Morris tribune., 1904-11-26
SATURDAY, MOVE REB 2o 1904.
THE SMALL FARM vs.. THE FACTORY.

land have been directed to building up factor
les and factory towns, and the evils that have
resulted therefrom. In England, so large
portion of the land is given to great estates
and to hunting preserves, which might be
used for small farms that soon as industrial
depression comes in the manufacturing towns,
there is widespread misery. This is the con
ditions toward which are heading in this
country, and before it is too late every argu-
rment should be used to induce the people to
make their homes and their livelihood on
small farm which is their rather than in
the cities where recurring industrial depres-
sion finds the laborer with means of support.
Both Britons and Americans says the
Pioneer Press, could learn a valuable lesson in
this matter from Japan. The latter country, on
an area-about equal to that of the United
Kingdom, supports population more than
100000 greater, with very little pauperism,
simply because of system of small land hold
ings, in the cultivation of which the greater
part of the people are employed. Japan carries
on some superb manufactures, also-wtness
her display at the ST. Louis far-but these are
not fostered at the expense of agriculture as in
Great Britain. The pride which the latter
country takes in manufacturing development
which has made it's centers of population center
of human suffering Japan takes in All agricul-
tural development which makes such suffering
practical impossibilty. We read much of the
beauty of rural England, with it's patrician
estates reserved for the enjoyment of the few
Japan is equally beautiful, with it's millions of
small farms of from to five acres each sup
porting family Japan has no hunting pre-
serves unless in barren mountains, and the
purely ornamental grounds which exist are for
the use and benefit Of all, NOT for the few, is |
the case, with few exceptions, in England.
1T lies with Americans to say whether they
shall go on in their present apparent effort to
reproduce, larger scale, the conditions
which exist in England or whether, by turning
toward the land, they shall create a civilization
equal to the pressure of population dense
as that of England (which sure to have
some day without the further development of
such social ulcers as are caused by the con- s
~centration of population in manufacturing
towns. No harm, but decided benefit would t
come to the country if the entire growth of +
population for the next hundred years should {
take place in the rural districts, leaving city
populations stationary. Anything done to
make the small farm available and attractive
is something done for the betterment of our =
country's future. And in the establishment of 9
it is far better that the selection
of rural rather than city locations should be en- =
couraged, so that employees may have the oppor- :,
tunity of joining the cultivation of small plot r
of ground to their work in the factory-a
course which will afford them the means of
t1dng periods of depression in compar-
alive comfort.
1.-THE cities would lose nothing of real value =
by the 'ou1ld1nS up of the country at the ex-' :
Pehse>ah 1oe Figures of growing population
hS1 g. Jmmerce would increase just the same ,
I1 means of transportation and communlca-
ton are now such that they can serve custom
ers within radius Of hundred miles or more
as easily as they once could those within one
of three or four miles. Only few selfish
monopolies are benefited by such an over-con-
centraton of human units as is seen In a great
city, with it's "surplus of labor" it's fuctuatlng
activities, it's fierce competitions, and it's mani
fold follies and vices. So it is a thing of happyI
augury that our people are waking up to the e
superior attractions of the country and the I
small farm; and that, as they doing so, the f
war has lifted to our gaze the example of Japan a
as nation glorifed and made great by it's ex- Ii
altation of agriculture all other calings. e
+ t
1. -. 4o4o