Produced by Jana Srna and the Online Distributed
Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was
produced from images generously made available by The
Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)
[ Transcriber's Notes:
Every effort has been made to replicate this text as faithfully
as possible, including inconsistencies in spelling and hyphenation
and non-standard punctuation. Some corrections of spelling and
punctuation have been made. They are listed at the end of the text.
Some of the entries in the index are not in alphabetical order; they
have been kept as printed.
Italic text has been marked with _underscores_.
]
CATASTROPHE AND SOCIAL CHANGE
BASED UPON A SOCIOLOGICAL STUDY OF
THE HALIFAX DISASTER
BY
SAMUEL HENRY PRINCE, M. A. (Tor.)
SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
IN THE
FACULTY OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
NEW YORK
1920
Halifax
is not a large city
but there are those who love it
who would choose to dwell therein
before all cities beneath
the skies
To
All Such
CITIZENS, PAR EXCELLENCE,
I COUNT IT AN HONOR TO DEDICATE
THESE LINES
PREFACE
The following pages embody the result of an observational study of the
social phenomena attendant upon one of the greatest catastrophies in
history--the Halifax Disaster. The idea of the work was suggested while
carrying out a civic community study of the disaster city under the
direction of Professor F. H. Giddings of Columbia University.
The account deals first with the shock and disintegration as the writer
observed it. Individual and group reactions are next examined in the
light of sociological theory. The chapters on Social Organization are an
effort to picture that process as it actually occurred.
The writer has also tried faithfully to record any important
contribution which Social Economy was able to make in the direction of
systematic rehabilitation. Special reference is made to private
initiative and governmental control in emergency relief. This monograph
is in no sense, however, a relief survey. Its chief value to the
literature of relief will lie in its bearing upon predictable social
movements in great emergencies.
Nor is the book a history of the disaster. It is rather, as the title
suggests, an intensive study of two social orders, between which stands
a great catastrophe, and its thesis is the place of catastrophe in
social change.
In the preparation of this work, which the author believes to be the
first attempt to present a purely scientific and sociological treatment
of any great disaster, he has received invaluable assistance. A few
grateful lines can ill-express his obligation to his Professors of the
Department of Sociology. To Professor F. H. Giddings the volume owes its
inspiration and much of its social philosophy. To Professor A. A. Tenney
it owes its present form and structure and any literary excellence it
may possess. Professor R. E. Chaddock has read the manuscript throughout
and has contributed many helpful suggestions. Professor S. M. Lindsay
has read the chapter on Social Legislation, and Professor R. S.
Woodworth of the Department of Psychology, that on Disaster Psychology.
The author is under special tribute to Professor H. R. Seager, and to
Professor Tenney, who most cheerfully sacrificed part of a summer
vacation to read and revise the manuscript and proof.
Without the walls of the University there are also those who have given
aid. The author gratefully acknowledges the assistance of Dr. Edward T.
Devine of New York, of Mr. C. C. Carstens of Boston, of Mr. Thomas
Mackay, of Ottawa, and of Miss E. M. A. Vaughan, of the St. John Public
Library. He has enjoyed the cooperation of many friends and
fellow-townsmen of Halifax. He desires to thank particularly, Miss L. F.
Barnaby, of the Halifax Citizens' Library, Miss J. B. Wisdom, of the
Halifax Welfare Bureau, Rev. W. J. Patton of St. Paul's Church, Mr.
W. C. Milner, of the Public Archives of Canada, Mr. L. Fred. Monaghan,
Halifax City Clerk, Mr. G. K. Butler, Supervisor of Halifax Schools, Mr.
R. M. Hattie, Secretary of the Halifax Town-Planning Commission, Dr.
Franklin B. Royer, Director of the Massachusetts-Halifax Health
Commission, Mr. E. A. Saunders, Secretary of the Halifax Board of Trade,
Mr. E. H. Blois, Superintendent of Neglected and Delinquent Children,
and last of all and most of all his friend of many years, Mr. A. J.
Johnstone, editor of the _Dartmouth Independent_.
S. H. P.
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, NEW YORK, OCTOBER, 1920.
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
PAGE
The "catastrophe" in sociological literature 13
The "catastrophic view" _vs._ progress in evolution 14
Factors in social change 15
The stimuli factors 16
What crises mean 16
Communities and great vicissitudes 19
Causes of immobility 19
Catastrophe and progress 21
Historic cases suggested for study 23
CHAPTER I
CATASTROPHE AND SOCIAL DISINTEGRATION
The City of Halifax 25
Terrific nature of the explosion 26
Destruction of life and property 26
The subsequent fire and storms 29
Annihilation of homes 31
Arresting of business 31
Disintegration of the social order 32