Evening star., 1900-09-28
Ha. the City Drift Been Checkeds


The census office announcement that the
155 largest cities in this country have gain
ed almost exactly the same number of in
habitants in the past decade as between
1880 and $500 is reassuring. For it indi-
Gates that the expected trend toward city
growth has not developed in the dangerous
degree which was feared by some sociolo-
gists. The exact statistics of the entire
population will of course, be necessary to
show whether there has been any marked
disturbance in the proportion of those liv-
ing in cities and those living on farms.
This revelation about the 155 largest COM
munities, however. is a strong indication of
the ultimate showing, for it is highly prob
able now that the percentage of city gain
will not offset that of country gain, both
being a natural growth.
There many factors now to encourage
country life which did not exist ten years
ago. and to these the expected check in
the c1tyward tendency Is due probably in
part. The electric railway has encouraged
suburban living. while steam railroads have
Increased In mileage. to the advantage of
the rural districts. The trolleys are even
rivaling the steam lines now in command
ing the patronage of the farmers. The tele
phone greatly cheapened by improvements
and competition. has softened the isolation
of country life. and the bicycle bringing
with it In a measure the betterment of the
country roads. has facilitated communica-
tion and contact. The free delivery of the
mails in the rural regions, too, has had its
effect in encouraging the farmer to remain
on his farm for he has by this means and
others been placed in almost as close reach
of the world beyond as the city dweller,
whose annoyances have not been amelior-
ated in the same degree as those of the
agriculturist.
But there is probably a deeper Industrial
reason lying beneath this condition. The
city movement of the years prior to 1880
was caused in large measure by the open
ing of new opportunities for young men to
engage in profitable business in the COM
mercial centers. The wonderful develop
ment of trade and manufacturing which
followed the war. and more particularly
marked the reaction after the panic of the
early seventies, drew heavily from the
farms. At the same time colleges began to
throw open their doors more generously to
the farmers son and daughter. Every fac
tor of life beckoned to these young people
to migrate. But doubtless the statistics will
show now that the tide has turned again
and is flowing toward the farm once more.
The industries have reached an even rate
of development. The demand for college
bred men has fallen off somewhat. The
opening of new markets for agricultural
products has stimulated farming. The in
PRODUCTION of lapor-saving machinery has
encouraged the farmers son to remain at
his task once Sd laborious, now profitable
and compare tfvely easy. His estate has
been bettered. In short. to greater degree
than that of any other single class. and 1t
is a hopeful sign that the tendency toward
congestion. with all it's social and moral
and physical evils, has been even in part
checked while the more wholesome life of
the country has been stimulated.