The gold leaf., 1910-02-24

the railroads are giving much atten-
tion to the upbuiIding of the South
is evident to all who have given the
subject consideration. Necessarily,
the work of a railroad company who
does not possess a land grant must
be general in its scope in order to
serve all the districts its lines repre-
sent. The recent campaign of DR.. 5.
A. Knapp, of the Federal Govern
ment, which was made under the
auspices of the Southern Railway
Company, is but one OF the many
moves made by the company look
ing to the betterment of farm condi-
tions in the South. The lecture tour
referred to comprehends more than
is generally supposed. Every South
ern State reached by the Southern
Railway was visited, and the several
mastery, practical talks made by
DR.. Knapp, will be reaching in
their effect Many thousand farmers
and others directly or indirectly,
through the press, were reached, and
thereby stimulated to practice better
methods of farming.
Mr.. Nj. V. Richards, the Land and
Industrial Agent Of the Southern
Railway, who suggested and organ
ICED the tour, in discussing the pur-
poses and effects of the trip, said:
"The Southern Railway Company
has for years endeavored to do its
part in promoting the further de-
velopment of the country along its
lines. Its policy is to treat all sec
tions alike, cooperate with the
people in every county in their effort
to build up the country. The farm
ing sections have been overlooked.
The Railway Company realizes the
value of full development of the
rural districts in order to obtain a
full development of the towns and
cities which serve the country"
Mr.. Richards rightly advocates the
Importance of the town people and
the country people standing closer
together if the best results for all
are to be obtained, and this recent
trip tends to bring closer harmony
between all classes. The merchant,
the manufacturer, and farmer alike,
were interested in the talks made
during the trip. Mr.. Richards says
that while the towns have apOwerful
attraction for the people on the
farms he believes that feeling is at a
minimum in the South, and that his
Company, especially, has in view
promoting a sentiment among the
people to "stick to the farm" lie
argues that the South will again be
the great farm home section OF the
| United States THAT the South is
the ideal large and small farm home
region; the standard of comfort and
happiness is found to be higher and
more general in the South than else,
where on account OF the attractive
features on the rural home surround
ings, when once developed, com
mensurate with the possibilities oi
that part Of the country. Only
those who have to do with the prac.
tical side of promoting the develop.
ment of the South appreciate the
obstacles which have stood in the
way OF advancing the best interests
of those already established in the
South and drawing Others to that
section. We desire to inculcate in
the minds OF every young farmer in
the South the idea than he should
buy a piece OF land and intelligently
and industriously work his owr
holdings; that he should also be i'm
pressed with the Importance OF cult
waiting well a small area rather thar
farming poorly large place.
"The avenues are numerous fOl
obtaining reliable information con
cerning how to farm and make {
profit. so that unsuccessful farmers
in the South should be the rare ex
| cpDtiOn.'