The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-27
THE GROWTH OF CITIES.

The eleventh census showed that the
growth of the population of cities was
much larger than the growth of population
of rural districts. This fact is the sub
iect of an interesting paper in the Annals
of the American Academy Of Political and
Social Science by Mr.. E. ]. James. He
shows that the phenomenon Of more rap
id increase in urban than in rural districts
is not peculiar to the United States, but
exists in all of the countries of Europe
as well. During the past hundred years
the tendency towards concentration Of
population has been great and Increasing;
and the larger cities have accumulated
additional population at a greater ratio
than the smaller ones.
In 1880 but 335 per cent. of the popula-
ton Of the United States dwelt in cities
of 5000 inhabitants or above. In 1890 the
percentage had increased to 1920 Should
the calculation include municipalities of
1900 inhabitants-and municipalities of that
size are entitled to the classification OF
cities, Mr.. James thinks, since they af-
ford all of the concomitants of city life
II NVhAn bt AOuiio Aidl pretty NlOSF "
one-third of the total population of the
United States are city jewellers. Should
the classification be carried a little fur
Their, and made to include those persons
who dwell closely adjacent to cities, in
suburban settlements where they have all
of the advantages which the cities afford,
but are outside the legal limits of the
cities, the percentage of urban population
would be considerably above one-third of
the whole Mr.. James says almost all
cities are larger and more populous than
they are officially shown to be; that much
of the population is placed around the
edges outside of the corporate limits, and
therefore, cannot be counted in the citys
population. To make a home Illustration,
Mr.. James would count the residents of
Thunderbolt and along the roads leading
thereto, of West Savannah, and other
very nearby suburbs. in the population
of the city of Savannah, since they are
to all intents and purposes a part of thai
population, and derive their means of
support from the city. By including such
population in the count of city inhabi-
tants, the totals would be greatly swelled
in nearly every city in the United States
Chicago would probably be one exception
since Chicago has annexed about every
one Of her suburbs
Between 1880 and 1890 the population of
places in the United States having LOCO
or more inhabitants increased 4z7 per
cent, while the rural population, includ-
ing that of the smaller towns, increased
but 1906 per cent. The increase in urban
population in Great Britain during the
same time was 1873 per cent, and for the
rural districts 1874. over 81 per cent of
the people of England and Wales now
live in cities of above 10000 inhabitants
In France the percentage of rural popu-
lation has actually fallen. while that Of
the cities has increased. The same con-
dition of affairs Is noted in Germany,
where the percentage of population has
decreased, while that of the cities has in
creased.
The great problem which confronts econ
omists is, how to check the tendency to-
wards a congestion of population in the
cities; how to popularize rural life; how
to induce young men and women to con-
tent themselves with life on the farm.
Many agencies are at work to that end
the rural mail delivery. the trolley rail-
way. the bicycle. the good roads move
ment, the improved school systems, the
cheapened periodical literature. Still the
trend is towards the city What is it that
is still lacking?