50 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



burden of taxation would fall wholly on the sparse population, with 

 only such privileges and enjoyments as are familiar to the pioneers 

 in a new country. 



Hut let C()m[)elition in trade arise and the village begins to form, 

 the suburbs feel the agitation ; both grow together. Capital crawls 

 out of its concealment and invests in trade, and the capitalist, to in- 

 crease his trade, invests in manufactures — the saw-mill, the grist- 

 mill, carriage and starch factory, &c., therein employing more and 

 more consumers year after year until the village is formed, the 

 suburbs extended, products increased in quantit}' and value, until 

 storehouses become overstocked for lack of means of shipment ; and 

 then the railroad extends its ever helping hand, at once transform- 

 ing the country village into a metropolis, with capacious hotels full 

 of boarders and travelers, consuming and trading ; taking away, 

 almost against your will, at good prices, the best colt, cow, pig and 

 lamb ; first-class public buildings, and stores filled with goods at 

 lowest prices, the centre of trade and traffic for miles and miles 

 around. 



As population increases and centres, general information extends, 

 the tone of society' rises and with it, as a concomitant, conies the 

 demand for those improvements which will preserve health and 

 property, advauce education, business, trade, industr}' and sobriet}', 

 and make the life of that remotest farmer who visits its busj' streets 

 and mingles with its intelligent people, worth living, a better farmer, 

 better parent, better neighbor and a better citizen. Cultivated soci- 

 ety exhales its influence and culture as flowers their perfume. No 

 man can be among them and not inhale it. And so this village has 

 grown to contain one-half of the population of the town and three- 

 fourths of its wealth, and paying three-fourths of its entire tax. 



Suppose the territory of one mile in diameter, including this vil- 

 lage, be set off and organized into a city or town by itself, what 

 would be the effect upon the suburban tax-pa3'ers? You would be 

 left with your roads and bridges, your schools, your paupers and but 

 one-fourth of your present valuation. Or, for want of sufficient fire 

 apparatus, the fire fiend should sweep out of existence the whole or 

 a considerable portion of your beautiful and thriving village ; or the 

 agents of that destroying angel, death, should enter, invited by jour 

 neglect to provide pure water or proper sewerage, creating conster- 

 nation and depopulation. The depressing effect will be felt, and 

 that severely, on the surrounding country. 



