Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1899-09-09
BUILDING UP A CITY.
ENTERPRISE SHOULD REST ON eUSI-
NESS PRINCIPLES.

Science and Engineering skill should
Ec Used to Develop Natural Advan-
taEes-HenIth, Employment md Ed
ucntiOn First In Importance.
In an address delivered before the
North Oakland (Cal0 Improvement
club on the science of modern town
building Mr.. \. A. DcniSOn said in
part:
The creation of cities was once n
matter of chance depending upon nat
ural conditions. Like TOpSy in Uncle
Toms Cabin" they Just growed up"
Now the making of II modern city
has become Il science. Into 1t enter
sound business considerations, the cal
culations of engineers and of experts
and the utilization of all past expert
encC
The development of cities originally
depended upon harbors, rivers or the
crossing of natural highways between
countries. These largely influenced
the location of old world cities.
In the United States and other later
settled countries railroads have been
an important fuctor and great com
merCial cities have generally grown up
where railroads converge at tide water
or if inland at point of contact with
river or lake navigation. New York,
Boston, New Orleans, Chicago, st.
Louis, Omaha, Oakland and san Fran
| cisco are examples of such commercial
cities.
Another important element Is special
advantage for the development of an
industry For example. PittSburg with
| convenience of coal to iron deposits;
also birmingham, Ala. where like con
ditionS exist. The advantage of cheap
water power was often a cOnsidera-
tion in the location of New England
manufacturing towns, such as Fall Riv-
er, famous for its mills. and latest Buff
falo, which has harneSScd Niagara
Falls to supply electric power for its
manufactures. There is promise that
Oakland will soon be able to utilize
electrical force from the Blue lakes,
which ought to give great impetus
to it's industrial development
Other natural causes operating to 10
cate or to build up cities are valuable
]
upon which Butte and Anaconda,
Mon, are maintained. The latest cX-
ample is Dawson City, the result of
gold discovery. Boom mining towns
were frequent in early California upon
rich strikes, and cities such as Oil City
and others have grown up where oil
wells had been developed. At Tesla,
in this county, where a coal mine is be
ing developed a town Is being built
Sometimes speculative enterprise is re
sponSiblc for laying out of towns
which have no natural basis for their
existence, and they collapse.
Modern science and engineering skill
are now cooperating with the natural
advantages of a favorable location to
make certain cities eminent. The
building of railroads, the construction
of canals, the Improvement of harbOrs,
the extension of wharfs and piers,
these are some of the factors in the
growth Of cities which result from the
mere efforts to develop the CONNER
! cial advantages of cities.
But there are other considerations
that induce people to seek homes in
cities. Beyond the stress and struggle
for wealth is the desire for satisfac
tion-in n word for happiness. 1t is
because cities afford more means of
satisfaction that they attract popula-
ton, and as these things are created
city becomes n desirable place of resi-
dence.
What, then, are those things which
al nfi fiNrn pp
residence?
rst.-IIealthfulness. (a) Natural
climate, etc; (b) result of proper sani-
tary conditions, sewers, etc; (c) dispo-
stion of garbage, pure and adequate
water supply.
Second Employment. (M Means of
livelihood, natural mines, forests, etc;
/ CO. development of industries, manu-
factures, etc.
Education. (D Intelligence
adds to individual enjoyment; (b) Sc
curity of property; (c) social inter
course; I'D wise administration of gov
ernment.
You will note the order in which !
place these considerations, which l be-
lieve is their natural sequence.
First.-IIcalth.
Second.-Employmen
Third-Education
The above result is the we'll being of
the community.
Fourth.-Mcans of recreation-parks,
boulevards, etc.
What, then, Is municipal govern
ment? 1t is cooperation of the citi-
zens to secure certain benefits, services
and utilities which may be more ad-
vantageOusly obtained through united
than through individual effort.
Improvement Notes.