The sun., 1894-02-04
a NUT ron PRoE H1EsoN TO CRzCz.
Ths Rsiatie- or nrsv.-eats 90 Pspulstis-
20 Nsuons1.Frosperity.

TIE Relates or Nsvs-eats 90 Fspulstie.
90 Nsuopsi.Frorpsrity.
At last the census figures are available.
showing the Increase in the number Of farms
between 1880 and 1890. and when compared
with the numbers shown in earlier censuses
enabling us to see that as the public domain
has been brought under cultivation at VARYING
rates so has differed the ratio Of rural to the
non-rutal population. ..and 40 has differentiated
the industries OF the people and so. measure
ably. has increased orswaned the prosperity Of
the nation.
While It has been possible to indicate in a
general way the varying proportions OF the
r al and other classes by limiting the torn
urban" to cities OF not less than 1000 peo-
pie. yet such limitation. affords no satisfactory
measure OF those engaged IN rural as dis
tinRushed from other vocstlons nor does it
enable us to determine the numbers living
upon the farms at different periods.
Although an Uncomfortable fraction OF those
living in villages and the smaller towns are
wholly or partially engaged in rural pursuits,
yet the proportion Is so small and Is 90 COM
pletey Offset by those living upon the farm,
yet plying their vocations in the towns. that
there is little chance for error In the assump-
tion that tho rural or agricultural population
is quite accurately measured by those living
upon the farm. and that all others should be
classed as urban In the broad sense OF includ-
ing the inhabitants Of town and village as we'll
as Of city.
Neither the tabulations OF the eleventh CEN
sus nor those OF preceding ones afford direct
m cans Of determining tho proportion OF peo-
pie living upon the farm. although the num-
ber Of males above given age employed in
different vocatlons affords an indirect and un-
satisfactory means OF approximating the ratio
OF rural to the urban population In the broad
sense in which urban is here uted. Far more
satisfactory means OF determining the pro-
portions are found in the number OF families
and the number OF farms at the end OF each
decennial period, But in using these data It
must be borne in mind that the rural family
averages at least ten por cent larger than the
urban; and that while each farm implies a
rural family. that the families occupying the
farms exceed the number of farms by as much
as six per cent. by reason Of the fact that for
every 100 farms there will be not less than six
married laborers employed whose families
live upon the farms as do the families OF their
employers.
Making the indicated allowance OF 10 per
cent for the greater size Of rural families and
adding o per cent. to the farm numbers for
the families OF laborers. we can closely ap-
proximate the proportion OF families and peo-
pie who have at different periods found homes
infereutially. the proportion and numbers en-
gagged in manufacture. distribution. and in
professional personal and public service.
The following table. dcduced from census
tnbulations for five decennial periods. with an
estimate added for the 1S9o-p4 period shows
the number OF families and farms at tho end
OF each period. the number OF families and
farms added during each ten years and since
1890. the rates at which farms have increased.
families living upon farms Mt tho end OF each
period. tho percentage OF the families added
during each period that made homes and
found employment upon tho added farms. the
number of people living upon farms at the end
OF each term OF years. and the percentage Of
tho whole population making their homes
upon the farm at such times: