River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1891-09-24
THE SUMMER VACATION.
It Affects Education and IL Tends to
Equallze Wages.

Equallze Wages.
do not know that an effect of sum-
mer migration ON the country school is
often observable. Exceptional instances
exist, and cases may be numerous. The
increasing disposition of families to
prolong their stay in the country be-
yond the limits of the city school vaca-
ton suggests that the time may not be
far distant when those who control the
village schools will adjust the terms and
studies so as to enable children from the
city to continue work during portion
OF their stay. The similarity of courses
in all graded schools favors this
transfer, and by painstalSing a fair
adjustment might be reached. This
would take away from many city fam
lilies chief objection to prolong their
snjourn, and would result in positive
benefit to the inhabitants. Lacking
some such arrangement the migratory
habit must soon lead to the establish
ment of private schools in some dis
tricts to accommodate temporary resi-
dents.
We need not enumerate the oecupa-
tons benefited by a migration which
calls into its service wcll-nigh every
trade and handicraft. The rural mar
1et for labor is perceptibly strength
ened by this cause, and the variety of
employments is increased. Prepare
tions must be made for guests. Hotels
must be built with their appendages
of barns and small cottages. Farm
houses must be enlarged and fitted
with conveniences To this is to be
added the buildings of country seats
on a grand scale, the erection of mod
est cottages, the putting up of perma-
nent camps, the building of boats, the
manufacture of sportsmens outfits.
Occupation is thus furnished to labor
ers, many of whom, but for these in
dustries, would be compelled to seek
employment in larger towns and cities.
Household servants are secured with
increased difficulty. throughout those
regions toward which the tide of travel
sets. Farm help is interfered with and
commands a higher price. The laying
out of estates frequently involves the
purchase of hundreds of acres aud the
employment of hundreds of hands dur
ing term of years in the erection of
houses and barns, as well as in
gardening, and all the work
of great establishment. After this
initial labor is performed, the main
tenance of such an estate furnishes per-
manent occupation for large company.
The effect of this is felt over the sur
rounding country in the greater diff
Guilty of securing laborers, especially in
the buster seasons of the year. Where
operations are less conspicuously
centered on a single country seat they
may be equally influential, because of
the employment of corresponding
amount of labor at numerous scatter
ing points not inconsiderable in
fuence is in these ways exerted on the
wage question. Any support given to
labor in the country tends to equalize.
wages and to prevent the concentration
of worl1-people in the great centers of
population.
The amount of taxable property in
the country towns is largely increased
by these activities, and i'm many cases
the price of land is measurably en-
HANGED A change is already observa-
BILE in the habits of those who annually
seek the country. The period of their
stay is gradually lengthening. Boarders
come early and remain till late in au-
tumn. Owners of country homes leave
the city sooner each year and linger as
long as possible. There is an increas-
ing disposition to spend the autumnal
months in the seclusion and amid the
splendors of the country. People are
beginning to talk of Christmas as
the proper time to return to the city.
Many houses are kept open all winter
with a view to possible occupancy when
sleighing and other winter pleasures
are at their height. Country life is as
sorting its charms as compared with
life in the city The time seems to be
approaching " hen an increased number
of people will regard themselves as
permanently domiciled in the country,
and as visitors TO the town only for the
season of social gayety which will in
tervene between Christmas and Lent.
The Importance of this inclination to-
ward domicile can hardly be overesti-
mated.