Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-08-06
DEVELOPING THE COUNTRY.
Progress of Agricultural Districts and
Cities and Towns Go Hand in Hand.

The building up process of coun-
try commences with the cultivation
OF the soil generally. First the pio-
neers, the settlers on the land, begin
the building of homes, and closely in
the wake of the agriculturists follow
the towns.
Town building is an interesting
study. 1t is the highest develop
ment of communism As far back
as we can reach in the history of the
world we find the spirit of community
of interests. When Columbus reach
ed America he found the Indians had
their villages. Even among the most
barbarous races the communal spirit
is found. In our state of civilization
cities and towns represent most per-
feet communal development.
Where there are people engaged in
any industry, it is necessary that
there be tradesmen to supply neces-
sary wants. These tradesmen gen
orally seek the most convenient loca-
ton in the settlement and form the
nucleus of the town and city. With
the settling up of the contiguous ter
vitory, new industries are brought into
existence and gradually there is
growth of the hamlet to the proper
tons of village. The village soon
becomes small city, and it's impor-
lance is gagged entirely by the trade
that 1t can command to give employ
ment to the people residing within it.
Geographical location is always an
important factor in town and city
building. The average agricultural
town has limited territory for it's
support. From this territory must
come the trade to maintain it. The
large cities are small towns grown
up" While the small town may re-
ceiye its support from the immediate
territory surrounding it, the city is
maintained by the trade given it by
multitude of small towns, and by Ger.
tain conditions that perhaps may
make it place where manufacturing
and jobbing may be carried on advan-
tageously. While the geographical
position is important to the small
town, it Is more important to- the
large city, as there are numerous con-
ditions to be met, and such things
as transportation facilities and freight
rates are highly important.
1t may be said that the majority of
American cities and towns are de-
pendent to great extent upon the
agricultural sections of the country.
The farms supply the major portion
of the articles of commerce and man
ufacture, and as well the trade that
supports the towns and cities.
The community should take pride
In the progress Of the town which it
has been instrumental in building up.
The town is all important to the resi-
dents of rural districts as it affords
educational and social advantages
that would otherwise not exist. In
many localities there is an erroneous
impression that the interests of the
residents of towns are different from
the interests of the people of the CON
tiguous territory. A little thought
will show how the interests of both
classes, the residents of the country
and the citizens of the town, are
equal; how the town depends upon
the country for its support, and the
country looks to the town as mar
ket place and as a convenience in gem
eral. Thus we have plainly Illus,
trated how much to the interest Of
all residents of rural districts that
the home town be progressive place
and that all its interests be protected.