New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-05

London. SJ16 256; Chicago S,20S, 0OO New-1orh'
G101 $50; Berlin. 349G729; Paris 3s234'o'''
Philadelphia, 2,OO2,932. and st. PetersDurs'
1000, 1916.
OF coursc so far rs the relative size or these
cities is concerned, Mr.. Corthell's estimate Is OF
little value even If, as Is likely. the hgures vi
which he bases II are approxmate! CORRECT.
For 1t Is by no means certain That the ratio vi
growth Of these cities will be the same IN inc
future as It has been in the past or Is now IL
deed the chances are altogether the other way.
Some may fall behind under the operation OF
causes not now apparent, while others may grow
even more rapidly than the above figures indi
cate No man living can possibly predict just
how great will be the population OF any given
city twenty-fo years hence. For 1t Will de-
pend upon multitude Of complex and interac'
ing factors-poitica comm crcial and social
whose movements are almost completely on
Of sight Moreover and for exactly the same
reason. too. il is by no means certain that
the cities named will continue 10 be the seven
greatest cities Of the world. Some other city.
or cities now in the second rank as regards pop
ulatlon NAV forge to the front as has been
the case in the past with Chicago. which WIS
not even enumerated in the United States cen
sls OF 1910 The growth Of the Western me-
iropolis has indeed, been one OF the maryels or
the century. and New Workers, In common with
all Americans. are proud. not only of its growth.
but of its enterprise and Astounding vitality
But whether it Is to become the second city in
the world in population, as Mr.. Corthcll csti-
mates it will. Is question that Is impossible 10
answer. AS to NcwYork, we may say. In pass
ing. that the real metropolis to which the name
should be applied Is by no means embraced in
the limits Of the Greater Ncw-I0rk which Is
defined in the bill just passed. A number OF
populous and fourishing cities and towns in the
State OF Ncw-.Tcrsey are truly part Of New
York as are Brooklyn or Staten Island. and
would undoubtedly Dc included In II except for
the geographical accident that they are in an
other State. But even so. in any proper cSti-
mate Of the strength. resources and commercial
importance Of this metropolis they cannot he
lcf: out Of the account; for they are an integral
part Of il.
After all however. sprcuaiOns in regard 10
the relative growth of cities are fruitless; and
to indulge in inyidious comparisons, as some of
our Chicago friends are inclined 10 do, Is child
sh Facts are proverbially stubborn things. ard
the tremendous forces that to-day go 10 the
making Of great cities will reach their legitimate
results In spite Of the most heated rhetoric. And
the supremacy. In certain directions. Of cities
like London. NcwYork and Chicago will con-
time undisturbcd unless some great social or
industrial revolution should occur, no matter
what may he their population relative 10 each
other. The really important and Impressive
fact in n study of urban growth Is the prospect
that in the near future the population OF the
civilized world is TO he largely concentrated In
It's great cities. and for that reason the many
intricate problems relating 10 municipal govern
ment are OF paramount importance. In time 10
come cities will more and more make and shape
the civilization of the world. while 1t IL m IN
fortunate fact that under present conditions
they are becoming less and less fitted FOR the
task. National patriotism is a priceless virtue
without which no people can prosper o. endure"
But today and especially in this country. there
is needed also the virtue OF civic patriotism. the
absence Of which Is doing much 10 make
municipal government byword AMI rcproach.