The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1910-02-25
Building Up the South.


the railroads are giving much attentior
TO the upbuilding OF the South is evi
dent to all who have given the subject
consideration. Necessarily, the work o.
a railroad company who does not pos
sess land grant must be general in ii
fscope in order to serve all the districts
its lines represent. The recent cam.
paign OF DR.. S. A. Knapp, Of the Fed
eral Government, which was made IN
der the auspices of the Southern Rail
way Company, is but one Of the many
moves made by that company looking
to the betterment Of farm conditions in
the South. The lecture tour referred to
comprehends more than is generally
supposed. Every Southern State that is
reached by the Southern Railway was
visited and the several mastery, prac-
teal talks made by DR.. Knapp will be
far-reaching in their effect Many thou
sand farmers and others in the States
visited were reached either directly or
indirectly through the press, and there
by stimulated to practice better methods
OF farming.
Mr.. M. V. Richards, the Land and
Industrial Agent of the Southern Rail-
way, who suggested and organized the
tour in discussing the purposes and ef-
feet of the trip, said:
The Southern Railway Company has
for years endeavored to do its part in
promoting the further development of
the country along its lines. Its policy
is to treat all sections alike, cooperate
with the people in every county in their
effort to build up the country. The
farming sections have not been over
looked. The Railway Company realizes
the value Of full development of the
rural districts in order to obtain the
best development Of the towns and cit
les which serve the country.
Mr. Richards rightly advocates the
importance of the town people and the
country people standing close together
il the best results for all are to be OBJ
tanned, and this recent trip tends to
bring closer harmony between all
classes. The merchant, manufacturer
and farmer alike were interested in the
talks made during the trip Mr.. Rich
ards says that while the towns have
powerful attraction for the people on the
farms he believes that the feeling is at
minimum in the South, and that his
Company, especially, has in view pro-
noting a. sentiment among. the people
to stick to the farm. lie argues
that the South will again be the great
Tarm home section of the United States
The South is the ideal large and small
arm home regions; the standard OF COM
ort and happiness is found to be higher
md more general in the South than
elsewhere on account Of the attractive
eatures Of the rural home surroundings,
when once developed, commensurate
With the possibilities Of that part Of the
ountry. Only those who have had to {
10 with the practical side Of promoting (
he development of the South appreci- !
te the obstacles which have stood in
be way Of advancing the best interests
1 those already established in the South
nd drawing others to that section.
We desire to inculcate in the mind of
very young farmer in the South the
lea that he should buy piece OF land
nd intelligently and industriously work
is own holdings; that he should also T
0 impressed with the Importance OF I
we'll a small area rather than
.rming poorly large place, :
THE avenues are numerous for OBJ :
lining reliable information concerning Y
DIV to farm and make a profit, 50 that tt
farmers in the South fe
lould be the rare exception