Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1890-11-19
THE HOPEFUL VIEW OF FARMING.

THE HOPEFUL VIEW OF FARMING
Iowa Homestead.
In the last few years there has
been much to discourage young
men Who are selecting a profession
from adopting that Of farming,
There has been almost constant
shrinksge in prices, while the oppor.
tunities Of success in other lines have
as great il not greater than for many
years. The minds Of young men
have been dazzled. if not dazed
with the success that has followed
speculation in other lines, and the
phenomenal successes have been
hcralded to the world, while the
thousands of sad and disastrous
failures have been passed over in
silence. The marvellous new in.
ventions have each laid the foun.
dations of many fortunes, new cities
have laid the foundations Of many
more, the opening up of new terri
tories and new mines have furnish
ed their quota to the crop Of the
newly ricll," and it is not a matter
OF wonder that among the young
men on the farm as we'll as the
young and old Of the city, farming
has lost It's prestige.
The returns Of the census now
soEalng III all show wonderful gains
in the manufacturing cities and
commercial marts and in the strict
ly new farming regions, while in the
agricultural regions the growth
in population is stationary, if not
indeed on the decline. The growth
Of these cities is made up Of three
distinct elements-the natural in
crease Of the city, tue foreign immi-
and the influx of young
men from the farm. Instead of be-
ing a matter Of encouragement to
The farmer, this growth of the urban
population is one of the most cheer
SYMPTOMS Of rural prosperity.
These people must be fed and the
must feed them and be paid
Tor feeding them. The improve
in farm machinery, while in
many cases not diminishing the cost
of production to the farmer, do save
abor and render a less number Of
armers necessary to feed the world,
md, therefore, the anticipated de-
,line in the ratio of farmers to popn-
alton is at once necessary and de-
With the same ratio Of
,armcrs TO population, and with
modern labor saving machines,
armers would deluge the world
With farm products and drown
in .heir own honey.
Another Of the most hopeful signs
# the present time is the fact that
'armers are everywhere organizing
ior their improvement and protect
on. This movement is neither
ocal nor spasmodic. 1t does not
lin at the mere relief Of present
pressure, or the removal Of some
burden that bears hard for the time,
,ut the improvement of the farmer
II his profession. The betterment Of
lis social life and the effective use
II the ballot. 1t means simply that
he farmer will hereafter he a domi-
and controlling force in
American political affairs and that
lis interests must be the study Of
he statesman. When the owners
If the soil Of America once deter
nine to be heard in behalf OF their
,wn interests, the soil itself takes on
IN added value. Statesmen will
make haste to remedy any grievance
which SO numerous and powerful a
lass may have whenever that class
to study in real earnest the
Of public measures on the
arm interest.
1t is freely admitted that the farm
loes not offer the opportunity to
immense wealth. The farm
no millionaire. It does not
i've the opportunity for great social
display. II is not the best stepping.
tone 10 political preferment. 1t is,
mid all the discouragements Of the
present and past, a safe business in
which the number Of failures r
Istonishingly small. Properly con-
it gives a competence as sure
md reliable as any business known.
L does not deve)ope a fasl,y typo
II character, but for integrity Of pur-
bose, for general information and
intelligence, the farming community
8 the peer Of any other. It is con-
,eded on all hands that . farm in a
rood community where the school
md church are readily accessible il
he best place to rear = family,
whether OF boys or girls. The city
be in bad shape were it not
Ior the stream Of fresh young blood
sEz - $50 sLS 20 a.Gt An L