The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1908-12-27
POSTAL SAVINGS BANK
FIRST NEED OF FARMERS

Chicago, Dec 2G-Thc report OF the /
commission on country life which Is
now being put into final shape fo'
submission to President Roosevelt. /
will recommend the establishment OF
postal savings banks by the govern
mcut as one Of the most important
steps that can be taken toward the
4 Improvement of life outside the cities
and large towns. This is the state.
mont OF members OF the commissions
/ party who have just passed through
Chicago on their way to Washington.
after an extended tour of the west.
Good roads, more schools, and par
cells post system will also be urged,
/ IL Is said when the report is com
plctod.
The great strength Of the sentiment
/ I'm favor of postal savings banks re-
ycalod during the trip was one Of the
most interesting developments Of the
inquiry when the Investigations were
/ begun. one Of the first acts OF the
commission was TO flood thecou ntry
with circulars containing questions
/ bearing on the present needs Of the
rural communities One of the quss
| tions was a blanket one asking what
/ in the opinion OF the person ad-
dressed was tho most important single
thing that could be done to improve
country conditions. Thousands OF the
answers that have already come Ia
name postal savings banks as the
most important benefit that could be
secured.
The work Of the commission has
been very thorough considering the
short time at its disposal \ party of
Investigators. including most of the
members, left Washington November
6 for the south, where several meet
ings were held Then followed two
meetings i'm Texas, one in Arizona,
and four i'm California. After this
meetings were limited to one Nor
each of the following states: Nevada,
Washington, oregon. Montana, Utah
Wyoming, Colorado. Nebraska, Mime
sofa. Wisconsin and Illinois. In all
these states the commissioners listen
ed TO the views of farmers, stockmen.
I country merchants and other experts .
s on rural conditions, and collected a
- mass Of facts and recommendation
/, that will serve as basis of their
, coming report
] Many farmers expressed themselves
in favor of better school facilities, re
. garding postal savings banks, the SEN
timent was nearly unanimous, ana i'm
pCrtant reasons we're advanced to eX.
plain this Tn g commissioners were
told that the laborer on the farm has
little confidence in banks. as a rule.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars that
are now being boarded in stockings,
or buried in secret places for safe
keeping, would come into circulation
r. was claimed If the government
would provide the means for receiving
these fuudsa ndg uarantee theirs ale
= ty. The boarding Of savings is not
.prac,icod alone by immigrants and the
.pocl ,n the big cities, according to
these mformants, but the dstrust OF
banks in country districts is very
strong and the establishment OF
government banks would do more
than anything else 10 overcome THIS
4 feeling and 10 teach the small farmer
! ultimately TO deposit his larger saw
= ings in the national and state banks
) which are now open TO him.
The commissioners inclined to this
. view, 10 is understood, and their forth
; coming report in this respect at least
. will undoubtedly receive serious CON
sldcration in congress, II one of the
bills which are now being debated is
not already passed by that time
Among the other matters consider.
ed at length by the commission was
rural transportation, the parcels post.
and irrigation I'm so far as it affects
the social life Of communities, by
limiting the amount Of land necessary
20 support q family and thus bringing