El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-07-18
Ell Paso's Location Excellent
For a Great Educational
City.

At the First Christian church Sunday
evening the pastor, Rev. P J. Rice.
delivered the first of a series of lee
ture sermons on The Modern City"
in the Making In the beginning Rev.
Mr.. Rice stated that while reared In the
country he had been a pastor in cities
ranging in population from 10000 TO
100000 all his professional life. He
said:
Il claim no expert knowledge con-
corning city problems. but 1 have tried
TO be student of conditions and be-
leve l have some right to speak L
have been resident of this city nearly
year and feel a keen interest in its
growth and development, which has
been so phenomenal in the recent past
and which presents so much of prom
Use for the immediate future. I have
great sympathy with the mayor of any
city. He has. IN my judgment. harder
job than the president Of the United
States. The office calls for ability
and patriotism of a high order and for
a spirit Of unselfsh service for the
good of others. Doubtless all who are
charged with responsibility, are aim
ing a Improvement and We should be
patient with each other for the prob
lens are huge.
Cities Grow Rapidly.
The rapid growth of cities is one of
the striking features of modern civili-
cation. At the beginning of the nine
teenth century the United States had
but six cities of 5000 or more inhabit-
ants At the beginning of the TWEEN
tieth century there We're $40 such cit
les in our territory IN 1900 less than
percent of the population lived in
cities. In 1900 80 percent of it was
urban. 1t took the city of New York
us years TO become as large as FL
Paso is at the present time. In the
next so years it gained 100000; IN the
next 80 years 1t gained $4,000. and
from 1859 to 1890. the next period Of
21 years, it gained SIS. 200. Numerous
cities. not only of America. but all
over the world. have experienced SINH
lar growth. and this massing Of people
has created many problems. most Of
which we are still trying to solve.
Thus in practically every particular,
cities are still in the making.
Physically this is true. Houses are
constantly being built. business blocks
are towering skyward. streets are be-
ing improved; parks are being laid out
and beautifed; telephones are being
installed; gas and water pipes are be-
ing laid and street car tracks are be-
Ing extended. One seldom travels a
block in any city without witnessing
some unfinished situations.
Ell PasO an Able Exponent.
"All this is prominently true of FL
Paso. Some severe criticisms Of her ap-
pearance might be made if one did not
remember that Il is a city in the max
ing and that the unfinished appearance /
Is but a condition incident to rapid de-
There is great need. how |
ever. for a very unusual amount OF !
civic pride 10 dominate all our citi- /
zens If this city is to be made as at |
-ractive as il may be. A permanent /
grade should be established and fol- !
owed and greater care should be ex-
ercised in the laying Of walks that they /
may be more nearly regular in width.
design and grade. Private lawns should
De assiduously cultivated and clean
mess should be considered a virtue
next TO godliness-
Massing of Population Problem.
The housing of great numbers of
people is one Of the important problems
Incident TO the making of a city. PeO-
lie cannot live healthily or morally in
cheap and unsanitary shacks. Hun
lreds of thousands of people die every
'ear simply as the result OF the neg
sct or the greed Of owners OF tene-
nents. The recent report of FL Paso's
health department shows the conditions
lere to be deplorable indeed Even
lorth of the tracks the conditions are
lot beyond criticism. Cottages have
,een built too near the street. both in
'oint Of distance from it and in ele-
-ation.
The care of the sick and INDECENT
lasses is another problem of gigantic
proportions. It is particularly import
mt in this city. and Notwithstanding
he efforts that are being made by the
ealth department of the city condi- \
ions are deplorable. This is naturally
health restoring climate. AS cor
Tally as it can. with safety to itself.
Il Paso should say to every sufferer