The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-27
HOW GREAT CITIES GROW.
By Natural Increase and Absorptic
of Outlying Towns.

By Natural Increase and Absorption
of Outlying Towns.
From the Youths Companion.
The great cities of the world have grown
to their present size in two ways; by the
natural increase in their own population
and by the gathering Of other outlying
towns and cities into united municipality.
The second of these processes has worked
with singular uniformity all over the world,
and It's further use IN the case OF some large
American cities is even no " under discus
sion.
Perhaps the best illustration of this move
menb is furnished by London. There is tor
day, 10 the center of that huge munici-
pality, a small district known as "the city"
1t Is built up solidly, and is the heart OF
London's trade. At least 700, 900 people en-
ter 1t every day TO do business and leave 1t
at night. But its own actual residents num-
Der less than 40 900, not hundredth part
of the great oity's total population.
Nevertheless, this was the original city of
London. Around it there grew up, as time
went on, nine other towns every one Of
them vastly larger To population than the
little "city" at the center. More than a
century ago these surrounding towns had
become one great city In everything except
government. Gradually by act of parlIa-
ment, some Of the common concerns Of all
these places were entrusted &c boards and
commissions. having jurisdiction over the
whole territory, and now almost all the
municipal power Is vested in the London
county council.
The ancient governments Of the city
still exists, but for all practical purposes
London Is the greater London" lying on
both sides Of the Thames and embracing
many square miles Of territory.
Other European cities have had similar
history. at the start there is one large
town, with villages lying about IT at vari-
GUS distances, separated by open meadows,
woods and farms The city grows and ex-
tends. The villages grow and spread out
toward the city. AT last there is left no
break In the streets andfows of houses, and
all the cities are by act Of government gath
cred into one
The same thing. has happened often in this
country. Old Boston covered less than 800
acres. Half dozen towns, which used TO
be considered far away suburbs. have
grown up 70 and been merged in The city,
which now covers nearly "a, 900 acrea
The territory embraced by New York
city has been doubled within a few years,
and If the city were combined on the basis
of London, and made TO include Brooklyn
and Jersey City, its population would be
double what it now is.
Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore and
other cities have grown greater by similar
absorption Of their suburbs.
OF course, one reason for such consoltda-
ton is the sentimental idea of making one
| large and powerful city. Local pride in a
population eQualing the great cities of the
world is natural aud commsndable.
But there are other reasons still more i'm
portaut. When the suburbs have them
selves grown into cities whose streets are
built up to the border of the parent city,
the need Of one city governments for all be-
comes imperative.
One department. Of police can do the work
for all better than half a dozen departments.
City improvements must be made by the
board Of public works. and one general
board accomplish more than several distinct
boards can.
Usually the richest part of such group
Of adjacent towns and cities-the part from
which largest taxes are raised-is least in
need of extensive improvements. The dis
ericts farther from the center want new
streets laid out, new pavements constructed,
new water works and sewers. The inter-
ests Of the whole community are served by
such improvements; yet the revenue raised
in the old section cannot be spent for the
newer sections unless all come together
under one city charter. Every growing
city has recognized this fact
In this country we have as yet only
seen the beginnings of the movement.