The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1909-02-10

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ADVICE TO FARMERS
ON HOW TO FARM
Washington, Feb. 9.-The report OF
the County Life Commd dssion was sent
to the congress today by the Presi-
dent. The report is as follows:
Report of Country Life Commission.
The report of the commission de-
scribes with some fullness the existing g
conditions of farm life and points out
the causes that may have led to its
present lack of organization. 1t sug-
gests methods for the redirection of
rural society, for awesting the drift
to the city, for maintaining the nat
ural rights of the farmer and for the
development of an organized rural
life that will promote the prosperity
of the whole nation.
Broadly speaking, agriculture in the
United States is prosperous and the
conditions in many of the great farm
ing regions are improving. Country
homes generally are improving in com
fort, attractiveneSs, and heaMhfulneSs
Many institutions, organizations and
movements are actively contributing g
to the increasing welfare of the open
country.
the American farmer was as we'll off
as he is today, when mot only his earn
ing power but the comforts and ad-
Wantages he may secure are consider
ed There has been a complete and
fundamental change in our whole eco
nomic system within the past century.
Yet it is true, notwithstanding all
this progress as measured by histori-
cal standards, that agriculture is not
comm ercially as profitable as it is eni
tied to be for the labor and energy
that the farmer expends and the risks
that he assumes, and that the social
conditions in the open country are far
short of their possibilities.
Rural society us lacking chiefly in
a knowledge on the part of the farm
ers of the exact agricultural condit-
ions and possibilities of their regions
resulting in the widespread depletion
of soils with the injurious effect on ru-
raj life; in proper training for coun-
try life in the schools; in good high
way facilities, and in organization
for buying and selling.
There is an absence of any adequate
system of agricultural credit, a short
age of labor, often mplicated by in
temperance among wOrkmen; a lack
of institutions and incentives that tie
the laboring man to the soil; the life
of the farm woman is brlrdensome and
narrow; there is need of adequate su-
pervisfon of public health.
The farmer is handicapped by the
speculative holding of lands, monopo-
istic control of streams and forests,
waste our natural resources, and by
restrain of trade.
Some of the remedies for the condi-
tions set forth lie with the national
government, some of them with the
states and communities in their cor
porate capacities, some with volun-
tary organizations, and some with in
dividuals acting alone.
ALI organized forces both in town
and country should understand that
there are country phases as well as
city phases of our civilization, and
that one phase needs help as much as
the other. ALI these agencies should
realize their responsibility to society.
Many existing organizations and insti-
tutions might become practically CO.
operative or mutual in spirit, as for ex
ample, all agricultural societies, libra
ries, Young Mems Christian Associa-
tions, and churches. All the organi-
cations standing for rural progress
should lbe federated in states and ma
ton
There are several great forces, or
principles, which must be utilized in
the endeavor to solve the country life
question.
There must be vast enlargement of
voluntary, organized efforts among
farmers themselves. 1t is indispensa-
bile that the farmers shall work to-
gether for their common interests and
for the national welfare. If they do
not do this, no governmental activity
no legislation, not even better schools,
will greatly avail. The forces and in
stitutions that make for morality and
spiritual ideals among rural people
must be energized.
There must be not only a fuller
scheme of public education, but new
kind of education adapted to the real
needs of the farming people. The coun
try schools are to be so redirected that
they shall educate their pupils in
terms of the daily life Opportunities
for training toward the agricultural
callings are to be multiplied and made
broadly effective. This means redoub-
led efforts for better country schools,
and vastly increased interest in the
welfare of country boys and girls on
the part of those who pay the school
taxes Education by means of agri-
culture is to be a part of our regular
public school work. Special agricul-
tural schools are to be organized
The country people everywhere are
asking for good roads. Everywhere
too they want parcels post and the
extension of the rural free delivery.
The Commission has purposely
avoided endorsing any particular bill
now before Congress, no matter what
its value or object. In the opinion of