Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1912-09-13
FUTURE OF The COUNTRY TOWN

We are not speaking now Of coun-
try towns that have the raw material
and the enterprise to enable them TO |
engage in manufacturing, nor Of towns
which by reason Of their superior !
transportation facilities are engaged /
IN more or less ,vholesahng, nor Of !
towns that by reason Of having super
Tor educational advantages have been
growing little during the last few
years. We are speaking of those
towns that are simply distributing
points for the territory tributary
thereto-that have as a reason for
their existence the supply Of the
wants Of the farmers and that are
shipping points for the shipment Of
produce, and where the only manufac
turing is that of products for which
the farm furnishes the raw material,
as for example, mills, ereameries,
canning factories, etc.
Now during the past years these
towns have not increased in popula-
ton very rapidly. Some of them are
not holding their own, and some are
increasing slowly because Of the in
coming Of retired farmers. While the
cities all over the west have been
lgrowing, and while the open country
has been decreasing in population
none rapidly than most men realize,
this class of towns has about been
holding there own.
What future is there for them?
Some tell us that their trade will be
gradually absorbed by the mail order
houses; that these towns will dwin-
die in population and influence and
even in numbers. This would be a
calamity, for dwindling and decay
ing town is poor place to live in
People get discouraged. The young
I folks want to get away.
Is there any help? Let us thinl
about it a little. These towns, having
' as reason for their existence tn
supply Of the wants of the farmer
and for their convenience in shipping
: their products, will increase or de-
crease in population, wealth and il
fluence, with the increased or DE-
creased prosperity of the farms tina
g are tributary thereto. Hence the me
e chants and people generally in thss
towns are deeply interested in tn
e prosperity of agriculture. If tn
e farms were eighties intsead of qua
e ters, the population of the countr
, would be practically doubled; an
/ this while it would not altogether
+ would almost proportionately increa'
n the size and wealth of the town.
V A movement has been started
! various states to secure the service
of an agricultural adviser, who mu'
!. be an expert, who is able to give tn
farmer advice on request wheneve
4. he is in doubt about anything-abor
!. the preparation Of his seed be,
v about the kind of seed to plant, abol
\. providing balanced rations for h
live stock, ventilation for his houS
v or barn, ANY bloomin' thing" 6
I. the English would say, that the farr
&c er wants to know. 1t is expecte
r. that he will have an office at IL
a county seat or other more conNenieC
g. place, that he will be there at lea
one day in the week in order ths
ic farmers may consult him.
h. This moyemnet will have back
,e 1t the RAILROADS and merchants an
N business men generally, and will ha
a. the cooperation of the Department
ic Agriculture and agricultural college
4. 1t appears almost simultaneously
a. Ohio, Missouri, Kansas. Illinois. low
IN and Minnesota, and win no doubt |
,r prominent in Wisconsin soon.
I'd Why should not the people in the
agricultural towns take hold with Il