The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1900-06-14
A RAPID INCREASE.
The Onward Stride Of PennsyI-
vania Cities as Seen by a
Bloomsbury Man.
An Interesting Description of a
Trip Down the River.

How the population of our country
is increasing Not because the census
taker reveals this fact, but because We
see 1t as we go here and there. 1t is
very noticeable even here in the thick.
ly settled East, with all the westward
emigration OF the past years.
A trip down the river, through Sun.
bury, Harrisburg and York as far as
Baltimore, shows this filing up pro.
cess very plainly; even in the rural di.-
trlcts the population is rapidly grow
ing. Farms are divided into smaller
ones, houses are being built, new ST..
tlons along the railroads are establish
ed, summer retreats and resorts are
being opened up with the attractive
ness of fancy names to bring the city
people out, and the country generally
seems prosperous, but as we speed
along we notice great change in the
towns and cities. They are spreading
out, becoming centres of activity,
traffic and manufactures.
Many smaller places have risen to
the size and dignity of cities and the
larger ones are taking their place as
powers in state and nation. Sunbury
is growing and its advance seems to
be very substantial one. No wild
schemes, no improperly founded or
conducted enterprises, no dishonest
management to disgust and disappoint
people and damage all growth, or put
stop to it; Its location at the junction
of the rivers is favorable to permanent
growth, and the many railroads enter
ing and passing through it is another
helpful factor.
Harrisburg is making a sure but
not very rapid advance in population
and power. 1t is an acknowledged
railroad center and hence will always
have advantages for growth, possessed
by few inland towns.
York is making rapid strides
onward; it is taking its place as
manufacturing town in Pennsylvania;
large mills are seen on every hand, all
in active operation. New streets are
being opened up, long rows of houses
are being built, with many beautiful
residences on shady avenues. This
rapid growth and manufacturing in
crease is not due to any particular
advantage in location because it is
not along through line of railroad,
or on any large stream of water, and
yet it is making remarkable advance.
We could not help noticing the many
kinds of manufactured articles they
are leglon-what an opportunity to
select and to follow along some line to
success. Our heart went out for our
town, that we might make some such
solid and substantial advance.
We all know the difficulties in the
way of manufactures; the power Of
trusts and giant corporations is a con-
slant menace to smaller independent
capitalists who might be willing to in
vest their money in industrial enter
prises, and another is the sharp meth
DDS and practices, the dishonest deal
ings with many who put small amounts
of money into concerns and manufac-
turing plants which have destroyed
public confidence to such an extent
that nothing can be started with home
capital.
There is a vast and ever growing
de nand for manufactured goods, not
Just from the increase of population in
this country, but the whole world is
opening up to trade, and America
leads the nations-easllv, splendidly
goes in advance of all because of her
resources, her energy and inventive
skill There can be no trouble about
the sale of articles, why then should
our mills close, the machinery be sold
and our men who are willing to work
be compelled to move by the hundred
to other places, until as a man OF IN
teligence and observation said not
long ago: "Bloomsburg will soon be
back to where it was years ago. We
do not believe in going backwards
Ours is a beautiful town; its praises
are sounded everywhere and persons
from distance say they want to see
it-but beauty and deadness never go
together. We want life and progress
and cheering activity. Let us de,
mand that selhshness and evil and
wicked designs and doings shall be
put down and out, and that goodness
and unselfshness for the public good
shall be manifest in noble public