Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-03-03
COUNTRY LIFE.
SPECIAL MESSAGE OF PREsI-
DENT ROOSEVELT.
ACCOMPANIED REPORT OF THE COM
MISSION ON COUNTRY LIFE RE-
GENTLY SUBMITTED.

l transmit herewith the report of the
commission on country life. 1t the out
set desire to point out that iios a dollar
OF the public money has been paid to az
commissioner for his work on the COM
mission.
The report shows the general condition
of farming life in the open country and
points out its larger problems; 1t indi-
Gates ways in which the government, ma
tional and state, may show the people how
to solve some OF these problems; and it
suggests continuance OF the work which
the commission began.
Judging by thirty public hearings, to
which farmers and farmers wives from
forty states and territories came, and from
10000 answers to printed questions sent
out by the department Of agriculture, the
commission finds that the general level Of
country life is high compared with any
preceding time or With any other land.
II it has in recent years slipped down in
some places, it has risen in more places.
Its progress has been general, il not
uniform.
Yet farming does not yield either the
profit or the satisfaction that it ought to
yield and may be made to yield. There is
discomfort in the country, and in places
encouragement. Farmers as class do
not magnify their calling, and the move
ment to the towns, though, am happy to
say, less than formerly, is still strong.
Under our system, it is helpful to pro-
mote discussion Of ways in which the
people can help themselves. There are
three main directions in which the farm
ers can help themselves; namely, better
farming, better business and better living
on the farm. The national department Of
agriculture, which has rendered services
equaled by no other similar department
in any other time or place; the state de-
partments of agriculture; the state col
leges OF agriculture and the mechanic arts,
especially through their extension work
the state agricultural experiment stations;
the farmers union; the grange; the sgri-
cultural press; and other similar agencies
have all combined to place within the
reach of the American farmer an amount
and quality of agricultural information
which, il applied, would enable him, over
large areas, to double the production OF
the farm.
OBJECT OF COMMISSION.
The object Of the commission on country
life therefore is not to help the farmer
raise better crops, but to call his attention
to the opportunities for better business
and better living on the farm. II country
life is to become what it should be, and
what believe it ultimately will be-one
sought-sfter ways of earring a living
the farmer must take advsn not only
of the agricultural knowledge which is at
his disposal, but Of the methods which
have raised and continue to raise the
standards of living and OF intelligence in
other callings.
Those engaged in all other industrial
and commercial callings have found it
necessary, under modern economic con-
ditions, to organize themselves for mu-
tual advantage and for the protection OF
their own particular interests in relation
to other interests. The farmers OF every
progressive European country have real
ized this essential fact and have found in
the cooperative system exactly the form
OF business combination they need.
Now whatever the state may do toward
improving the practice OF agriculture, ii
Is not within the sphere OF any govern
ment to reorganize the farmers business
L. ;nI - 20 ,;rr
communities. Ii is, however, quite
within its power to use its influence and
the machinery of publicity which it can
control for calling public attention to the
needs and the facts. For example, it is
the obvious duty Of the government to
call the attention of farmers to the grow
ing monopolization of water power. The
farmers above all should have that power
on reasona BILE terms, for cheap transporta.
ton, for lighting their homes, and for in
Vulnerable uses in the daily tasks on the
farm.
II would be idle to assert that life on the
farm occupies as good position in dig
nifty, desira bility, and business results as
the farmers might easily give it il they
chose. One of the chief difficulties is the
failure Of country life, as it exists at pres
emit, to satisfy the higher social and intel
lectual aspirations of country people
Whether the constant draining away OF SC
much OF the best elements in the rural
population into the towns is due chiefly to
this cause or to the superior business
opportunities of city life may be open to
question. But no one at all familiar with
farm life throughout the United States
can fail to recognize the necessity fol
building up the life Of the farm upon its
social as well as upon its productive side
1t is true that country life has improved
greatly in attractiveness, health, and COM
fort. and that the farmers earnings are
higher than they were. But city life Is
advancing even more rapidly, because OF
the greater attention which is being given
by the citizens OF the towns to their own
betterment. For just this reason the IN
PRODUCTION OF effective agricultural CO.
operation throughout the United States Is
g.