University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1910-10-11
LARGEST CIRCULATION
IN BOONE COUNTY.
WHY THE DRIFT TO THE CITY?

WHY THE DRIFT TO THE CITY?
The farmers of Missouri are going
to the cities in large numbers to live.
The 1910 census reports show sub
stantial increase in the population of
Missouri cities, but decrease in the
number of persons in rural districts.
Why are farmers moving to cities?
1t may be for one of two reasons, or
it may be for both: Business or pleas
ure. Modern machinery is making
the drift to the city possible. Modern
transportation facilities have a part
in 1t. The distance from the farm
to the city has been shortened The
work on the farm !tas been simplified
Much of the farmers work can be
done by proxy. There is a certain
class that hold possession of their
farms and manage the work from the
delightfully."- convenient home on the
avenue" Some give up the farm
entirely and go to the city for other
pursuits.
There is tendency today for con-
centration. Men find it profitable to
TO }hai~ off i,
ative way in business. 1t is econom-
ically cheaper to operate one large
shoe factory than great number Of
smaller factories. And strong, rich
concern. thus built up, operating with
only the costliest and best machinery,
can turn out better product. So it
is in the great multitude of trades
The business of the world is done by
grouped, combined. interests in the
cities. Transportation facilities en-
ter in again. They make it possible
for the product of the city to compete
with the product of the territory of
the buyer. The miller of the small
town has little show, competing with
the great, richly improved Touring
mills Of the city. The tailor of the |
small town cannot be a specialist in
only a feature of the garment and |
put an expert class of goods on the |
market at the price the city tailor,
employing great army of specialists
in garment making and fitting can !
offer. So it is with the lawyer and
the doctor. The really important |
cases, both in law and medicine are
taken to the city, where men are CO.
operatively working.
The small schools greatest aim a
few years ago was to accommodate
the man Of the immediate community
who could not go great distances for
education. AS means Of travel have
come in, SO men have become gener-
ally more prosperous and can take ad-
vantage of them. Distance is little
barrier to education now Men are
finding 1t cheaper and better, instead
OF maintaining great number OF
small schools, to maintain fewer, but
greater schools. They can in this way
assemble the strong men in educa-
tion and give the largest possible
number the benefit of their teaching.
The advantage of studying under a
master in class of twenty or forty is
worth more than being alone under
the masters pupil.
This tendency OF Sr.uping is gen
eral. But the far mast not be neg
lected. 1t is becoming more valuable
each year. The problem Of feeding
the nation is The nations greatest
problem. The farmer must solve this. =
He must farm more intensively. more
lntellgently. Manufacturing has
grown and improved but just as man.
u1acturing has improved, so must ag-
flculture. The farmer must stick to
his own work. The world needs him
there If he can farm in the city, all
right; but he must farm.