The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1908-04-30

- 80 OSA-A Ii Unit & NLl4lCt ACTIVE
and aggressive place. As an in
stance of the value to the entire
community of the activity of the
heart, take the case of an up to
date Iowa town of some 5000 to
10000 population. \ few years
ago the place supported two miser-
able little hotels. On the road,
among the travelling men, that
great moving army throughout the
west, this town was known as
rotten" TIE drummers skipped
the town when possible, or if they
had to make it they came in on
one train and out on the next.
They got through their business
as expeditiously as possible, even
sighting it to get to the next place
on their route, where good meals
and a good nights lodging could
be had; then the town concluded
that its business required a good
hotel, and while the people were
about it they put up a swell"
one. Now every travelling man
likes DO make --. He STAYS
over Sunday there. He stays
there as long as he can and can
vases every store for the sale of
his goods. What is the result of
simply having this fine hotel?
The stores have full line of goods
of all descriptions, the people Of
the community come to town to
buy, for they can get what they
want, and the merchants do a big
business.
a good farming community buys
much. The people live well and
raise a wholesome variety of pro-
ducts, but they buy through the
year many things. According to
census statistics, the average of
the farmers Of the United States
spends S627 year for supplies
clothing for the family, household
utensils, food that is not raised at
home, farm implements, etc. This
is the average. Some buy more,
some much less. Now, this means
a large circulation of money, per
haps $500, 900 or $500, 900 expend-
ed annually by the farmers within
five or six miles of any small town.
How and where do they spend it?
Is the town itself such as to i'm
press them with the feeling that it
is the real heart of their Commu-
nifty? Is it a Pretty town, a beau
titul town, in which they cannot
but feel just pride? Has it wide,
well kept streets and good roads
leading into it over which it is
delight TO drive either with light
buggy or heavily laden wagon
carrying a load of produce to mar
ket? Has it long rows of shade
trees and some public parking to
make it attractive? Are its citi
zens taking a pride in making
their own grounds and yards beau
titul and their houses vine covered
and not commonplace? In short,
is it such place as a man may be
glad to visit, to patronize and to
call his town" and where as he
retires in his later years from the
active work Of farm life he may
move or look forward to moving
into and be coming himself a resi-
| dent?
The poorer classes of Italian
and Chinese laborers earn their
wages i'll our country and send it
away-to their homes. For that
reason they are not desirable citi-
zens. The member of the COM
munity who sends his money out
of the community either for in
vestment or to purchase the neces-
sites and luXuries of life is pursu-
ing course as detrimental to the
community as does the foreigner
who sends his money away. And
he is acting against his own best
interests. Take the outlying
farms of any small town. They
will not have to be exceptionally
rich to produce half a million dol
lars value from the soil in a year
oyer and above the home con-