The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1907-01-29
LAND MINUS POVERTY.
DREAM OF THE ECONOMISTS Full
FILLED IN THE WEST.


are No Poorhouses, No Fresh Air
Fund, No Charity Work, Because
None Is Needed-Universa Rule
That Of Prosperity.
The dream OF the economist is a
land without poverty. The ambition
OF the statesman is a people without
want able to obtain those necessaries
the use OF which will permit them TO
maintain a state of physical efficiency.
The jewellers on the great plains of
America approach near to that ideal
From the Missouri River to the
Rocky Mountains, from Canada 70 the
new State of Oklahoma is one vast
grain field. 1t is the home Of agricul-
turists and Of people whose prosperity
depends directly on the products OF
the farm. To be sure, there are mines
and oil and manufacturing: but the
staple resource of the region is the
farm.
When the crops fail the general in
come languishes. and this is the test
OF a communitys basis. In all that
territory are only three large cities.
Omaha, Kansas City and the Mime
apons st. Paul settlement. st. Louis.
though on the west side of the
river, does not belong in the Prairie
State catalogue Denver is primar-
lily mining centre
Each Of these cities is remarkably
prosperous; each OF them has more
work for laborers than there are la
borers for hire; each is building and
extending its limits as never before.
The problem of the poor, the struggle
OF the tenement house and the efforts
OF organized charity are little known.
Poverty is unperceived because the
opportunity Tor wage earning is, and
has been, present in these rapidly de-
veloping communities, advancing as
they have from villages to cities of
100000 to 100000. in practically unin-
terrupted progression. The construc-
ton Of municipal improvements. the
erection OF stores, public buildings and
dwellings, the multitude Of other i'm
provements.. added to the manufac-
turing industries, gave all not physi-
cally incapacitated a chance
Have you a fresh air fund or plan
for open air outings?' we asked of
some church workers in one OF the
Vests busting cities.
Why should we?' was the reply.
when a walk of a few blocks takes
any one to the fields and running
streams? This is only big country
town, after all"
big country town-perhaps that
best expresses the present day condi-
ton OF the Western cities, those that
form the centres of population for the
inland empire. They retain some of
the freshness and the heart interest
of smaller municipalities and of the
open lands.
More true is it Of the middle class
cities that are scattered, two or three
in State. over the level leagues,
gaining sustenance from local agri-
cultural surroundings. They are in
deed big country towns
On their bouleYardS one sees in
summer evenings happy families
slowed away in comfortable Surveys;
coatless husbands lounging on lawns
they themselves have moved; neigh
bors visiting on the porches along the
best residence street as we'll as in
the farthest suburb.
Past the finest houses in the town
roll the automobiles and along the
same streets roll perambulators push
ed by workers in the creamery or in
the carriage factory. 1t is a demo-
cratic procession that makes up the
MI r-nt 10,
are the poor of this community of
10000 people.
You mean the colored population"
suggests your host Needn't worry
about them. They are getting along
all right We would be glad TO pay
the women four or five dollars a week
as servants, but they will not work
for US. They say they do not have
to do that. They can work by the day
half the time and make more money
So we hire them by the day part OF
the time and do our own work the
remainder OF the week Poverty? Go
into their homes. Some of them have
pianos; organs are common-they
don't suffer"
But you give to charity?"
"Of course. Occasionally a family
is found that needs help. The father
or mother is III, death or accident has
lessened the income. When that hap
pens and it is known supplies are
forthcoming in abundance and the
needy ones are well cared for We do
not have any suffering poor with US
in any other sense"
SO it is in other small cities. Des
Moines. Dubuque, Lincoln. Wichita,
Topeka. Sioux Falls, Fargo. Pueblo.
Guthrie MuskOgee. Up and down the
plains region, travel from one busy
capital 10 another. from one business
centre to another. it is all the same
story
Are an rich? No. not even con
siderable portion rich. as the world
goes. The list Of millionaries places
less than q dozen I'm all this empire
of as many States and 60 Is probable
that the wealth of some of these has
been Overestimated
But I'm these towns there is no fringe
Of that desolation or Of poverty strick
en- dependence which mark equally
large cities of the Eastern States
Every resident enjoys a familiar ac-
quaintanco with green grass. flowers.
pure air and sunshine; every one fin
good health has sufficient to- eat and