The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-06
czrx AND COUNTRY.

~ 0yU6 ne Ou1eoQ 6totoos during the
III dooodo. he increass Of population IN
49, and towns hes much exceeded, pro-
llienn1sly. ths growth Of the rural dis
16l1. This has attracted much attention
- ocnnmenk BY many Il has been re-
rlled - a unhealthy tendency, and de-
sxehae. The subject has been the source
II much phflosophixing. Many explana-
SIpns havs bssn suggested.
4ho most common Of these h based on
u nosnmption that agricultural employ
ment = moro iAborious and less profitable,
peoport 3onately. than arc the ordinary
ovoootions pursued IN cities and towns.
nihih supplemental BY claim that the
exoeaee American Of the present day Is
noro aysrss than we're his progenitors to
1he pursuits requiring manual labor. and
ncro disposed for rapid gains BY adventur-
ouu mothods.
e u possible. and IL deemed probable.
that I'll Of these arguments are based on
lalso premises. An unbiased study Of ex-
isting conditions, and . comparison of
fheso with the conditions prevailing at
ether periods, may reveal that the observed
eendencies are natural and healthful. This
oortainly must b the result of the inquiry
e e shall be made to appear that the die
proportionate increase Of population in the
otttes and towns Is needed and profitably
employed there. while it is not needed and
could not 6nd profitable employment in the
rural districts. and that the prevailing ten
oency IL more promotive Of the general
welfare than would result from . counter
tendency.
In the first place. contrary to Q prevail
lng Impression, 1t can be abundantly
proven By statistics. that the proftableness
Of agriculture has not been retrogressive.
II undeniable that given number of
men on . given number Of acres can pro-
duce great deal more. both In quantity
and yaiue, than could have been produced
m the same number of men on the same
number Of acres an hundred. or fifty or
tweuty years ago. It IL no less true that
the average American of today - sounder
a. wind and limb and mentally better pre-
served and better equipped In every way
ehan were his forerunners Of twenty, fifty
ur 100 years ago. 1t Is no less true that he
/. eoually more ready to work with hand
- pen or brain for the bettermsnt of his
condition, and alive TO the best opportuni-
H. for doing 20.
But there has been enormous improve
nent--in the last decade more than In any
Other equal pcriod-in agricultural ma
oninsry, appliances and methods The
same number OF men can work . far
Greater number Of acres and produce more
- sors than In former years. One hun
ared years ego, with the appliances and
Methods then in vogue, 1t took more than
haR the population Of the country. and
kept them hard 1t work, early and late, to
supply themselves and the other fraction
with food products.
Farms were small. they were worked by
primitive methods, their surplus product
~ small. the most Of this surplus was
,eouired IN the immediate neighborhood.
nnd therefore the number of persons re-
puirsd to distribute the excess was limited,
snd there was little occasion for extended
means Of transportation. Pretty nearly
nj that the farmer produced was con-
ynmsd q or near his home, and very little
nat he consumed Vas broughtfrom abroad.
po1Ess, sugar, tsa and cotton yarn were the
inlk Of his purchases, and small town in
y extensive farming region supplied every
DoQui1emenk
~. 4 the best methods and hest