Forging Ahead

For at least three decades Arm Arbor has been seeking with laudable amliition to pass the 10,000 mark in respect to inhabitants. At last the desire has become a fact. The state census just completed gives the population of Aun Arbor as 11,065. A gain since 1S!;O of 1,705, or an increase of 20 per cent. The figures for the past four decades are as follows : 189J. 1890. 1880. 1870. First Ward 2516 2463 1860 1793 SeeondWard 2131 1677 1398 1208 Third Ward 1939 1512 1336 1151 Fourth Ward 1908 1G25 1531 1501 Fifth Ward 738 723 736 742 Sixth Wurd 1039 1350 1167 968 Total 11,065 9,350 8,028 7,362 Tliis shows a solkl, steady growth. No mushroomism, no great boom, but steady, continual forging ahead. It will be difïïeult for auother city in Mjchigan to give asgood evideuce of tliat important fact. Aun Arbor's growth comes larjjely from her schools. ïhe fame of the University is co-extensive with civilizatfon, and as a consequence people are ca'.led here for educational purposes from all over the wofld. The Ann Arbor high school is not excelled anywhere in the Unilcl States. It has foreign pupila frojn all parta of Michigan and the United States. The muiiber of studente enrolled thereih is greater than a majority of the so-called universities in the country can boast, the past year showing over 800 in attendance. Then comes the School of Music, which is rapidly becoming famous, and which bids fair, in the not distant future, to rival the most noted musical conservatories in the Union. The ordmary tacilities afiorded here and the musicians oí renown who act as teachers, will soon draw hundreds of pupila. The standard is very high howeVer, and if a person obtains a diploma from the University School of Music it means something, giving its possessor a politlón in the musical world at once. There are other causes which tend to help Aun Arbor. One of great importance is its freedom from debt. Anothef is its low taxes. For tlie truth is that there are few places in the country where so mach is given for such slight taxation. All of the advantages of a large city with none of its disadvantages ; all the advantages of great lectures, great certa, gveat libraries, great organs, 'amoua people, beautiful wide streets, tnagníñcent scenery, and delightfnl drives, are enjoyed here, making the city one of the most desirable residence cities in the world. Aud this fact is becoming known more and more, and eople are taking advantage of it. The census by houses aud families is is follows : Houses. Families. st ward 579 517 d " _ 4j9 478 3d " 399 456 Ith " 425 449 oth " 198 205 6th " 4M 558 2,504 2,76a LIBKARIES. The number of volumes in private libraries iu the city is probably larger than in any other place of its size in the state, aud the figures will no doubt astonish most of our readers : No. of Vols. lst ward lsl.x 2d " 10.740 Sd ■' ,,215 4th " 74.500 nth " 7,994 eth " 85 820 Total .TaiT.lSi 'niviM-sity Ltbrary 90,000 lijili School Library 5.O00 adíes' Library 0,000 101,0135 Besides tbere are Church and Sunday chool librarles not euumerated. The irgest private libraries in the city are ïose of J, E. Beal, 3,000 vols. ; Presient Angelí, 3,000 vols. ; Prof. Kelscy, ,000 vols., and Hon. C. R. AVhitinan, ,000 vols. The city gives excellent evience of its literary cliaracter in that st. DOOS. The dogs were not enumerated, but here is an estímate that will come awful close to the correct number : No. lst ward .. 409 2d " S84 3d '■ 328 Ith " 2M 5th ' iös 6th " 378 1 ,828 If these dogs only paid $1 each tax to the city ! THE OI.DEST. Conrad Bissinger, who lives on West Liberty st., is the oldest man enumerated in the city, having passed his ',)'.)( birthday last January, and enumerator Schwab asserts that he is as spry and lively as most any of the boys. D. B. Brown and wifè of S. Slam st., in the same ward, 89 and S8 years spectively, are the oldest couple in the city. The oldest person in the lst ward s Joel Miner, aged S" years. Conrad Krapf being next at 8G. In the third ward there are a number of aged ones. Elizabeth Riley, of N. Main st., aged 89 years, leading in respect to years. In the fourth ward the venerable Gov. Alpheus Felch, aged 89 years, is the oldest person on the list. In the fifth ward Daniel Kent, aged 89 years. In the sixth ward Horace Carpenter, aged 89 years. Oriï SISTER CITY STEPS BACKWARD. The population of our sister city oí Ypsïlanti has (lecreased somewhat since 1S90. or else the state enumerators have not cnptured all the na mes of residente. The fignres reported feJloWB : I 1891. 1890. First Ward 1324 1373 Second "Ward 10SO :OS Third Ward 1490 1697 Fourth Ward 721' 767 Fifth Ward 1480 1354 Total 6091 ' 6129 The Ypsilanti Commercial, relativa to the census, says: "The result in the ward is surprising. That there slioukl appear a loss in the city is not surprising. A considerable nuniber of houses usually oecupied by ranunes wiio nave come liere to give tbeir children scbooling, are not so occupied this year ; and the number of people employed in the faetones is less this year than usual. But that the 2d and 5th wards would show a gain of 142 and 126 respectively, while the 3d shows a loss of over 300, s hardly explicable upon the basis of any general knowledge in posession of the public. The relative variations, according to these figures, are as follows : Percent. First Ward " fL Second Ward _ 15 13 Third Ward IUZZI .. I2I9 Fonrtli Ward r, 10 t'ilth Ward I____T XS5 _____ City 0 73 .. Therese Freutner, of Ypsiilanti, has been granted a pension. Han. A. J. Sawyer and faniT.y will anjoy cottage life, mosquitoes, fish, amd a.ll the usual and unusual aecoanpaaiying adjuncts oí a suimmer oúting at Cavanaug-li Lake this eeasoa. Dr. Deaia M. Tyler is entertaining bis sister Mrs. E. Cook, aaid niece Miss May Cook, wlio are on. tlieir return home to Portland Ore., from Berlín, Genmany, where Miss Cook graduated iai music. Prof. and Mits. Beymour, of St. Louis, lío., Mrs. Jjawrenee, of Kansas, aawl Misses Juliet -and Elizabeth Sessions, oí ('oümimis. Ohio. havo been guests oï Mr. and Mrs. J. Q A. Beesions tJie pat week. Mr. iuid Mrs. W. H. Frencta. vrho caaue to Aun Arbor to see tJieir son Ilerbcrt g-radunte Itram tdie lit. department, Jiavo returued Jiome. 'Fliey were accoimpanied by tJieir daugliters Misses Florence and Ouida.