increase. ii would seem impossible
for our cities g. thrive 81 they continue
70 DO surrounded by rural districts
gradually rolIosmdiog 20 the con-
dillon described by Lieutenant Gov
ernor Tyler in his recent letter
10 iho Southern Planter. There Is but
one thing that SAVE. them from condi-
tiou Of similar depression namely, the
vast expansion Of our railway systems,
which, ramiiying la innumerablo direc-
tiona ard covering great area Of coun-
tfy furnish from q mighty combination
Of resources Che support which the ln-
creasing population Of the cities do
mands. The equality in tho cost
q the long aud short haul also,
which has doue so much 20 injare the
agricultural condition OF Virginia BY
bringing the most distant agricultural
lands 10 the Western States ia direct (
competition with ourown, has bad a far
reaching effect on the prosperity Of our
cities b. charging the area Of country
upon which they can draw for trade.
As our cities continue TO expand in
wealth and population, they must, to a
very considerable extent. improve the
condition Of the country by CIV