The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-12
THE MORNING NEWS: SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER r. 1897


the annexation of AlSace-l. Orraine there
has been no addition by treaty or con-
quest and. although there has been a
continual drain upon il of enormous pro
portions for half a century, the latest cen
sus, in 1898, shows 80, ,901 people an in
crease during the last ten years from 49,
$50. 704 At the last census there were only
sos 595 foreign-born persons residing in
Germany. The surplus of births over
deaths in 1895 was 696, S74, in 1891 G75, 751, ana
it keeps up about that average annually
1t is estimated that 5.200.O00 Germans have
emigrated to the United States alone.
The rapid transformation of Germany
from an agricultural to = manufacturing
nation has caused an extraordinary migra-
ton from the country to the cities, which
began about thirty vars ago and has been
increasing with great rapldity. In 1885 43
per cent. of the population lived In towns
of 1000 and more Inhabitants. In 1890 the
percentage had reached ~; in 1895 it was SO
per cent, and at present IL is believed that
at least s. per cent. reside in the cities.
We who are accustomed to boast of the
marvellous growth OF our young cities do
not realize that 1t has been surpassed in
this ancient and in many respects antigua
ted empire. a person who would assert
that Germany has many cities which have
grown as fast and even faster than Chi
cago, Minneapolis, Omaha, Kansas City,
Buffalo, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Detroit
and other notable examples in the United
States would provoke surprise and prob
ably contradiction, but nevertheless such
is the fact.
Minneapolis, which, believe, Is the
banner town of the United States for
growth had 1900 people in 1850, 1S2, GO in
1895 and claims 100000 in 1897. Magdeburg,
Germany, surpassed that record. In 1885
she had $1,000, in 1895, 225,0O0 and in 1887
claims 243,000,
Dusseldorf had 115, 900 population in 1885,
and 10000 in 1895 by the official census.
Chemnitz had 5000 in 1885 and 16l 600 in
1895. Altoona had 1000 in 1885 and 14S,090 in
1885. Frankfort jumped from 10000 in
1885 to 800 eco in 1895. The growth of these
cities is by no means exceptional.
There is prevailing an impression that
Leipsc is a sleepy. old university town,
staid, conservative and stepped in the
Siumber of the middle ages, whereas IL
has increased in population from 127,000
in 1875 to 399, coo in 1885, and probably to
more than 10000 during the last two
years. ST. Louis has grown from $50, coo to
Az, ESQ during the same time, Cleveland
from 10000 TO 261 600 Buffalo from $4,000
TO 255 900, Pittsburg from 10000 to 23S 900.
Cologne has increased from $4,000 In 1885
to 321 900 in 1885. Breslau from $4,000 to &c.,,
O0O Munich from $4,000 to 100000, while
Hamburg has grown much faster than
Boston or Baltimore or any city of its size
in the United States. In 1873 Hamburg had
34SO00 inhabitants, Baltimore $4,000 and
Boston $4,000 in 1897 by the official census
Hamburg had $50, 600, Baltimore $4,000, and
Boston AS,00O In 1897 the official popula-
ton of Hamburg is $4,000. while Boston
claims $4,000, and probably has about u.s.
COO Baltimore claims 100000 and probably
has about 100000.
The figures l have given regarding the
increase of population in the German ci-
ties are official.
Take the old town of Nuremburg for eX-
ample. which is the very ideal Of antique
ty. Thousands of tourist go there every
year to look upon a picture of ancient Ger
many, yet Nuremburg has grown faster
than Omaha Twelve years ago it had r.
eco population; it had 10000 by the census
of 1898, and probably il has $4,000 in 1887.
This increase of population has not come
from outside the limits of Germany. Many
people have been drawn from the country
to engage in mechanical industry to work
in the iron mills a % the leather shops, but
the larger part Of The increase Is natural.
Berlin has grown as fast as Chicago. In
1880 it had 100000, in 1895 nearly 1870, 900,
and in 1897 claims 1,750,O GOO. The increase
was not due to annexation, but to immigra-
ton and births. Berlin has grown twice as
fast as Philadelphia.
These comparisons might be carried on
indefinitely to show how far the popular
idea concerning the cities of Germany Is
at fault but the Improvement is even
greater when one considers the physical
transformation of the cities 1 have named,
and others that might be mentioned. The
new portions of the towns have the same
mature and permanent appearance that Is
presented by the older sections, The nunic
qualities are rather tardy in providing some
of the modern conveniences that are found
in progressive American towns but the
Germans are q DaOnla Of frugal ha hits and
contented dispositions, and do not demand
the luXuries and novelties that are requir-
ed in the feverish, restless development of
American civilization. In the expansion of
their cities to meet the incoming popua-
ton they have simply extended the ac-
commodations that were already existing
in a systematic and business-like way.
The new streets are lined with long
blocks of solid and splendid architecture,
uniformly five or six stories in hight,
which offer a striking contrast to the
cheap and fragile wooden structures that
spring up in the additions that are made
to American towns to meet the expansion
of their population. In Germany every
thing is done in a thorough, permanent
way. We build for years. They build
for centuries, and in the transition of the
romantic old capitals OF petty princes and
grandose dukes into smoky and busting
industrial centers the Germans have
and stability that have characterized all
their progress in the arts Of civilized life.
They have shown more of the scientific
spirit and method than any other people.
The old streets have been extended ana
widened through the little farms of the
poor or the suburban seats of the mag
mates and paved with asphalt or Belgium
blocks, and schools and public Libraries,
art galleries, museums and other means
of education, which the Germans consider
essential to civilization, have followed the
extended streets as regularly and as rap
idly as water and gas supplies.
The municipal authorities regulate build
ing in the severest fashion. The new
streets require the best kind of paving
and it is not put down to be torn up
again in few months to lay a forgotten
gas or sewer pipe, but before the con.
tract is let for paving the officials make
sure that they have taken care of every
thing that needs to go underground for
generations. In Chicago, in Washington
and other American cities a street is
paved upon petition or when the money
is appropriated. The next year q new
gas pipe must be laid along that way, the
pavement is torn up for a mile or two
and it is generally eight or ten months
or a year DerhaDS before the commits