92 • A. W. Greely—The WorkVs Cities. 



In view of the preponderating influence exercised by great 

 cities upon the progress and welfare of the world, it is extremely 

 interesting to note that more than one-half of the cities herein 

 named are either populated by English-speaking races or are 

 under their control. Of these fifty-two cities, two are in Aus- 

 tralia, two in Canada, one in China, two in Egypt, thirteen in 

 England, ten in India, two in Ireland, two in Scotland, one in 

 Singapore and seventeen in the United States. 



It is not the purpose of this sketch to investigate the causes 

 which particularly favor the enormous aggregations in modern 

 cities, for such causes must be complex, local, and numerous. 

 It is evident, however, at a glance, that the elements of easy 

 transportation and a moderately rigorous climate are the most 

 frequent concomitants, if they are not the predominating causes. 

 As some one not very wisely remarked, " it is fortunate that 

 great rivers run by so many great cities," and in this list but 

 few cities are found which have not facilities for water transpor- 

 tation. By far the greater number of large cities are situated 

 climatically in an average temperature between 45° and 55°. 

 In the parts of Europe and America where these annual tem- 

 peratures prevail there is one city of 100,000 inhabitants to 

 about every 2,000,000 of population. In Russia there is only one 

 such city to over 9,000,000, and in India one to over 10,000,000 

 souls. 



With but few exceptions the populous cities of the world are 

 the product of the age, as is illustrated by the fact that at 

 the beginning of this century the United States had no city of 

 one hundred thousand inhabitants, while now it has twenty- 

 eight; England had one only, now it has twenty-four. 



