The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1912-10-05
RURAL LIFE PROBLEMS.
BY THE REV. CHARLES sTELzL1

Il RURAL LIFE PROBLEMS. I
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While the population Of the United
States as whole increased Fl per
! cent during the past years, the rural
! population increased only 11.2 per
| cent The increase in the number Of
farms during the period was 1919
| per cent. The value Of farm property
from 1900 to 1910 Increased 1905
per cent, but the greater part Of this
extraordinary increase was in the
land itself, the value of which i'll
crease 1881 per cent. The average
size of farms decreased from 1852
per cent acres in 1900 to 1881 per
! cent acres in 1910. The tendency is
slowly but surely toward the smaller
| farm. In 1850 the size of the average
| farm was 202.5 per cent acres. It is
! interesting to note that while in the
! production of cereals the increase of
! the acrease was 3.5 per cent from 1899
! to 1909, and while the increase in the
| number of bushels raised during the
| same period was only IL per cent,
the increase in the value of this
product was 1913 per cent. Upon
| the face of it the farmer is prosper
| ing. It is steadfastly claimed, how
ever, that while the crops have in
| creased so greatly in value the farm
| er has not received his just share of
the product Of the soil. The major
part Of the profit Ia going to the mid
| dleman. Meanwhile, the price OF
| land has gone up and, naturally, the
farmers taxes have greatly increased.
It is rather insignificant that the
decrease or slow increase in the rural
population throughout large areas
| of the United States is in no sense
due to lack Of agricultural prosperity.
! On the contrary, in most Of the states
showing a decrease or only a very
| slight Increase in rural population
| throughout the past decade, there has
| been q remarkable increase in the
| value Of farm property. In spite of
this splendid financial showing and
! apparent prosperity in the country.
great numbers Of boys and girls are
| leaving the farm. The loss of rural
population is due to economic, social
| and educational causes, but in the ef-
! fort to have the country boy and girl
| remain upon the farm the opponents
of the Country Life Movement
! often lose sight Of certain important
facts.
Does it necessarily follow that be-
! cause a boy was born on a farm he
! must of necessity befome farmer?
It may be that he was destined to
become poet or musician, black
| smith or engineer. He may have
| none of the qualifications which
would fit him to become a farmer.
| Also, there are certain inexorable
laws which are responsible for the
| tendency of the population toward
the city. The Introduction of labor
| saving machinery, the increased trans
rortaticn facilities and the ability of
the city to drain a whole country side
for its food supplies are some OF the
factors. Whereas at one time it re-
quired two-thirds of the population
to run our farms. today it requires
only one-third. AS a matter of fact.
If present available means were to
be employed one man could produce
enough to feed 40. Therefore, the
decline in rural population in some
regions is often due to the greater
efficiency of farm labor.
There will continue to be an exodus
from the farm to the city until we
strike the basis which will naturally
leave enough people in the country to
till the farms that need to be cult
waited, and the real problem before the
American people is how to make the
country population most effective
not how to increase this population.
This is the sum Of the problem of
country life. Every agency, therefore,
that has to do with the social, the
physical, the intellectual and rhe
moral life Of the country community
should feel most keenly it's RESPONSE
b1lity In this connection. The school,
the social center. the grange, the
church, each have their own function
In the building up Of rural life.
The Country Life Movement" /.
quite different from the Back to the
Land" movement It may be said.
broadly, that the first was inaugurated
for the purpose Of benefiting the
country; the second for the purpose
Of beneiting the city. The movement
of city men to the country offers no
solution of country problems. It Of
fers only solution Of the city prob
lem. The movement to send the in
competent workmen to the country Is
utterly alse in it's philosophy. The
country does not need him any more
than does the city and he can do no
Better in the field that he can in the
town.
In the last ANALYSIS, the country
must solve it's own problem. This re-
Quires special leadership of men who
know the country and who love it.
More money must be provided to
maintain the rural school,
There should be more scientific
supervision. Often more attention
is given to buildings which shelter q
farmers horses than those which