The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1907-07-19
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, tho settlers on the land begin
the building of homes, and closely in
the wake of the agrlcultursts follow
the towns
Town building is an interesting
study It 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, 1t is necessary that
there be tradesmen to supply neces'
sary wants These tradesmen gem
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
rItory, new industries are brought into
existence and gradually there Is
| growth OF the hamlet to the proper.
tons OF village The village soon
becomes a small city, and its impor-
lance is gagged entirely by the trade
that It can command to give employ
ment TO the people residing within 1t.
Geographical location ia always an
| important factor in town and city
building The average agricultural
town mas a 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-
ceive its support from the immediate
territory surrounding 1t, the city iG
maintained by the trade given 1t by a
multitude of small towns, and by Ger
tain conditions that perhaps may
make II n place where manufacturing
and iobblng may be carried on advan'
tagoously. While the geographical
position is important TO the small
town. 1t 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
II may be said that the majority Of
American cities and towns are de
pendent to q 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 tina
supports the towns and cities.
The community should take prId
in the progress of the town which /
has been instrumental in building up
The town is all important to the resi-
; dents of rural districts as It afford
educational and social advantage
that would otherwise not exist. Il
many localities there Is an erroneou
Impression that the interests OF tn
, residents of towns are different fror
the interests of the people Of the cor
tiguous territory. A little though
will show how the interests of bot
f.. classes, the residents OF the countr
9 and the citizens of the town, ar
t equal; how the town depends upo
3 the country for its support, and tn
s country looks to the town as ma
D ket place and as q convenience In gel
e eral. Thus we have plainly illu
J. trated how much to the interest {
|. | all residents of rural districts tht