The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-08-20
The Growth of Our Cities.

The Growth of Our Cities.
Some ado has lately been made in the
newspapers because state census now
being taken in Minnesota seems to in
dlcate recession in urban growth and
a corresponding accleration in the de-
velopment Of rural population. 1t has
been claimed by number Of the
writers that this single straw" be-
tokens q coming gale that will pres
emily reverse the contemporary rush OF
the country lad to the crowded city and
thereby solve the hard problem of what
to do to cleanse the accommodating inn
purities arising from the massing OF
population in unwholesome centers.
Before considering whether there Is
yet apparent justification for this be-
lief. it will be prudent to ascertain the
exact dimensions of the past and pres
ent urban growth. For this purpose we
consult the eleventh census compen-
dium. and discover that in 1890, when
the United States had 3,929,2A popula-
ton, only 131,472 or 3.35 per cent. lived
in cities Of more than 10000 inhabitants.
A decade later. the percentage had
grown to 3.97; in 1910 and also In 1920,
1t was 4.93; by 1880 it had jumped to
6.72; In 1910 1t was $50 and in the decade
from 1910 to 1850 1t grew from $50 to
12.49. In 1860, out of 31,4iS,32l inhabi-
tants, 5.O72,256, or 1913 per cent. lived in
cities; in 1870, the percentage had be-
come 90. 80; in 1880 1t grew to 22.57 and in
1890, Of the 62,622,25O persons computed
as forming the population of our coun-
try, 1S,2S4,Ss5, or 1920 per cent. were
massed Inside urban limits, and con-
sequently exposed to the heavy drains
and strains inseparable from such ag-
gregation.
We are tempted, at this point not
withdrawing its apparent irrevelancy,
to quote a remark lately made by DR..
Frank Reilly, Of the Chicago Board Of
Health, who. in a paper relating to the
exceedingly rapid multiplication OF
nervous diseases in that city, said:
'The bicycle is getting in its work in
this respect, and scorching is bound to
increase the death rate to remarkable
extent. There is not the least doubt
that nervous diseases are already being
Influenced by speedy work on the
wheels. Scorching on a bicycle Is about
the same as the strain upon oarsmen in
a boat race. Then there Is a tremen-
dous nervous strain on the riders who
go through the crowded district. They
are compelled to dodge wagons, pedes-
TRANS and cab!e cars. Their eyes and
ears must be alert, and they are sub
jected to a constant nervous tension
Which they little realize. AS compared
with the decade from 1851 to 1860 the
Decade from 1885 to 1894 shows an in
crease in the death rate from nervous
diseases OF nine per cent. year"
All things considered, there Is abun-
dant provocatfon for change In the
human tide that now annually sweeps
hundreds and thousands Of well-to-do
farmers sons and daughters from
NeduEUuI NClne5 III WHe CouHtTy iutO
polluted city life and nerve-wracking
battles for existence. But we fear that
the phenomenon noted In Minnesota Is
merely temporary. 1t probably Is only
O consequence OF Democr attic hard times
which, having left hundreds Of urban
workmen penniless amid overtaxed
charities and exhausted relief agencies,
perforce sends them, for time, back
into the country, where at least, there
Is food and pure air. A time will come
when the cities will not accommodate
the thousands who rush into them,
and then the recession will be steady
and continuous; but that period in the
ewing Of the pendulum Of human des-
tiny has obviously not yet been reached
in the United States of America.
The selection of William 8. Tomp-
kins, of West Pittston, as chairman Of
the Luzerne county Republican COM
mfttee II q clear case Of the right man
being put in the right place. More
than that, It " a polite recognition of
the young Republicanism which is fast
bringing vinlhy and courage to the
party's battlefields.