Connecticut western news., 1907-03-14
THE COUNTRY TOWN
PASTOR TAKES OPTIMISTIC VIEW
Rev. J. c. Goddard of Salisbury Be-

Rev. J. c. Goddard of Salisbury Be-
 lieves the Future ofthe Country Town
 is Secure-Telephone, Trolley and
 Free Delivery Relieving Isolation.
 Rev. J. O. Goddard of Salisbury read a paper on "The Future of the Country Town" at the meeting of the Litchfield County North Association at Canaan on Tuesday of this week. We present 8 few extracts as follows:
 Of the 168 towns in Connecticut 59 showed loss at the last census, but not one of these small towns is in any dan- ger of going out of business. It is possi- ble some of them may decline even far ther and still not go out of business. No, the small town is not going to,draw up it's feet into the bed after it and be gath cred unto its fathers yet while.
 In the first place, the political and in dividual importance of each one of these little republics keeps it alive. Ninety five of our 168 towns elect majority of onr General Assembly, Yet they con- tain but II per cent. of our population. The voting strength of the average viii lager, compared with the rest of the state, is more than three. Union elects the same number with 61 votes that New Haven does with II, ,478
 The small town has future because of its agricultural and rustic intrinsic worth. am aware that much has been written and more believed about the abandoned farms of Connecticut, but when you come to look for them you will find they are not on the map.
 Many Connecticut areas were never designed to support progressive system of agriculture, and their return to forest is but nat1ral reversion. Decline in New England is limited to such areas But in the valleys and within hauling distance of'markets progression is mani fest. The common impression that Con- necticut farming as whole is declining is mistake. The General Assembly of 1845 ordered @ special farm census, which gives us a basis for comparison, and shows, that while the staple crops, such as wheat, oats, rye and corn, have dimin- ished, the loss is more than made good by orchard, garden, dairy and meadow. The hay crop is at least half larger, butter and milk have more than doubled, while all farm products have increased from 1599s to 28 millions.
 Formerly the farmer from wayback felt as the boy who, on being told that, if he kept on so, he could not go to heaven, replied, '1 Well I've been to the circus twice and to Uncle Toms Cabin once. can't expect to go everywheret The modern farmer can be more lon the go." The good roads movement has come to stay; the extension of the troll ley is working a revolution in the coun- try no less than in the city, while light ing and power lines are following in their track. Already few houses in Con- necticut are beyond walking distance to a telephone, while rural free delivery is 8 growing blessing and will inevitably be joined with the benefit of the parcels post. All this means the relief of isola- tion, the growth of neighborliness, the bringing near of markets, schools and churches.
 And If, nevertheless, some areas do find their way back to state of nature, what then? There are some high uses for wild land, aside from agriculture. On top of the mountains of Salisbury are thousands of acres of wilderness, Adirondack in their ruggedness. It af- lords noble retreat for the Hon. Donald T. Warner, whose generous and hospit- able '' Lotus Lodge" welcomes scores of guests each season long.
 Some people prefer to be near to Ma ture's heart. When William Travers Jerome came into Salisbury for home, he scorned our lake fronts and highway farms; he took the ax and blazed way to knoll, adjoining swamp, far from the madding crowd" and there builded his house upon rock. -
 But historical and genealogical asso- citations beget more than sentiment; they are among the most positive assets which 8 town possesses. Such filial feeling is worth more than dollars and cents to any community, though it repeatedly expresses itself in benefactions beyond the dreams of subscription committees.
 Along with this filial spirit may spring up town organization, broader than the village improvement idea, social and town promoting society and board of trade in one, which fosters the welfare of the place ln a marked degree. The Salisbury Society is such an institution. Norfolk, Conn.,. has enjoyed an amount of public spirit, unparalleled in the state; a spirit, which has become contagious, so that it would be easy to show how that three-quarters of million dollars had been expended for public interests