Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1905-05-18
DECLINING RURAL POPULATION.
Population Increasing in Towns and
Decreasing in Country Districts.

\ recent State census indicates that
while the town and city population Of
Iowa is increasing its rural population
is decreasing. Grundy is cited as a typi-
cal Iowa agricultural county. Grundy
Center, its county seat, is growing, but
in 1895 the population of the entire cOun-
ty was 14,491: in 1900 1885,; and in
1905, 1864. "There are fewer people
OH the farms of Iowa." the Cedar Rapids
Republican believes, than there were
even twenty years ago." and it is proba-
bly, right.
There is no special reason why Iowa
should be alarmed. What is taking place
there has taken place elsewhere-in Hi
nois, for instance. One cause of the loss
of rural population is the increased value
of land. Many of the rising generation
of farmers, having much muscle and en-
terprise and little money and no land. go
to new States, where land is cheap. Many
Iowa land owners are selling out to men
from Illinois and other older States. The
Illinoisan who sells his land for $125
to $50 an acre takes his money to
Iowa, where, at $50 to 500 an acre, it
will buy more acres than he owned in
Illinois, says the Chicago Tribune. The
Iowan takes his money to Missouri,
where, at $50 to SO per acre, it will
buy more acres than he had in Iowa.
This interesting movement of population
tends to increase the size of farms and
decrease the number of farmers in the
States it affects.
Another potent cause Of the decrease
in rural population in old States IS I'M
provements in farm machinery. Think
how many men it would take to plant,
cultivate, and harvest this years crop
without the drill. the riding plow. the
steam plow, the reaper, the mower, and
any number of other implements that
might be mentioned. Agricultural nipple
ments are being improved every year.
The more they are improved the less men
farm work takes.
Formerly the farmer, no matter how
well off he was. stuck TO the farm house
to the last, even after he had become I'M
fit for hard work. To-day the farmer
who has acquired competence often
moves into the nearest village or town
when he gets along in years and enjoys
his ease. He may rent his farm or let
one of the boys work it. If he has many
sons he may set up one in business in
the village. The drift of population from
the farms is not exclusively to the large
cities. The small places get their share
of it. The population of the villages and
towns in several Illinois counties has
increased, while that Of the rural town
ships has declined.
But the decline in rural population in
Iowa and other middle western States
will be brief. Soon all the available ag-
ricultural land in the country will be
taken. Soon the growth of towns and
cities will make neighboring farm lands
in old States so valuable that to render
its ownership profitable intensive cul
ture will be necessary. Peas and tOma-
toes. gooseberries and Strawberries. will
supplant cattle and corn. -Four hundred
acre farms, steam plows and thrashng
machines are not adapted to intensive
culture. 1t means small farms and hui
man labor. With intensive culture the
agricultural States viii get back their
lost farmers and farm workers and thou
sands besides.