Sources and Significance of Urban Growth 



The increase in urban population in 1900 to 1910 

 amounted to nearly twelve million. Estimates of 

 the sources of this urban growth indicate that 41 per 

 cent came from immigration, 7 per cent was due to 

 the incorporation of new city territory, 21 per cent 

 was natural increase, while approximately 30 per cent 

 or 3,500,000 was migration from rural to urban dis- 

 tricts. See Chart 8. Economic opportunity has 

 been greater in the city. There, work can be obtained 

 throughout the year. The hours of work are shorter. 

 In many lines wages in the city are better. Perhaps 

 even more important, life is more pleasant in the city. 

 Few if any city families in comfortable circumstances 

 will consent to live in a house without modern con- 

 veniences water, bath, indoor toilet, furnace heat, 

 gas or electric lights. Only a small proportion of the 

 farm homes, as yet, have these conveniences. Su- 

 perior schools in cities and villages attract many from 

 the farm. Those in middle life prefer to move to the 

 city because a better church is more conveniently 

 located. The picture show is just around the corner. 

 The doctor is nearer at hand. 



It seems human nature to desire to live in the city. 

 The Greek preferred to live in Athens rather than in 

 the rural district. The Roman loved the Circus 

 rather than the farm. In both France and England, 

 prior to the opening of the war, there was serious 

 discussion on the relative decline of the rural popu- 

 lation. In Germany also this same problem was 

 receiving attention. It is customary to deplore the 

 rapid growth of cities. But if the cities had not grown 

 there would not be a market for farm products at 

 prices which enable the American farmer and his 

 family to maintain an American standard of living. 



