The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1909-09-23
Better Days for Farmers.

justice OF tne STATE OF New Jersey,
/ stern measures OF some kind should
], be resorted to in order to induce
the people to return to the country
districts.
u He sees danger ahead.
But the cry is too old to produce
any quickening of the pulse beat. es-
pecially in the wake of a discovery
which has well-nigh exhausted the
supply of thrills, says a contem-
porary.
Nor is the peril to the nation
quite so imminent as the iurist i'm
AGNES.
The truth of the matter is that
Judge Minturn has been reading
Gfbbon; and according to this
Iastute historian. the, overthrow of
the Roman empire was due to the re-
Iduction OF the small farmers to the
level of serfs by the larger land
owners.
To an extent, at least, history Is
no doubt repeateing itself in this
country-in other words, small
farms here and there are being
amalgamated-young men are leav-
ing the agricultural communities for
the crowded centers of population
mortgages are numerous-and many
of those who are now tilling the soil
are only laborers and hired men in
the employ Of the moneyed inter
ests.
The statement which was made by
James j. Fill at the Seattle expo
Isition several days ago appears to
furnish additional grounds for the
fears of the NewJersey jurist.
Among other things, Mr.. Hill de-
clared that more than two-thirds OF
the people lived on farms during the
period which Immediately followed
the Civil war, but that at the pres
ent time less than 80 per cent. OF
the population was to be found in
the rural districts.
This is an alarming statement 1t
must be confessed.
But in large measure the condi-
tlons which has wrought this exodus
from the farms to the cities have
been modified.
On every hand signs of improve
ment are to be observed.
The chief causes Of discomfort
have been:
First. The isolation of country
life in an age When rapid transit
and quick communication have EN-
phasized the social bond.
Second. Bad roads.
Third. Ruinous prices.
When We look back over the hard
years of stress and struggle which
the farmers have experienced since
the war. We can hardly wonder at
the spirit OF discomfort which from
time to time has made the indus
tsious tiller of the soil grow sick at
/ heart.
But today there are numerous
agencies at work for the betterment
lof conditions In the rural districts.
\ They are:
1 First. Better roads.
Second. Improved postal facili-
ties. b
Third. Better prices for farm
products.
! Fourth. Suburban and interur.
ban railway systems.
The tendency of each of these
movements is to check the drift to.
8 ward Capitalization and congestion.
, OF course it will take time to re.
!. store the equilibrium. but the pros,
pect OF happier days for the agricul.
tufal communities is already ii
: sight.
And much is due to the automo
q btle-the forerunner OF improve,
e highways.
e Then what we need to hasten tn,
= glad consummation Is to put NOR,
y men at work on the roads-to ex
0 tend the free delivery-to multipl,
the mileage of iron rails-in a word
to improve the circulation.
. Let the good work continue.
It AT the base of the pyramid Of ma
n tional prosperity is the farmer. TIL
y centers OF population must dra,
q centers of population must draw SUI.
> soil that the worlds wealth Is loci
Fled. n