Evening journal., 1904-10-28
AFRAID0F BIG CITIES
ENGLAND LONG TRIED TO KEEP DOWN
LoNDoNs POPULATION

lRmations Iasued 60 Restrict the
Size and Number OF Buildings.
From the days Of Elizabeth TO those
Of Charles III. the various English gov
ernments tried by every means within
their power TO preserve the kingdom
from the "evlls" attendant upon a
huge metropolis. The frequent out
breakings OF the gue-afterward /
eliminating in the terrible visitation /
which carried or over 10000 persons
the fear that with the deuge of build |
i ing the population would be poisoned /
/ by breathing in one another's faces /
the lncapacity OF the police Of the time |
/ to preserve order and their utter help |
| lessness in the face Of mob low-these |
were among the contributory causes
which brought about long series of
vexations and annoying prohibitions.
In 1880 a proclamation was issued
prohibiting the erection within three
miles Of the city gates of any new
houses OF tenements upon sites where
no former house had been known TO
have been erected. Later came another
proclamation, by which it was ordered
that only one family should live in
each house, that houses erected within
the past seven years and still unlet
should remain empty, and that all un-
finished buildings on new foundations
should be pulled down.
There would appear to have been
neither order nor system in these vary
ing proclamations, which were issued
every six or seven years. Thus at one
time buildings were prohibited within
ten miles of London, az another las
quoted above) within three miles, and,
while under Elizabeth unfinished
houses only were required to be pulled
down, orders were issued later under
which houses which had been erected
several years were rvthlessly demol-
ished. n4a hrr ..-
Further prnelamations OF the same
period commanded that 'persons of
livelihood and means,sh0uld, reside In
their counties aud not abide or sojourn
in the city Of London. 50 that counties
remained uuseryed ,Ynbut these seem TO
; have been Of no effect until the reign
, Of Charles l.. when they were renewed
} and definite steps taken TO enforce
obedience. All persons of livelihood
and means unconnected with public
Offices were ordered within forty days
from the date Of the notice TO resort to
their several counties and with their
families continue their residence there,
Z and they were further warned mot to
e put themselves to unnecessary charge
] in providing themselves to return in
winter TO the said cities"-i e., London
and Westminster Il was the kings
firm resolution to withstand such great
. and growing evil"
Even this had little effect upon the
q public in its first issue. and copious
4 list was prepared Of offenders, includ-
is ing a great number OF the nobility and
II ladies and gentlemen. who were accus-
n ed OF living in London for several
N months after the given warning. Most
r Of these had made a pretense of quit
N ting the city. TO return again after 1
~ brief absence, hoping thus to escape
= the penalty of their disobedience.
It came as n bolt from the blue il
1855 when Mr.. Palmer. a large land
1t holder IN Sussex. was brought into the
n star chamber and fined $1,000 for dis
a obeying the proclamation as to living
p in the country and remaining in Lon
don after the prescribed period. He
was a bachelor. and he urged in his dc
~ fense that he had never been married
! had never been n "housekeeper" and
l. had no house fitting for man Of his
IS birth to reside in. his own mansion in
N the country having been burned down
but his judges were ineXorable, and
the fine was accompanied by n severe
reprimand for having deserted his ten
.. ants and neighbors.
In the same year information was
Il, filed against Sir John Sucking. the
70 poet, and many others for the same Of
as fense, and such was the terror caused
ID by these prosecutions that on all side'
he folk OF condition and quality were Il
es be seen preparing for flight into thl
country, cursing the hardship OF being
confined TO their country houses an'
G. leaving town and its pleasures behind
To encourage gentlemen to live NOR
eel willingly in the country. says a write
v OF the times, all game fowl, such n
On pheasants. partridgcs. ducks and hares
ny were at certain times forbidden to b
n dressed or eaten. I'm any inn.
In a proclamation issued by Charlie
II. in 166i--o one OF the last in this d
is rection-among the inconvenience Sc
ss forth as daily growing by the sprea
~ Of new buildings were: The increas
he Of the people in such great number
he as to prohibit their proper governmer
n by the wonted officers. the enhanc'
cd ment of the price of vituals. the ei
d. dangering of the health of the city il
rs, habitants and the damage done
the tradespeople in the boroughs b
the migration downward of the populi
E ton.
~ But It was all OF no avail. Nothin
could stop the increase Of "upsta'
10 London" as it was termed by some
he the old writer's, and the prediction
yet James I. that England will itself I
ry London, and London England" is IA
le- approaching verifcation. What wou
mt