The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-05-21
SOME STATISTICS AS TO INCREASE
OF URBAN POPULATION.

The south showed much increase in
the last decade in town, or urban pop
uIation. 1t also showed due increase
in rural population as compared with
the north or the west. The actual total
increase in the south was 20.1 per cent,
against II per cent for the whole coun-
try. The northern states showed an
increase of so per cent for cities, towns
and villages, while but 20 per cent. were
actually on farms. Does that o hope
full? In the south the rural population
increased 90 per cent while the urban
population increased 35 per cent, but
the latter is 4 considerable increase
over the ten years between 1880 and
1890. The increase Of the rural p
lation was but IL per cent, whereas the
other states and territories increased
21.7 per cent. That there is a great
rush to the towns. to the cities in the
north is seen In the fact that the ur-
ban population increased but 90 per
In the north ten states, namely
Maine. New Hampshire, Vermont, Con-
.necticut. New York, New Jersey, Ohio,
Michigan, Nebraska and Kansas
chad a smaller rural population 1T
1900 than in 1880"
So the contention of the Messenger
tha was disputed is fully sustained.
The rush in the United States is from
the country to the towns. Is that wise
and desirable?
-bcYrI1 tho yOrtth horn in tho country
and trained as workers on farms, leave
their homes to seek employment in the
villages. towns or cities, or should they
remain faithful to farm life? We hin
it wiser. better every way for them to
suck to the farms and learn to be ex-
.ceIlent, scientific farmers. Mr.. H. But
terworth Is a skilled writer Who has
charge of the Boston Youths Com
panion." He believes in the boys re-
manning on the farms and c~ultivating
the acres. In an article in the Chicago
Tribune he enforces this with intelli-
gence and judgment. He believes that
u great majority of boys who desert the
iarms and AXE to the towns make a
great mistake" We AVE not doubted
that for i moment. He points to the
fact tina rich men are now leaving
cities and residing in the country. We
quote:
ITO live in the country after the man
ner of Farmer Jefferson the early
presidents. Daniel Webster, and near
ly all Of the late presidents, of English
statesmen and English and French
scholars nf annie means IS Incoming
one of the new and healthy examples
of scholarly and successful business
men, Nearly all authors live in the
country near cities or nave country
homes.
1.-THE time was when intellectual PEG
pie lived In the country. Then came a
rush to the cities, and young men on
the farms left the heritage Of their
fathers for the city or the west. This
current of life is arrested"
We will rejoice if this rush ceases.
He shows how farms are improved and
many states protect their crops. He
says that the agricultural college,
electricity and protection are making
small farms good investments every
where. even for Small fruit
farms pay; poultry farms, vegetable
farms. flower FARMS, farms given to the
highest development of special things.
Women in club s everywhere help the
tendency to country life"
It is ooor short-sighted advice to
any boy OF character and industry to
turn his back upon the independent
life OF the intelligent farmer and seeks
employment on small salaries in towns.
AS Mr.. Butterworth urges:
mo; do not leave the farm, unless
you have the gift of some professional
calling. The farm. and the small farm,
is becoming the best and the most de-
sirable possession o. earth, and how to
make the small farm yield the most
profit is one OF h most interesting
studies"
North Carolina needs her best coun-
try-bred boys on the farms. 1t is a
noble. honest life When we'll pursued.
Stick