THE PROBLEMS OF THE URBAN COMMUNITY 



BY LOUIS WTJARIN" 



(Professor of Sociology, University of Geneva) 



THE causes of the rural exodus and the rapid growth of cities, 

 which form the characteristic feature of our times, are familiar to 

 every mind. Though numerous, they can, in fact, be reduced to 

 the appearance of steam and then of electricity as practical means 

 of mechanical power, motion, and communication. 



Should these two forces be ever suppressed; things would be 

 reversed and come back to their primitive condition, but they are 

 permanent and insuppressible agents. We must, therefore, expect 

 to see the great demographic revolution continue its course, not- 

 withstanding the amazement mingled with anxiety as to its ultimate 

 results which it awakens. 



The era of scattered population has definitely given way to that 

 of agglomerated population. Every reasonable man ought, at 

 every turn, to reflect on the best way of facing new situations; 

 now it is but the bare truth to say that the public are painfully 

 indifferent to problems of vital importance. It is evident, for in- 

 stance, that cities, their future development and necessities, have not 

 received proper consideration. Have not most of them grown 

 unrestrained and without order, so as to become a dread to thinking 

 men? Grievous, irreparable blunders have been committed; errors 

 more deplorable still will be added to these, if we are not on our 

 guard. Then the question arises: " What shall be done to avoid the 

 disastrous results of these shortcomings? " 



It has been my privilege, after a long search, to discover the 

 city of the future. A worthy friend, Initiator, helped me to see it 

 thoroughly. All that I saw filled my mind with a kind of rapture, 

 and roused my indignation at the deplorable apathy in which most 

 of the modern cities remain as to their supreme interests. Indeed, 

 I had a clear sense of the needs and responsibilities of the present 

 hour, and consequently felt justified in accepting the flattering in- 

 vitation, for which I thank you most heartily, gentlemen, to come 

 to St. Louis to speak about the urban community. 



I. Moral Reforms 



Great was my impatience on entering the city of the future to get 

 new light about the material conditions best fitting our agglomera- 

 tions. I was, perhaps, too sanguine about the result of my inquiry, 



