The Savannah morning news., 1901-09-02
TO MAKE COUNTRY LIFE ATTRAG-
TIVE,

|
The census statistics of the past sew
eral decades have shown a steady drift
| of population from the country to the
towns and cities. In Georgia, for in
stance, forty years ago better than "A
per cent. of the population was in the
rural districts, Last year. according TO
the latest census, SO per cent. of the
population was in the country. counting
all towns of less than 5000 population
as being of the country. Should tina
towns of 5000 population be taken into
consideration-and a 5.000-peopIe town
is quite community in the South--the
percentage of rural population in Geor-
gia would be reduced to probably 70 per
cent. or less. And the same sort Of
thing obtains in other states, many of
them showing higher percentage OF
city popula ton than Georgia.
How shall the flow from the country
to the city be checked? Prof. II. II.
Stone of Emory College has written a
brochure on the subject. He takes the
strong ground that country life must
be made more attractive before the
youth of the farms will be content to
remain in the country and become hus-
bandmen. Man is a gregarious animal.
He loves to associate with his kind. If
he canot have the association in the
country he will seek it in the town.
Prof Stone concludes, therefore, that
the matter of very first Importance to-
wards the rendering of country life
more attractive is the construction of
system of good country roads. Make
communication easy, make the roads
passabIe at all times, in wet weather
and dry. in winter as well as summer,
and one of the greatest causes of coun-
try isolation will be removed. The good
road is a powerful factor not only in
social intercourse, but for education
and religion as well. With good roads
farmers may be neighboriy. and the
schools and churches may be always
well attended.
1t is the custom with most farmers
at present to construct their residences
near the center of their farms. Prof.
Stone thinks if they would contrive TO
have their houses erected on adjacent
corners much pleasure and benefit
would be derived from the arrange
ment, since ii would result in farm viii
lagos at intervals of few miles. A
readjustment of the location oe school
houses would then be in order. These
school houses should be not closer than
four miles apart. Such distribution
would make 1t possible to have fewer
schools and greater number OF teach
ers to the school--a consideration that
would be of much assistance to the pu-
pills. Telephone lines to the towns
could then be erected upon the mutual
cooperative plan. TO the convenience
and satisfaction of the farmers. r
The rural free delivery of mails is
another factor which Prof. Stone thinks
will do much for the improvement of
country life. Rural free delivery is
now being rapidly extended. and wher-
ever it has been tried it has been found
to work well. In connection with the
free school system, or rather along
with ii, the Professor advocates trav-
cling libraries. The ordinary country
home is not rich in literary pabulum,
yet it is impossible to overestimate the
value and influence of good books in
the hands of young people. In several
of the states, Massachusetts and Penn
sylvania among them, there are travel
ing libraries, under the auspices Of the
rural public schools. The teacher or
some scholar acts as librarian, and the
a.t. a
from school to school, are filled with
books of romance. adventure, travel
and such other wholesome matter as
will appeal to and interest youthful
minds. The adoption of the idea in
Georgia is urged by Prof. Stone.
Above all, however, he speaks out for
good roads as a civilizing. enlightening
and satisfying agency. ana we are in
clined to agre with him heartily.