The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1890-09-03
Why the Towns Decline.

AT the annual dinner at the town of
Ashfield, Mass, on last week Thurs
day, Professor Charles Eliot Norton of
Harvard University presided with his
usual grace. He and several of the
other speakers addressed themselves
to the question of the decline in popu-
lation of the hill towns of New England.
- From the census that has Just been
taken," said Professor Norton, sit an
pears that if the conditions that have
prevailed during the past one hundred
years are to continue there will be no
community of Ashtield one hundred
years hence. The figures are simple.
In 1870 Ashtield had a population of
l,459; she was flourishing, and twenty
years later her population had in
creased to 1909, an increase Just short
OF twenty-five per cent. To-day her
population is twenty-nine per cent
less than it was in 1890; is about forty
three per cent less than it was in 1910.
1t is easy to calculate what the popula-
ton will be in 1890, if the rate of
dlminution be not changed. But the
town may not lose all its people, and
yet 1t may lose so many as to be unable
any longer to maintain its roads, its
schools, to support its ministers, to
provide what is needful for wholesome
and civilized existence. Look at some
OF our neighbors, already worse off than
we. In these one hundred years Peru,
for instance, has lost seventy per cent
in her populations; even Chesterfield
has lost close on fifty per cent. And,
indeed, the most striking fact in re-
gard to this decline is that it is not con-
fined n thio uioinitt, bot
this country. 1t is the result not of
transient local causes, but of changes
in the conditions of life that have
taken and are taking place in all civ
ilized lands. 1t is the effect, will not
say, of general progress in the welfare
of mankind, for whether it be real
advance or not is uncertain, but of
progress in certain directions-in inven-
ton, in the application of science to in
dustrial pursuits, in the knowledge of
things and their uses. The growth of
great cities at the expense of small
towns, of villages and of hamlets,
especially of those lying somewhat re-
mote from the main lines of commune
cation, is as marked in England and in
Germany as it is in New England.
Steam and the railroad, and the concen-
tration and growth of manufacturing
industries dependent on them, have led
to new distribution of population;
and in our country the opening of vast
regions of wholesome climate and pro-
ductive soil has co-operated with these
other powerful agencies to allure from
their native homes not only the restless
and discontented spirits, but the am
bilious and energetic as well.
What, then, is to be done? How can
we save Ashheld and all that ii stands
for? 1t stands for much. 1t is the
image and type of towns that have
been the wholesomest communities the
earth ever bore, which, by their intelh-
gence, have shaped the institutions of
The nation, and largely directed its
course, and by their virtues have set
high the standard of democratic civili-
cation. One chief need here,
and generally in America, is quicken
ing of the sense of social responsibility
and duty; heartier union of we'll
intentioned men and women in efforts
for common ends. If our children are
to find Ashfield good town to live in,
it will be because of our efforts and
sacrifices. Does this seem too general
and vague requirement? The appli-
cation of it will vary with every year"