The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-10-31
City or Country.


Statistics coilated in Wash ugton show
that the recent increases of population,
even in the most fertile districts If agricul-
tlral states, have almost invariably bsen in
the towns. Ina is one OF thu curiOsities Of
the recent census. Very few rural dis
tricts have shown an increase S)ms have
held their own, but many more show an &C
tual decrease. WITH very few exceptions
the rule has proven that the towns show an
increase beyond all proportion to the cOuu-
try.
So far as this applies to certain states
having a sterile soil and ssvere innate,
which combine to render the pursuit of
agriculture difficult and Improbable, there
is nothing strange in the exhibit. New
England people find the farming COM
petition of the west 50 great as to induce
them to go there, where the climate and soil
are more inviting. and give fairer promise
of reward to the farmer. Mary do
not go west, but abandon their farms
simply Co go into the towns. to which
they are attracted by the temptations
offered by the activity Of industrial and
mercantile Iife In nearly all the New
England states the very large number of
farms and the exceedingly low price OF
agricultural land clearly enough indicate
from what quarters the towns there have
gathered their increased population. But 1t
is not only in the eastern states, with their
often sterile soil and harsh climate, that the
towns grow in population while
the rural districts stand still or retro
grade. Statistics of the popula-
ton OF Ohio, one of the most generous of
crop-bearing states, the soil and climate of
which are both favorable to the pursuit of
agriculture, show results which are not at
all encouraging to those who regard with
satisfaction the continued numerical
strength of rural communities and the pros
perty of the farming class. During the
last ten years the total increase of Ohio's
population was 46s,657; of this increase
23l, 900 is credited to the cities of Cincin-
matt, Cleveland, Columbus, Toledo and
Dayton, and, it is stated, the addition to
the population of the lesser towns have
been sufficient to account for the remainder.
In some Of the rural districts of Ohio there
has been an actual loss of population, and
IN none of them have there been significant
gains.
In all the eastern and in some of the west
ern states the drift of population is toward
the towns, where commerce aud manu-
features seem to 50 many TO offer more
tempting inducements than farming. To
young men about entering upon the active
business of life, town life has evidently
attractions much more powerful than any
presented by life in the country, though
it is extremely doubtful that time
W II prove the former so real as the
latter. Hundreds OF young men in the
cities now relegated to enforced idleness or
the most Improbable sort of work, would
be far better off in the country tilling a
farm. But they can't be brought to believe
it. Yet others will come in from the coun-
try afterward and literally walk right over
their shoulders into conspicuous inches in
life. One of the chief causes of drawing the
youth Of the country to town is the prevalent
idea iu the com nerciai world that the
country clerk or salesman can attract coun-
try custom to the house. But il they all
come to town there will be nobody left to
sell to- And then, altogether too many
good farmers, with native talent and
capacity for sub-soil blowing, are spoiled to
make ministers and lawyers and doctors,
who never succeed and die disappointed.