The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-01-22
MiSrrl(anp.
DECADENCE OF NEW ENGLAND.



towns of Massachusetts, is quite startling. The
same may be aid of Connecticut, New Hamp-
shire and Vermont. Railroads and factories have
changed the ancient order of things. The popu-
lation of the hills has slid into the valleys, and
with it the wealth also Farms can now be bought
for less than what the buildings worth, and
several farms are often merged into one and
briars and brambles spring up where once was
the garden and the rose. Rev DIR. Gale, of Lee,
In recent sermon, drew gloomy picture of this
decrease of population in the hill towns of Berk-
shire county. He stated that four towns now
contain half the population and half the wealth
OF that county. OF the remaining twenty-seven
towns fourteen have less than thousand lnhab-
itants. There are thirty-three Congregational
churches IN the county, and only fourteen settled
pastors. Five of these churches have no regular
service and fourteen hire clergymen for stated
time In 1929 there were twenty.six Congrega-
tlonal churches, and twenty-three pastors. The
membership in these churches has increased only
thirty-tour in the last forty years. being 4544 in
1S29 and 4,5'S in 1863 In ten Of the churches
the membership is less than fifty each, and in
these ten churches the number of male members
averages only ten. In most of these mountain
towns were once large churches, and the sane.
tuaries on the Sabbath were filed with devout
worshippers. Now, in some five places, the peo.
pie have forsaken assembling themselves together
on the Sabbath, and in many towns the minister
breaches to very lean congregation. We can
add our testimony to that of DR.. Gale and apply
the same to other counties in Western Massa-
chusetts. In the last four years we have travelled
thousands OF miles among the hill and mountain
towns, treading their back roads and by-ways,
wherever the remnant of once prosperous pop
ulation fingers. One is surprised at the indlca.
ton OF decay witnessed at almost every mile.
For long distances there are human habit.-
tions. You pass the wreck of once elegant man
slons, or the foundations where they stood
Others are crumbling back to dust, the outside
covering hardly keeping the elements from reach
sng the inmates within. There are scraggy re-
mains OF large and once fruitful orchards now
moss-grown and choked with underbrush DC.
casslonally at the crossroads, may be seen a
dilapidated school house, long since deserted by
children and teacher, and ofteutimes we have
travelled a half day without seeing a solitary
human being, except we entered dwelling.
thickly tenanted, but sadly neglected burial
place here and there, is evidence that there once
dwelt among the hills and mountains a moro
numerous population.
These signs OF desolation and decay suggest an
inquiry as to the cause, and the answer comes in
the conclusion that they have been brought about
by extravangance and fashion, 1t has become
the fashion to have few children, and the
farmer who once raised dozen boys who helped
carry on the farm prosperously, is succeeded bv
another who hires his help, out door and in, and
nnds at the end of year, that he has scarcely
saved enough to pay his employees If he has
one or two sons or daughters they cannot be
content with common fare at home, but must
ape the fashions of the city village, and force
Inc ora 1olKs at home into more style in living
than they can afford. The result is soon reach.
ed. The farm runs down and is ultimately sold,
the proprietor moving away to seek his fortune
where money Is easier to be get and his family
can move in more fashionable society DR.. Al.
len, OF Lowell has shown by reliable statistics
that the Yankee race of New England is running
out, and the reasons for it are those we have
given above. Extravaganza and fashion are ex.
termlnators more potent than all the Ellis that
flesh is heir to- Unless a reform is commenced
IN this regard, the hill and mountain towns of
this and ether states will become a Wilderness
Every year they decrease in population and val
uation, aud every succeeding generation will
have Trailer hold upon life. While all are
urging reforms of other kinds, what pity it is
we cannot reform the fashions and habits of our
men and women, wherein lies the only hope of a
perpetuation of our name and race
Ihe providence IireSs, in commenting on the
above article, uses the following language:
I'VE print to-day an article of considerable
interest from the Palmer JourWal on the depop.
uiation OF our country towns Our own state is
an exception to certain extent for its man q fac.
turing interests have saved most of our towns
Few which are purely agricultural have de.
creased Nevertheless, there is the tendency 70
mat which is so paipable in other parts of New
England. Statistics would probably reveal
similar state of facts in all the older settled states
This Is matter of much Importance, and in.
wolves several questions intimately connected
with the growth and development of the country.
IL commends Itself TO the consideration of the
elder states, tor with the loss of population thew
lose weight in the national council, representa-.
tlves being based on population This decadence
commenced some years since, but was almost
lnappreciable till railroads were opened when
the movement began on quite large scale Yam
kee torecAstlny saw at the depots the centres of
trade; the most stirring and enterprising of them
settled there, followed by many who had no
clear or definite ideas beyond being in lively
place Many OF the latter were laborers; a nor.
ton have settered Themselves and others had
better have remained at their old homes Again
agricultural pursuits have not afforded remu-
heratlon Sufficient to satisfy the ambition of manv
ana they turned their backs upon the country,
ana driited to the villages and cities. Aprical.
ture clunS to its old modes of culture. and fell
oehihd the average of other occupations Though
implements ana machinery were introduced thev
coulo not overcome the difficulties incident to
.'e primary requisite, proper system tor fertil.
hihe' out let farming come up to the level of
o'her pursuits, ana the tendency of migration
from the country from this cause would cease tn
DC operative Again, there has been seni.a,i.
s'ocFacy III many places, ciques or rings AGAINST
"H4ch IL was hopeless for any Young man To con.
tehd. Hence II any who were somewb,. amb;.
tious and felt pinched by the regiae. have gone
elsewhere. In other fields they have satisfied
their ambition, and had II recognition thu, ,hsv
could not hope for Mt home Tho nr,icla ,yh;i