The morning call., 1893-07-11
TOWN AND COUNTRY.

The process of migration from rural dis.
tricts to cities goes on in most countries
in a remarkable degree, showing that COM
mon causes are operative. IL has become
so marked a feature of modern times thu
it is ordinarily described as rural depopu.
lation. This is not quite an accurate term.
as with few exceptions in various lands
country districts have more population
than they had a generation ago. The sur
plus population undoubtedly shows a
greater tendency to drift into the towns,
and this is noted in such different cnun-
tries as England. France, Spain. Italy.
Switzerland and Norway. In the United
States we have the phenomena Of very
rapid growth of towns, and the country
pure and simple is falling away in its ratio
of Inhabitants Canada exhibits like
movement, combined with a large exodus
to the United States.
This change in the habits and manner of
life of people has undoubtedly sprung
from the easier methods to-day in agri-
culture, by which great areas can be cult
waited by means of machinery. A given
amount of produce is procurable with less
labor and expenditure. Did the old con-
dtions of farming apply three or four times
the number of workpeople would be re-
CURED. Railways, and steam power at sea.
enable changes of country or district to be
made with ease. Mlgrations are encour-
aged by the facilities. Formerly the Ieo-
pie in old countries rem aimed generation
after generation in one spot They were
almost as cooped up within limits as local
domestic stock. Now the world has ex-
panGed and Is accessible to everybody,
By those who have travelled much 1t is re.
garded as one huge parish with fewer
differences than points of agreement in
the daily affairs of life. The spirit of un.
rest and change has been particularly
noticeable in the United States. We
have a continental area for what IS
still moderate population, but we hav
nearly 10000 miles of railroad, and the
greater part of the country enjoys wonder
full facilities of communication. But rail-
roads should also have the effect of render
ing country life enjoyable. Yet in spite of
a strong flood OF immigration the census Of
1890 shows diEinution Of population in
455 counties. This applied to all the older
States, and also to some of the Western,
including Illinois. Michigan. Wisconsin.
Iowa, Colorado, Nevada and California
AS the Philadelphia Ledger points out the
losses in mining States are chiefly due to
failure of mines. and hose in agricultural
regions it attributes to the temptations of
settling on new and cheape lands, as well
as to preference for town life.
The abandonment of the country for the
city is by no means a wise step. very
large proportion who flock into the tow
find themselves in sorry plight, with worse
prospects than they had in the country.
But they continue to come, each animated
by the hope that his lot will be better than
that of his fellows. Some of the rewards
in the city are worthy of severe struggle,
but there are many sad failures which
make country pursuits seem preferable.
In California the conditions of country life
are as pleasant as can well be imagined.
Nature is, however, so kind to the farmer
that he does not need help alt the year
round, and thus there is serious element
of uncertainty in employment. But the
farmer who does most OF his own work
and helps clear off mortgages has every in
ducement to love the country and regard
the town benignly as his market.