Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-06-29
ROADS AND THE" FARMER.

Logan Waller rage, director VI LAG
United States Office of public roads, IN
a recent interview declared that phil
osophers who have been deploring the
trend of population from country to
city might as we'll save their energy,
unless they are prepared to help
change the conditions responsible LOT
the migration. He adds:
cat the root of this condition are
the poorly kept roads OF the country.
It ia certain that the farmers do not
get the use of their share OF the money
earned in the United States. There are
now over 9O,000,0O0 people in this
country. and nearly one-third are
farmers and their families. The prod
nets of the farm are responsible TOT
more than one-third of the wealth and
commerce Of the country. No one can
sav however, that one-third OF eais
wealth is used by the farmer In the
1etterment of the country districts.
"It Ia due to the inactivity and lack
of cooperation among the FARMERS
that country districts have become de.
populated. The back to the country
movement has had considerable
vogue at sumptuous banquets In cities,
Int the movement has not got far out
NJ town. for the simple reason that
life in the slums, despite all theorists,
frequently is much more livable than
life in the country.
"While fine phrases can be made In
the discussion of the JOY and health
81 hand labor in the open air and I'M
der the sun, it is a fact that condi-
tions in the cities are much more
healthful today than conditions in the
country. Sanitation is better, and the
air in tenements Is little worse than the
air in many country houses, where,
because of the extreme cold and lack
of proper heating. apparatus, the win
dows must be kept closed from Octo-
Der until May.
Improper sanitation, poor drainage
and poor highways in the country
have brought about as great percent
age Of diseases as exist in the city.
While country people are free, as a
rule from tuberculosis, they are ex-
tremeiy liable to typhoid fever, pneu-
monia and other diseases that are
brought on by improper drainage and
improper ventilation.
4 "The work this is being done toward
the improvement Of roads throughout
the. country will change this condition.
Improved roads will give, to the
country districts the improvements en-
loved by fashionable suburbs, and Will
improve drainage, and wipe out isola-
ton. In most localities, life on farms
invariably becomes, as result or
bottomless roads, isolated and de.
barred of social enjoyment and pleas
ures, and country people in some com
munities suffer such disadvantages
that ambition Is checked, energy weak
ened and industry paralyzed. Under
such conditions, 1t is but natural that
persons engaged in farming, especially
the younger folks, should seek the life
and 'gayety of the cities, There they
feel they will find recreation, variety,
youth, beauty and music.
1.-THE difference between good ana
bad roads is often equivalent to the
difference between profit and loss.
Money wisely expended for this pur:
pose is sure to return ten fold; and
now that the states are expanding In,
the aggregate 100000 a day for road
Improvement, conditions In the
country are likely to be so. improved
that the trend toward the city will be
stopped and the overflow in the cities
will turn to the country"