Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-03-09
BURLINGTON. THURSDAY. MABCH.9.


Rural DeCRdence and Its Causes.
When tho announcement was first made
that Vermont contained r considerable
number OF farms which had been abandoned
by their owners so far as tillage was con
csrned not few OF our contemporaries
outside OF the State moralzed at no little
length upon the disadvantages of living In
State remote from the great centres of
population and commercial activity, holding
this table one OF the chief causes of the
existenco OF abandoned farms in the Green
Mountain State. When it was discovered
however, that Rhode Island had more aban-
doned farms than Vermont, and compare
lively more than any other State
in New England, it became necessary
TO reconstruct one OF the most widely ad-
vocated theories in relation to the causes OF
rural decadence. Rhode Island not only
has cities of considerable size within its own
borders but it is only a comparatively short
distance from Boston aud New York.
1t enjoys unexcelied facilities for
transportation By rail 90 both of these cities
and it reaps the advantages OF cheap rates
for freight sent by water to the unrivaled
markets afforded by the Metropolis and
the Hub, not to mention the other
large cities and the humorous summer re-
sorts which afford markets for its farm
products. Extreme remotenesa from the
large centres could not be made to account
for Rhode Islands abandoned farms, nor
Ter its dsplorable rural decadence.
The attractivene0s OF city life TO many Of
the young men and women Of the country
districts has been rightly regarded as one Of
the principal causes of the movement Of
rural population to the cities, and in view
Of the experience Of Rhode Island and
other States, similarly situated, it is
not strange that it is now recog-
pised fact that the decrease OF the
rural population has been the most wide
spread and extensive IN precisely those Sec
tons OF the country in which cities OF con-
siderable size and large villages are the
most numerous and in which thu best reil-
road facilities are enjoyed This is account
ed for by the fact that the near proximity
OF large towns and ready facilities for travel
enable residents of country towns to see
more Of the city than denizers of the more
remote rural districts, and the attractions
of city life are thus brought more imme-
ton, with greater flow of population from
those towns to the cities as an inevitable re
suit.
y cause OF the decadence OF rural COM
munlties which applies to ell sections of hhe
country, and one which is not generally
taken into consideration, is the competition
Of factory-mads goods with the products Of
the handicrafts; and this branch OF the
subject is well stated by Mr.. John c. Rose
in the Popular Science Monthly for March
lie writes in this connection as follows:
There must be fewer and fewer country
tailors, shosmGkers, blacksmiths, carpen.
tiers, and other artisans who can earn their
living In competition with the machine
made goods which the steadily decreasing
cost OF railroad transportation enables the
great factories IN the manufacturing cities
and towns to send into every neigh
borhood and sell more cheaply than the iso
lated mechanic working with his own hands
or with simple and inexpensive machine
ry possibly can. Thoss who are forced TO
give up the attempt to earn their bread by
working at their trade in their old homes
among their neighbors must seek employ
ment in the cities. The whole tendency OF
the factory system, combined with the
cheapening OF transportation rates, is &c
draw away from the country districts al.
most ell the population cot directly engaged
in tilling the soil.
This writer ranks the diminution of the
number of rural handicraftsmen with the
social and intellectual attractions of city
life as the chief factors in building up the
citios at the expense of the country, and
when to these are added the improved ad-
vantages and opportunities in the city for
advancement In various lines OF business
and professional life, comprehensive idel
is afforded of tho causes of the flow of popu
lation to the cities from the rural districts
The remedy for this condition OF affair
lies largely within the power of the residents
of rural districts themselves, ami In a futur.
article we hope to point out some of tn,
ways in which life in the country may be
made more attractive.