The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-09-29
The Growth Of small cite.


We had occasion a few DAYS ago 10
make some reference 10 the notably
rapid increase OF population in the
smaller cities OF the United States during
tho Last ten years. The Census Bureau
was quoted TO the effect that the growth
OF cities which in 1870 had a population
OF 25,n0O to ion go has been phenomenal
There il reason TO believe that urban
places still lower in rank have prospered
greatly in the decade for the influences
which have furth~rcd the expansion Of
cities Of moderate size would appear
from their nature to have affected com
paratively small urban places also.
One Of these influences il the rise
in the value o. farm lands In tho
middle West. where the rise has been
greatest, the ordinary farm has come
TO represent an investment the in,eres,
on which - sufficient - maintain a
family in comfortable style The prac-
TIC" of tenant farming has therefore
grown TO largo proportions. bar the
owner no doubt seldom takes up his
residence further away than the near6-'
village or town. whence h. NAV exercise
a general oversight over his property.
The emigration ~ the well ~ do
farmers has already had important con-
sequences IN the social and religious
ME If the agricultural sections OF the
West, and particularly of the middle
West The tenant farmer H. generally
too poor and too hard worked 70 assist
materially IN keeping up the traditional
voluntary activities Of the community
He seldom remains long in one place,
~ he j. constantly seeking - bett"r
himself IN the matter ~ rent A row
lng heterogeneous population - taking
the place II the old substantial resident
farming LAS Religious denominations
hay" sustained serious loss of mem
brr~hip m the country districts of the
West. Nher" ~ measure Of economy
parishes are being consolidated, wh,l.
man Churches have been abandoned
ar together.
Another factor IN ~" recent growth
II small urban centres is the marvellous
progress which has taken place m the
last few wears IN mechanical engineer
Ing During the an NearS from IsgI
- 1879 perhaps the most notable nd,Is-
trial engineering development Wa the
extensive introduction II hvdro-sI.c-
trIc power Electricity generated bv
water power was transmitted over hong
distances and proved of commercial
vaIu" "a regions where, IA IA the New
England States. streams were plentiful
and fuel WIS hugh priced In the lat
'"n wears, however, and especially since
1875. there has b.-'n "A remarkable de- /
yrloUurui Of h" steam turbins. and the
int rnal combustion engine The steam
turbln" has reached 49, modern stag" of
Is'ri'S ton ONLY IN the last five wears.
The cost Of fuel even where It - high
priced, and Of ATTENDANCE, has been re-
duc,d To comparatively small item
IN th" produCtion of rl"c'rio power nv |
larg" steam plants
III" progress IT mechanical engineer
lug has t-nds-i 10 distribute factory
ur'ductIun throughout the country. II
i uf more ImpOrtano" now 10 be. near I
Ia" SOUR" Or raw products than to be- /
where water - plentiful and coal album !
liant. hI~ explains m large mrasrir.
"" remarkable growth of urban popula- |
tiun "a th" agricultural West disclosed
hy th" o"n-fI- nder m,deTn CON
dIt,puS Of power rrpdu,tr"n a great
variety IT manufacturing enterprises
weld higher profits on inexpensive sites
at village railway functions than they /
would Il IN IaTE" Urban centres.
tn" Inhu"nr" of the trolley. the trle- I
phOn" and the automobile IN promoting
the growth Of small urban places, IA ~ .
"our-" too we'll hnoNn 10 warrant dis |
'u-SIon. bat II MAJ h. Of interest 10 b
mention that industrial census bulletins |
published last spring at Washington