for the transaction of county business. In some states as Illinois, the town form prevails in one part of the state, the county in another. In the Far West, the county, instead of being divided into townships, is usually cut up into districts called precincts. School, judicial and road districts are also used, but the county is the all important local unit. Where the population in a part of a township or a county becomes thickly settled, there is generally a demand for a different kind of government, so that streets, water supply, sewerage and lighting, and other interests may be better looked after. A village, or a borough, or an incorporated town is then organized and incorporated under a general state law. Although by such act it receives the right to look after its own affairs, it still remains a part of the township, and county. chartered by the state as a city and be given a more adequate form of local government. Other Forms There are still other local government forms which should be mentioned, such as school, judicial, road, sanitary, water control and fire control districts. There are many others but it would take a chapter to mention them. The school district is probably the most important, as it is the most widespread and the one with which most rural inhabitants come into close contact and personal relationship. School districts are formed for the purpose of buying land, building schools, hiring and paying teachers, and levying school taxes. Most school districts are in charge of a school committee board. THE VILLAGE OFFICERS OF DESLACS, NORTH DAKOTA, 1922: This is the first time in history that women have filled all political offices in a community. In the front row, left to right, are: The Chairman of the Board of Trustees; the Trustee, Third Ward; the Trustee, Second Ward; and the Treasurer. In the top row, the Justice of the Peace; the Marshal; the Clerk of the Village and the Assessor. Village Government Village government is very simple. Usually at a village meeting a board of trustees or a council, and a village president or mayor are elected by the qualified voters to look after village affairs. All questions regarding legislation and taxes are voted upon by popular vote at the village meeting. There are over 10,000 villages in the United States. As a village grows larger and its needs become more complicated, it may be or Where the National Government touches the individual once, and the state government ten times, local government comes into con- THE AMERICAN CITY OF THE FUTURE The location of future public buildings, transportation, generous park and playground space-these and many other needs will be planned far ahead The American City The American City Dweller Meets His Local Government and Its he and his family get up in the morning, they wash with pure water supplied by the City Water Department. This water is often brought many miles in aqueducts and is provided in generous quantities and at small cost to Smith and his family, for drinking, cooking, and bathing. The Smith family sits down to a breakfast cooked by gas or electricity, supplied by municipally owned gas or electric light companies or by private companies controlled by a public service commission. The City Health Department guarantees the milk used on the cereal at breakfast—its quality and its purity. After breakfast, the garbage is put in a can, later to Mr. Smith goes to his work on a trolley car, an elevated, or a subway train, and pays a fare which is fixed by law. If he works in a factory he is protected from unguarded machinery and carries on his occupation under conditions of health prescribed by law and enforced by inspectors of city and state. In case of fire, an efficient City Fire Department is The City Beautiful S a citizen, think of the future of your city. It is going to grow. Insist that your agents, the city officials, have a plan which will provide for future needs. Do everything possible to make your city beautiful, orderly, convenient. Never miss an opportunity to cast your vote for good city government! be removed by the City Street Cleaning Department. Dish-water, instead of being thrown into the streets, as is still the custom in many backward countries, is carried away in city built sewers. In some Oriental countries, where buzzards, dogs and other animals still constitute the sole scavenging department, and where there is little if any regard for sanitation, "it is all right to have eyes" some one has said, “but it is a misfortune to have a nose." on the scene in a few minutes with its apparatus, ready to put out the fire, and, if need be, to save his life. If Smith is run over by an automobile, traffic policemen make a right of way for the city ambulance so that a city doctor may reach him as quickly as possible. More Safeguards Mr. Smith, instead of working in a factory, may be a clerk working in a ten, fifteen, or thirty story office building. Here, too, city government has thrown its safeguards around him. The skyscraper has been built according to building laws laid down by the City Building Department. The elevators which take him up and down are regularly inspected. The building may be furnished with automatic fire extinguishers required by city ordinance. Every step Smith takes throughout the day finds some city department, bureau or official assisting or protecting him. : THE MAN WHO LIVES IN A CITY meets his local government almost every minute of the day. The water in his home is supplied by the city. The building in which he works-a shop, factory or a skyscraper with hundreds of offices-WAS BUILT ACCORDING TO THE BUILDING LAWS OF THE CITY and is at regular times examined by city officials to see that it is safe and kept in good condition. THE STREETS of a city are built, kept in repair, cleaned, policed, and lighted by the city government. Smith's children go to school. A special traffic policeman sees to it that they cross the busy streets in safety. The school building in which they study is built along modern lines; it is well lighted and fireproof. The teachers have passed city examinations, certifying to their fitness to teach. Doctors and nurses from the City Department of Health examine the children regularly and watch for signs of contagious diseases. Lunches, in some cities, are furnished to the pupils at cost. Public Libraries After school the children take advantage of the recreational facilities maintained at city expense. The oldest boy who is, perhaps, interested in radio, goes to the public library to read the latest magazines and books on the subject. The younger boy plays baseball in the city park, while the little one goes to a neighborhood playground in charge of an experienced playground teacher. Mr. and Mrs. Smith and the family, on a winter's evening, go to a free lecture in the schoolhouse or community building. On a summer's evening a municipal band concert may entertain them. As they go home, they walk along a street lighted by gas or electricity, paid for by city taxes. The American city dweller meets his local government and its services from the time he arises to the time he goes to bed. The city policeman, even while Smith and his family sleep, is patrolling his beat, and the city fireman is ready at a minute's notice to answer the clang of the fire bell. Growth of American Cities The most striking social fact of the last century is the amazing growth of American cities. A few figures will impress the rapidity of this growth on the mind of the reader. In 1820, the U ited States had only a dozen towns with populations exceeding 8,000. Geography students in those days had little trouble naming all the American cities. Today, such a feat would be impossible. In the early days of the last century, only five per cent of all the people in this country lived in cities. Even as late as 1860, New York had just passed the million mark, while Chicago, with its 109,260 people, Detroit, with its 45,619, and Kansas City with its 4,418, were only at the threshold of their wonderful municipal careers. Look at them today! New York City, the leading city of the world, approaching the six million mark, Chicago, with 2,701,705, Detroit with almost a million, and Kansas City with 324,410! What a contrast these figures make with those of 1860! One-tenth of the people of the United States today live in the American cities have grown very rapidly in the last sixty years. Now over half the population of this country lives in cities. In 1860, the United States had JUST 26 CITIES WITH A POPULATION OF |