The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1901-01-11
DESERTING THE FARMS.

Of the 100000 people of Maryland
about 650,000 live in incor Grated towns
and a very large number in unincorpo-
rated towns. The increase in the popu-
lation since 1890 is 141 1863 Of this in
crease $4,000 is credited to Baltimore city
and the remainder to the counties. The
total increase in the population of the in
corporated towns is about 10s ,000 leaving
only 10000 increase for the rural portions
of the State and for the towns which have
no municipal governments. 1t is safe to
assume that these latter increased at least
10000. They include the suburbs of Bal
timore which overflow into Baltimore and
Anne Arundel counties, such as Canton,
Sparrows Point, Curtis Bay, Brooklyn,
the suburbs of Hagerstown, Mt. Savage,
Solomons Island and towns and villages
all over the State. 1t is likely that the
strictly rural or agricultural population
of Maryland has rather diminished than
increased since 1890. The increase in
Baltimore county in the decade was H.,
S46, all Of which is accounted for by the
growth of Sparrows Point and of Balti
more city beyond its corporate limits.
Allegany county comes next, with an in
crease of 1923. This increase is due to
the growth of Cumberland, Frostburg,
Homecoming and other towns. Anne
Arundel increased 1921, which is account
ed for by the growth of Annapolis, Brook
Ign and Curtis Bay. Washington county
increased 5,351, nearly all of which was
caused by the growth of Hagerstown and
its suburbs. The increase of 1896 in
Montgomery and 3,>1S in Prince Georges
is, doubtless, the population of suburban
alton MAY be given of the increase in each
county where there has been an increase,
except in some of the southern counties,
where the increase has been in the negro
population.
1t can hardly be doubted, therefore, that
the farming population of the State has
actually decreased. This decrease, which
shows that the natural increase in the
population has left the country and gone
to the towns or cities, is due to various
causes The principal cause is that the
life of the farmer has comparatively little
attraction, as rule, TO educated young
men as they grow up. The calling of the
farmer, it is true, is the most independent
of all occupations, and affords much leis-
II Rnf tho unr. : n nannlp H.
attractive, and in portions of the State it
is difficult to hire labor either for the
house or the field In those parts of the
State the area in cultivation has greatly
ly cultivated are now grown up in woods.
No farms in this State, however, are aban-
doned as they are in New England.
Every farmhouse is occupied, but in
many instances the tenant house is empty
the tenant has moved into the farmhouse
and the owner Of the farm has moved to
town. where his family can enjoy the adj
vantages of society.
The movement of population from the
country to the city is not peculiar to Mary
land. 1t is going on, perhaps, in every
State of the Union and in almost every
country of Europe. 1t is not a desirable
movement, and one of the causes has
been the concentration of manufacturing.
The village shoemaker, wagonmaker,
carriag emaker, harnessmaker and tailor
have all gone, and most of the village
blacksmiths have gone with them. These
modest mechanics are a distinct loss to
the country, which is not compensated by
the savings in buying machine made
plows, harness, clothes, shoes, etc. 1t
should be the duty of the State and local
governments and of public spirited ciIi
Zens to use every means of making
country life more attractive. And chief
among the attractions would be good
roads and free librares-B Baltimore San.
1t remained for two republicans to
break the harmony which has character.
lied the proceedings Of this session of
Congress by calling each other such pet
names as criminal and "pcttifogger"
The men were Hopkins, of Illinois, author
of the Committee Reapportionment bill,
which takes away one of Names repre-
sentatives and one electoral vote, and
Littlefeld, of Maine, who has made a
speciality of throwing firebrands among
republican combustibles ever since he en-
tered Congress, who is supporting the
Burleigh reapportionment ill which re-
duces no State, and which is being strong
ly supported in the House and may knock
out the committee bill. Acting Speaker
Dalzell had hard time getting Hopkins
and Littlefeld to order, while the House
seemed really to enjoy the wrangling, the
first of the session.