Science and Citizenship
only in the great cities of America, but also in the capitals of Western Europe. The following extract is taken from a typical document of this sort. An eminent engineer is reporting on a proposed railway from Oklahoma into Indian territory. He surveys and records centres of population, actual, incipient, or prospective, along the route of the projected line, taking one centre after another in the following fashion:—
"Chickasa is the recording-town of the Nineteenth District. Population claimed, 8000. The town site has an area of 124,619 acres, and is located in the valley of the Washita river, surrounded by rich farming lands, where corn, wheat, oats, rye, potatoes, and all kinds of vegetables, fruit, and berries grow in abundance. Horses, mules, and cattle are raised.
"It is an incorporated city with a city government, and is the recognised jobbing centre of the south-western section. Contains among other the following industries:—
Chickasa Cotton Oil Co., capacity 120 tons per day.
Chickasa Milling Co., capacity 800 barrels of flour
per day; two elevators, capacity 100,000 bushels.
Chickasa Iron Works.
Choctaw Mill and Elevator Co.
Traders Compress Co. (about 50,000 bales).
Electric planing mill
Steam brick plant.
Wholesale grocery, hardware, furniture, saddlery and harness stores, and general merchandising.
"The city is provided with electric light plant, ice plant, two telephone exchanges, water-works and sewerage, gas plant (under construction)."
It will be noticed that this engineering conception of a city does not envisage a single culture
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