Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-03-03
MAKE CITIES BEARABLE
RACE WILL DETERloRATE IF HEALTH
is ALLOWED TO SUFFER.

The Growth of Urban Population Feat
ure of Civilization the World Over,
Calls For Scientific Action--Repressing
Noise is Difficult Problem.
The worldwide tendency Of popula-
ton to centre in towns at the expense
Of the purely rural districts is dis
cussed from a medical point of view
by writer in the Medical Record, who
says:
Unto the reasons for this wholesale
desertion Of the country this is no
place to enter, nor is there need for
discussion as to whether this move
ment is for good or evil. Suffice it to
cepted, and it only remains for physi-
clans, sanitarians and philanthropists
to endeavor to render the conditions of
life in cities and towns as morally and
physically healthful as possible.
"The first necessity Of any area
crowded with human beings is that 1t
should be above suspicion from the
standpoint of hygiene-that is, drain
age should be effective, water supply
plentiful and pure, and, In short, that
all sanitary arrangements should be
conceived and carried out with the
sole view of safeguarding the lives
and health of the population.
For many years now, In the most
enlightened countries of the earth. men
of light and learning have been slowly
but surely arriving at the truth that
the municipal problem is the one de-
serving the closest attention, and for a
nation chiefly dwelling in cities the
necessity is obvious that these cities
must be made healthful places Of
abode. If this be not done the race
will rapidly deteriorate physically, and
be unable to compete on equal terms
with the inhabitants of countries who
live under a more intelligent sanitary
rule. Thus earnest and sensible re-
formers have been bending their ener-
gies toward converting large centres
Of population into comparatively salu-
brious places of residence.
"Mr. G. NJ. Robinson has lately pub.
lished a book in this country on the
which he sets forth mass OF statistics
and details concerning the subject.
The book in question, while it does not
neglect to insist upon the paramount
Importance of hygiene, gives much
space to advocating the cultivation of
the beautiful in the construction and
arrangement of cities"
The writer aptly points out that in
most countries of the European cont
nent rigid laws are enforced to prevent
contractors and builders from offend.
ing too grossly against the aesthetic
sense. Paris, perhaps the most artis-
tic city Of the world, was rendered so
by the efforts of Napoleon I'LL, ably
seconded by Baron Hausmann. Mod
ern Berlin has been to a great extent
rebuilt and greatly beautified by the
Kaiser. London, though its buildings
are, as a rule, incongruous to degree,
within recent years has been refur-
bished and brought somewhat into
line with the ideas of modern progress
through the public spirited action of
the civic authorities, while some of the
other large cities of Great Britain are
models of how such places should be
managed. Many of the cities of this
country are on a par with, or even SUI
perior to their European rivals, and 1t
Is evidence that throughout the world
the dominating note in municipal re-
form Is to make the conditions of city
life desirable from a physical moral
and aesthetic point of view.
The most difficult problem with
which to deal in cities and towns is
how to repress noise. In American
cities this feature is even more preya-
lent than in Europe. and constitutes
the most serious objection to living
among the ''madding crowd" 1t
should, however, be clearly under
stood that many of the numerous and
varied noises which shatter the nerves
and shorten the lives of the inhabit-
ants of towns are altogether unneces-
sary, AID could be promptly ended II
a strong stand were made against their
continuance.
With the abolition of needless noises
and with the various improvements
which have been suggested put into
force, city life will have been robbed
or many of its terrors, and may IN
time become the ideal place of resi-
dence. There Is, nevertheless. much
to be done to bring this Elysian dream
to pass.