The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-01
WHERE WILU n END9

WHERE WILL IT END2
The census figures show that the
large cities, certain congested districts,
are growing much more rapidly in
population than are the rural com
munities. During recent years it has
become evident that this increase. not
only in population but also in wealth,
is caused by transportation. The
large cities are given inside railroad
rates, either because Of the favor of
the railroads or because they are able
to dictate to the roads
Certain sections of the country are
also given inside rates on their prod
ucts Thus Massachusetts manufac-
lures a large per cent. of the shoes for
the entire country. Three or four
cities of the west kill almost all the
beef, and there are many other in
stances where certain industries are
built up in certain sections, chiefly
through the manipulation of transpor-
tatIon rates. As a result the big cities
winch enjoy these privileged rates are
rapidly growing in population at the
expense of the country districts.
Where is this system leading to?
What will be the end of it all? In
speaking of this congestion of popu-
latlon, Joseph L. Bristow publishes the
following in the Salina Journal:
The development of modern com
nerclaI centers is one of the amazing
lhIngS OF this age. The system of rail-
road rate making forces the develop
nent OF great cities and destroys the
small towns. It drives manufacturing
enterprises that otherwise would -four
lsh throughout the country, to the
commercial center. But the most in
Ieresting and astonishing development
IS the congestion of business into CEN
lerS within our great cities This ten
dency to centralize business twenty
years ago, created a demand in New
york for the elevated railway to trans
port the people rapidly from their
homes to their places of business The
improved facilities for rapid transit to
and from the commercial center of
the great cities, increased the demand
for Office space in those centers. This
has resulted IN the erection of what
are known as 'skyscraper building
from twenty-five to thirty stories in
height. The greater the capacity for
Office rooms the greater became the
demand upon the rapid transit facili-
ties until the subway became a neces-
sity. Now in a number of our great
cities there is the surface, line. the
elevated and the subways. all longest
ing humanity into the business cen
ter. Men are carried to their places
of employment under ground at the
rate of forty miles an hour. The ele-
waited and surface railways in New
York have suffered no serious loss
through their competitor, the subway.
All seem to have an abundant business
to make them very profitable invest
ments for the owners. and the demand
for space in the already OVer-cOngeSt-
ed centers is increasing so that there is
a growing demand for the large and
comm odious buildings which can only
be gratified by extending them into the
air.
zone would think that the ability to
reach different places in the city in
so short a time, would have ten
dency to scatter instead of cOngest the
business of that city, but the contrary
is the result. There must certainly be
somewhere a limit to this cOncentra-
ton
If it were not for these discrimina-
tons in transportation rates. would
not industry spread out over the
country instead Of confning itself to
certain favored sectiOns2 For in
stance, would there not be shoe fac
tories all over Kansas and the west
we're not eastern factories given low
rates to this market in order to keep
81 home industry from being built up2
Why should there not be packing
houses all over Kansas the same as
there are mills. The milling industry
is a good example of one that has not
been centralized. There are mills in
nearly every county. Why should
there not be packing houses also. Why
should there not be jobbing houses
scattered around in all the smaller
cities instead of being huddled into the
bies renters of population
It seems quite probable that fair
railroad rates, between communities
as we'll as between individuals and
corporations. will do much towards
bringing to an end this tendency to
build up the cities at the expense of
the country.