306 A Century of Science 



change. In 1846 there were but five cities in the 

 United States with a population exceeding 100,000 ; 

 New York had not yet reached half a million. 

 To-day New York is approaching the two-million 

 mark, three other cities 1 have passed the million, 

 and not less than thirty have passed the hundred- 

 thousand. During this half century the 13,000 of 

 Cambridge have increased to more than 80,000. 

 The Cambridge of to-day contains as many people 

 as the Boston of sixty years ago. 



The causes of this growth of Cambridge might 

 be treated, had we space for it, under three heads. 

 Our city has grown because of its proximity to Bos- 

 ton ; it has grown by reason of its flourishing man- 

 ufactures ; and it has grown with the growth of the 

 University. That Cambridge should have shared 

 in the general prosperity of this whole suburban 

 region is but natural. But persons at a distance 

 are apt to show surprise when we speak of it as a 

 manufacturing city. This feature in our develop- 

 ment belongs to the period subsequent to 1846, 

 and has much to do with the growth of the eastern 

 portions of Cambridge, where the combined facili- 

 ties for railroad and water communication have 



1 Chicago, Philadelphia, and Brooklyn. By the annexation of 

 Brooklyn, the population of New York is now (1899) carried up 

 to 3,500,000, making it the second city in the world. 



