Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-03-20
Tuesday, March 20, 1906


Frequent deductions have been
drawn from the census figures to show
that the cities Of the United States are
growing at the expense Of the country
sections and that the tendency of
population is constantly cityward. In
Il recent publication Wilbert L. Ander-
son discusses this matter under the
caption 1.-THE Country Town; a Study
in Rural Evolution" and after viewing
the problem, from all sides he comes
to the conclusion that nothing is
than the representation Of the city as
growing continuously through the
SrrgariOus instinct of men, until the
country ceases to be significant in
comparison. Rather" he declares,
country and city are united in an in
dissoluDle partnership which is equit-
able ana for their mutual profit He
then proceeds to make out clear
ease:
The farslS feed and clnthe the ur-
ban millions. forests and mines furnish
dwellings, aud Indispensable mechan-
ism; the city rcpays the service IN
honest work, which its mills and fac
tories make efficient i'll the highest de-
gree so great is the advantage oil
costly machinery. that the city can
take its toll of its maintenance ana
even OF its wealth out OF The Traffic,
and then return 10 the rural partner
what he needs of his products wrought
mao the. form for consumption that
Tie highest civilization approves.
This talent for exchange. whose proper
thrstcr is the city, handles the situa-
ton 80 ably and generously that III adj
diiion To his own grains, and meats.
and fibrrs, passed through the process
Of manufacture the farmer receives
for his labor furnishings aud uG"rn-
nients for his home, books and papers
for his instruction, and a liberal con-
tribItion to his bank account. The
farmers consumption is the base of
urbJn prosperity as certainly as the
clty's need affords a market for the
product of the farms. Each partner
il Indispensable to the other, both as
producer and as consumer"
Even the amazing increase i'm the
number and population of cities fails
to fill Mr.. Anderson with fears for the
future. AS late as the beginning OF
the nineteenth century, when Virginia
contained about one-SiXth of the po2u-
lation of the United states. her largest
cities were Norfolk with 6,926 and
I,ich,uond WITH J,.@1. In the North
the urban development vas greater.
and yet in the entire country there
were at that time but six cities llav-
ing 4 population exceeding 5000. The
smaller New England cities, bridge
port. New Bedford, Gloucester, New
port. Bangor and Portsmouth, as they
are today. are comparable to Phiiadel-
phia New York, Baltimore. Boston.
Charleston and Salem one hundred
years ago. In 1900 there were in the
United states 5l7 cities having more
than 5000 inhabitants. Mr.. Anderson
is convinced not only that this urban
grow In has been 4 benefit to rural
communities, but that they will be
able to stand a similar urban growth
in the future. 1.-THE period of cheap
production within the area OF profit
able commerce has passed. Remote
regions OF comparatively small pro-
aucing power will not be able to de-
press the markets Of the world, whose
prices will be fixed by the cost of pro-
duciion under a stable agricultural
system. The demand Of growing sys-
tens of cities; must be met from Il rural
base having less and less possibility
Of expansion, With the result that
lands will increase in value ard the
farmer will enjoy increasing prosper
ity.'