Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 April 1895 — A GIGANTIC CITY. [ARTICLE]

A GIGANTIC CITY.

Japan’s Capital Already Hank# as th» World's Fourth City. We do not know that more than two large cities in the United States or in the world have grown more rapidly in this generation than the city of Tokio, the capital of Japan. Its population has more than doubled within the past twenty years. According to a statement made in the year 1874, vhlch we believe to have been correct, its population then was 800,000. According to the Tokio official sanitary’ report recently issued, its population last year was over 1,858,000. This is a marvelous growth, just about equal to that of New York City during the same time. The population of Tokio follows close upon the heels of that of the Empire City of the United States, and it is far greater than that of Chicago, as given in the school census taken two years ago. In the last four years Tokio has gained over half a million In numbers. Tokio is now the fourth largest city in the world, larger than Vienna, if not than Berlin; larger than Canton, and surpassed only by London, Paris and New York. It is a city of high civilization, of exceeding enterprise and industry. It is an extraordinary healthy city, the death rate for last year being a fraction less than 20 in the 1,000. The latest report of its “health director” contains a very satisfactory account of its sanitary condition. The growth and improvement of Tokio within recent years may be largely attributed to the liberalization of the political institutions of the country and to the vast increase of the city’s industries and commerce. As the residence of the Emperor, the place of assemblage of Parliament, and the headquarters of the Imperial Government offices, it is a place of great political activity. As the seat of an illustrious university and numerous other educacational Institutions, it is a center of learning. It has a serviceable harbor, which has been Improved. It is a city of theaters, temples and groves, railroads, electric lights, newspapers, and all the other modern things. There is not any reason to doubt the continued growth of the progressive Japanese city of Tokio. New York must, at the least, keep up with it.