The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1893-09-08
Cities of the Next Century.

fFrom Our New York Correspondent
Colonel Albert d. Shaw, who, when
United States consul to Manchester, gained
a wide repute, speaking of the development
Of cities in the next century, said:
One Of the greatest cities in the United
States will be found to occupy the area be-
tween Buffalo and Niagara falls. think
that early In the century there will be a
city of 1,000, 900 inhabitants there. 1t will
be ono of the greatest manufacturing cities
in the world. 1t will include practically the
city of Buffalo as we'll as the towns upon
the borders of the Niagara river
This great city is to be developed through
the capturing of the power of Niagara falls,
which even today is practically consum-
mated, and which from the time of the dis
covery of this country has gone to waste.
This water power is to be mainly utilized
In the development of electricity, and both
the Canadian and the American falls are
to be made to serve this purpose.
A power will be developed there suffi-
cient not only to run all the engines neces-
sary to turn the wheels In as many factories
as can be located in this area, but also suf-
ficient to furnish the city of Buffalo with
light and with electricity for domestic uses,
and, am inclined to think, may even pro-
vide power and light for cities as far away
as New York and Philadelphia on the east
and Cleveland and Cincinnati and Toledo
on the west. The capacity is practically
limitless.
Even with the great plants now estab-
lished on the American side and with those
contemplated on the Canadian side only a
comparatively small portion of this enor-
nous power is utilized. 1t has the advan-
tage of being not only cheap, but permanent.
No drought will ever affect the Niagara
falls, and the cost of furnishing power will
not be dependent upon the operations OF
capitalists who control the coal fields.
Already there are indications of the
growth Of this CITY, Manufacturers from
all parts Of the United States are securing
rights there, and even before the close of
this century we shall see q considerable
city established there. Early in the next
century look to see q continuous manu-
featuring city extending from the Niagara
river to what are now the outskirts Of the
city of Buffalo.
Nature has done everything to favor this
locality, and at last science and capital are
taking advantage of these natural tempta-
lions. My own opinion is that during the
next century this will become the greatest
manufacturing center in the world, and
men now In the prime Of life will see
enough, I think, to justify me in this pre-
diction and before many years have passed.
Junius Henri Brownies Prediction.
am and have always been a great be
lever In America and everything American.
The form Of government is ideal, and will
no doubt meet the requirements of its citi
Gems for generations il not for ages to come.
The social and political condition of the
country in 1898 will be, in my opinion, a
marked Improvement on what it is now
It Will tend more and more to humanity,
reason, freedom and independence of the
individual. Socialism, which is in the air,
will steadily grow here in a modified and
rationahzed form. There will be more
equality In education, position and fortune
The republic will be more than ever
democratized. The government will be
simpler. The railroads and telegraphs
will in oil probability be owned by the
state and managed excellently-better than
they have been at any previous time.
Legislation on the subject of temperance
will be more enlightened. There will he no
attempt to enforce total abstinence, but
there will be less drinking and far fewer
rumshops. Those that are permitted will
be obliged to pay very high license and will
be thoroughly regulated by law.
Criminals will be less severely punished
and their number will have materially
diminished. General education will have
greatly lessened crime
The divorce laws will be the same in all
the states. Divorce will be freer generally
than at present, but allowed for only few
moral causes-among them nonsupport,
disloyalty, crime, intemperance and tenn
peramental incompatibility.
Wealth will be more widely and equally
distributed, and great corporations and bust
ness interests will be conducted harmoni-
ously-on the principle Of the employees
and workers sharing in the profits. The
conflict between labor and capital will be
largely settled in this way, aided by CO
operation. As necessary result the la
boring classes will be much less dependent.
Food will be provided in the next CEN
fury ut q low cost and without difficulty