The Virginia enterprise., 1908-02-14
Necessity for Harmonious co.Opera-
ton II the Highest Interests Of the
People Of Community Be
Best Subserved.

uetuOuS u living IN community De
put in force. This was necessary for
self-protection and for defense against
attacks of common enemies.
AS far back as evidence can be
| found relative to mans existence,
| there existed resident places CORE
spending to our present home towns"
With the advancement of civilization,
methods Of living Became revolution
lied. One resident of a community
found that his interests were best sub
served by dependence upon other
members and by close cooperation with
them. In modern life, there are many
complex conditions which make neces-
sary the recognition of obligations of
one person to another. The small city
or town Of to-day affords, an illustra.
ton of the highest type of communal
relationship. Here is found ideals as
to cooperation and a full recognition
OF the necessity Of harmonious labor,
not for self alone, but for others Of the
community. 1t is by this co-opera-
ton that the highest type Of society
10 built up. 1t Is by this harmonious
action that churches are builded,
schools maintained, public libraries
for the enlightenment of the people
supported, roads kept in condition and
all conveniences for mutual inter-
change in the social and commercial
life recognized as necessary.
town cannot in itself exist. It
must draw the subsistence for its peo-
pie from the surrounding country.
The basis of the city or town is agri-
culture. The growing of food stuffs
must be in order that people shall live
An agricultural town of thousand
population cannot exist by itself alone,
but must draw it's support from the
contiguous territory. Those residing
upon the farms find the town an es-
sential to their welfare and enjoyment
Thus community must be consid-
cred an entire and indivisible social Or
ganization, in which each member
participates in whatever prosperity
and general advancement exists with
in it. Thus We find that all compris-
ing the community have equal inter
est in increasing it's prosperity, its
wealth and all its moral, social, edu-
catiOnal and commercial advantages.
This participation is not exclusive to
those residing within the limits of the
town, but must be enjoyed by the resi-
dents and the workers on the ada
cent farms, and all who labor within
the radius of which the town is the
center. Perforce of this, the town be-
comes the apex of the social activity,
as well as that of business nature.
And the social and the commercial are
so entertwined that one is necessary
for the other.
A spirit of mutual cooperation
should permeate all of community
Each and every one comprising the
communal organization of a district
has equal interest with the others.
| There can be no affair important to
the townspeople but which is also i'm
portant to the farmers and others of
the community; and there can be no
affair Of interest to the dwellers in the
rural district but is Of equal import to
the residents of the towns
How desolate. how monotonous and
how isolated is the life on the farm
without home town. In human kind
social instincts are predominating
Unless social desires are gratified
there is dependency. The records Of
our insane asylums prove that from
the isolated farms, where social in
tercourse through certain conditions is
most restricted. comes the majority of
inmates of these institutions. With.
out social intercourse intelligence is
benumbed and ignorance prevails.
Then how important it is to the resi-
dents Of rural districts that the pros
perity of the home towns be encour-
aged. There is the social feature, the
educational, the moral and religious,
and as important as any and most es-
sential for the highest perfection, is
the business relations. The more
prosperous the home town the more
prosperous are the farmers residing
within its trade radius, because the
livelier the town the better the home
markets.
There are complications in the bust.
ness world to-day and the building up
Of systems Of business that interfere
with the highest development of the
small cities and towns. Railroads,
telegraph. telephone, rural delivery
all has tended towards enhancing life
in the country. But these means have
also encouraged business methods that
work against the higher development
Of community interests. In order that
the home town exists, there must be
employment for those who reside
within it. This employment 10 solely
dependent upon the towns CONNER
cial and manufacturing interests
Thus we find that the home town IL
reliant upon the trade. not alone o1
= those who reside within it, but Of
those in the surrounding country. An,
system that robs the home town o1
this trade is contrary to highest eco
nomic law. Such system retardt
progress and works against all withir
the :community.. Dependent upon ,ths
prosperity Of the home town are tn.
degrees of efficiency of the schools
the classes Of churches, the libraries
the public halls. improvement O
streets and public conveniences O
every class and kind. In accordauc,
with the increase Of wealth new indus