Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-09-10
GROWTH Of THE CITIES.

Tin which deals with the growth, in the
last decade Of twenty-five cities having
: population of over 100000 each. The
most striking acceleration In growth,
rs pointed out by the bulletin, IS that
shown by Atlanta, Ca, which IN
creased 1913 per cent from 1900 to 1910
as against 37.1 per cent between 1897
and 1900. The growth Of Detroit,
Mich. is also cited. Detroit Increased
63 per cent in the last decade as
against 38.S per cent in the decade be
tween 1890 and 1900.
In the last decade Denvers popuia-
ton has increased 59.4 per cent, Kan
sas City gained 51.7 and many otner
cities in the 100000 class gained from
rs to 40 per cent in population.
In the class Of cities ranging from
5000 to 100000 in population, thus far
reported on by the census bureau,
similar rate Of increase is shown
Schenectady, N. Y, shows an increase
of 1899 per cent and East st. Louis.
Ill. s97.4 per cent. Two cities show
over 70 per cent, four over so per cent
and four over SO per cent. Cities from
all parts Of the United States are
shown in these returns and the growth
is general. This growth must be &C
counted for in some way. 1t is not all
due to immigration and the natural
Increase in population. Some of it
represents the movement from the
farm to the city, and future reports
of the census bureau dealing with the
population of rural districts will be
Illuminating as showing just how
much the farm has contributed to
these fiattering census returns from
the centers of population. In this con-
nection the Des Moines Register and
Leader calls attention to what it be-
leves is case Of mistaken ambition
on the part of American Cities The
Des Moines paper says:
Each time that the census bureau
announces that some city. has at
tanned tremendous growth III popuA-
ton. there goes up noise OF adj
miration and envy as though the
crowding Of many people into q
small area were one of the things
greatly to be desired in our national
development.
AS q mater Of fact, this focking
Of people to the city has given our
country two Of its most serious prob
sponsible in large measure for the
wretched failure Of municipal gov
eminent, and 1t Is likewise RESPONSE
BILE for the depopulation Of our rural
communities. Wretched municipal
government has been attended by a
debauchipg OF public Office and cit
izenship and has caused widespread
decentralization. The depopulation
OF our rural communities has
brought us UP against the dangers Of
decreased production of the soil with,
an increased population to feed.
Here in Iowa, as elsewhere, our
cities and towns bend every energy to
increasing their population. They are
succeeding, but at the cost of the rural
population. Every city in Iowa, practi-
cally, will show a substantial increase
in numbers over ten years ago, but 1t
Is quite likely that the announcement
of Iowa's rural population will show an
actual decrease. Yet, we are renewing
our energies in Iowa to making our
cities larger 1t is high time to give
less thought to filling up our Iowa
cities and more to filling up our rural
districts. The latter is fundamental
and concerns the real development OF
the state. Greater cities will follow
naturally more populous rural dis
tricts, and without violence to social
and economic conditions.
The promoters of the proposed ad-
vertising campaign for Iowa, the Reg
lister and Leader adds, might we'll bear
these things In mind.