The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1910-08-04
farm life is entirely forgotten,


The principal use Of the telephone is |
for business. The modern farmer re-
lies upon his telephone as much as
does the business man. Most of the |
telephone lines are connected with the !
central switchboard in town. SO that |
toll call will get any one in the coun-
ty or in the state. Market and wealth |
er reports are sent out over the rural
lines at certain hours each day. If the |
market is especially good the farmer
can call up the local buyer and con-
tract his hogs at once, or if he prefers
ne can call up the railway freight of
nee and arrange to have 6 stock car
ready for him the next morning. In
most communities the practice of
"changing work. at thrashing time is
Still followed. This used to necessitate
days work notifying the neichbors,
and then frequently it all had to be
dune over again on account of a break
down to the machine or bad weather.
Now the notifying is all done in a few
moments by phone.
On many occasions a PROMPT tele-
phone call has brought the nearest
doctor to the bedside of a sick child
who would not have lived until trip
could be made to town for the doctor.
This is one of the reasons that tele-
phone is seldom taken out after it has
once been put in. In hundred minor
ways the telephone has become neces-
sary to the farm folk. Often after the
farmer has left for town his wife will
think Of something she wants him to
get. All she has to do is to call up the
store where he does his trading and
leave a message for him. When the
young folks want to give party the
telephone will quickly bring in every
one in the neighborhood. A stray
horse is soon located and brought back
home. In weather too bad for the mail
carrier TO get through important let
| tiers can be received over the tele-
phone.
| One other step Is necessary to enable
| the farmer to make the greatest use of
the rural free delivery and the tele-
phone. 1t is the parcels post. Local
merchants have objected to a parcels
post ON the ground that it would favor
the mail order houses at their expense
This can be overcome by giving low
er rate to packages that go over rural
route only. A parcels post Of this kind
has been recommended by the post
master general. He figures that it
would prove profitable for the govern.
ment, turning the postal deficit into a
! curnl1S With hon vlopoolc ~,
operation on the free rural delivery
routes the connection of the farmer
with the town will be complete. He
can order parcels from town and have
them delivered at his door few hours
later. Things which he cannot get in
his local town he can procure from g
mail order house in two or three days
The farmers are united in demanding
this convenience, and it is bound t
come before long.
The final step in the emancipatio
OF the farmer was taken when the troll
ley line and the automobile came int.
general use. The trolley has mean
better schooling for his children. /
has brought theaters, lectures and bet
ter churches within reach Of the farm
er's family. Best of all, the competj
ton with the cities has brought abou
much needed awakening of the coun
try schools and the country churches.
The trolley is a great convenience j
taking produce to market. Most Q
the cars will stop at any farmhous
. or crossroads to pick up can Q
1 cream, crate Of chickens or a pas
{ senger Trolley lines are great fat
tor in Fastening the back to tn
land" movement. The farmer VIII
: lives near trolley line has no desir
to go to town because he has all th
: conveniences of both town and coul
try.
Wherever trolley line puncturcs
city the crowded population spreads o.
,, into the country. At first the city Pc
pie move into the country only to hay
90 q pleasanter place to live while stj
&C. carrying ON their business in the cit
10 Once in the country few of them ev'
regret the change. Most of them Sc
that they would not 60 back to tt
- city to live under any consideration.
What the trolley lines are doing f
the more thickly settled districts, go<
roads, automobiles and driving hors
- are doing for those communities whi'
49, are not yet densely enough populate
- to support a trolley line. The go'
49, roads movement started with the a
a .z-,z $1,000 - =- :;
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