Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-04-14
THE COUNTRY TOWNS FUTURE.
TManson Journal.1


THE COUNTRY TOWNS FUTURE.
IManson Journal.l
Fonda suffered even worse than
Manson from shrinkage in population.
The assessor reports a falling off of
from ITO to 1000, a total loss of 40.
1t was generally supposed that Rock
we'll City would show nice gain and
many residents of the town predicted
1900. The facts are it will show only
slight gain and barely a little over
1900. Fort Dodge it is said will be
short by several thousand. The fall
ing off is universal turnout the state,
very few towns holding their own so
that Manson or the towns around us
have suffered no more than other po,-
tions of the state. The state itself viii
be loser by good many thousands. 1t
is the natural result Of an agricultural
state. There is nothing to hold young
men or women as there is nothing to
do outside of the ordinary channels Of
business and they must go somewhere
else to find employment. The surplus
population in the small towns, when
the building is over, must also do the
same thing. They produce nothing
and must live off their own labor and
If it cannot be found they must go
elsewhere.
The question of the growth Of
country towns is one that puzzles the
best of them. The only hope of a
permanent increase is in manufac-
tories Thus far it has been impos-
sible to secure anything of this kind
in small towns, for the reason such
factories seek material, fuel or some
thing that will be of use to them. 1t
will not pay to ship the raw material
to manufacture when you can just as
we'll take the plant to the material
and save freight. Even if town
should induce factories, by Offering
bonuses, it is doubtful utility, for the
reason you cannot make them per-
manent Perhaps after you have
them located. have paid out your
money and they have used your free
water and remittance from taxes.
some cold day they will pull out to
some other locality, then your over
grown town takes backward step.
The hope of the country town is
the territory around it and the small
increase from the country farmer
who will naturally move to town it
everything is favorable. Its own c5ti-
zens have its fate in their hands. II is
upon them the prosperity and per
nance of the town must depend. Ii
can be made pleasant and agreeable
to live in and towns the size Of Manson
can be made as nice as any large city
so far as conveniences are concerned
Our homes can be made just as COM
Portable, our laws as green and the
surroundings as pleasant as any
place in the world Manson has every
inducement. except sewage. that any
city can Offer to make your home
pleasant and convenient, and that Will
come in time.
We cannot all live In large cities,
neither do all Of us want to. The
most happiness is found in the country
towns. where every one knows his
neighbor, and in fact every person In
the town. They are all your neighbors
and friends In the city you know no
one. You have no friends and 1t takes
years to accomplish In sociabiltty
what YOU would In a few weeks In
YOUR country town. 1t is here that you
find true friends and neighbors.' 1t Is
not its size that makes 1t a pleasant
place to live in; 1t is it's attractive1ess
and the kind of people you meet.