The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-01-19

/ why SnOutu IHey stop at y cuSapeI
class of hotels than does the best
business man in the country? Why
should they content themselves with
an inferior school for their children?
Why should not they have as good
roads to travel lover as do the people
In town? When the farmers come to
appreciate their Importance, their
power, their almost absolute independ-
ence, then will rural conditions be-
come more desirable than they are
at the present time, and possibly not
until then. We do and must each
make our own environment. And this
is more true Of farming communities
than of cities. Rural conditions are
as they are simply because the farm
ers do not themselves demand any
thing better. The business world is
demanding Improvement In rural con-
ditions. They see the problem con-
fronting each state and the nation.
They realize the Importance of stop
ping the movement to the towns. They
not only realize 1t and are talking
about 1t, but they are willing and
ready to do their part to improve
rural conditions. The recent move
AAVAS VI liz OoilhCAS d1N O0SAAACSS AASL
Of North Dakota and the big business
men of North Dakota and the big
business men Of the twin cities for the
Improvement of agriculture in this
state is an evidence Of the apprecia-.
ton of big business interests Of the
importance of improving conditions In
the country. They will not complain
II their taxes are increased so long as
the different communities and the state
are getting value for the taxes paid.
And so we say that the one thing
more than all others important to- the
development of rural conditions is the
raising in the minds of the rural peo-
pie of an appreciation OF their import
ance, their power and what they can
do for themselves. When we do this.
they will develop the school to q
higher standard, the church to a
greater usefulness, and establish d
better citizenship, better conditions
and a more desired and profitable ag-
%riculture.
Rural Schools.
Another line along which there has
been more rapid development in the
towns than in the country is the school
facilities. Every village Of any pre-
tention now has its thoroughly graded
school and high school. Very few
rural communities have either Of these.
And more than that the tendency of
our entire school system has been of
the character that attracts the atten-
ton Of the pupil to life in the town
and in the city.
1.-THE same course of study is pre-
scribed for the most distant rural
school as for the largest city school.
The boys and girls whom we expect
and hope may spend their whole lives
IN the farm are drilled in the same
subjects and from the same books
as the boys and girls Of the largest
cities who never expect, and who under
existing conditions we cannot hope
will ever help TO develop an acre of
land. We appreciate the fact that
there must be some system in the
course OF study taken up in the differ
ent schools of a county and a state,
But we do not believe that that sys-
tenn is in itself more important than
is the development of the boys and
girls for the work which they are ex-
pected to do and which it is desirabIe
they should do during their active life.
I'VE believe then that our school
system has been largely responsible
for the Capitalization of population as
1t has been going on. We will say
something more of this when refer
ring to the remedies.
Lack Of Application.
Another great reason for the CEN
tralization of the population we be-
lieve is to be found in the fact tina,
business methods have been modern
lied more rapidly than have agricut-
tural methods. Magazines devote long
articles to the work that has been
done in improving business methods
in this, that and the other industry
institution. The immensity of the
business, the methods of looking after
details, its volume and other features
are continually brought before the eyes
OF h reading public. This is all At
tractive. Man Is a progressive being.
he wants to keep step with the age.
and that in the front ranks and nor
IN the Q No such progress has
peen made in the systematizing and
improving of the methods used on the
average farm. Modern business has
found that there is a limit to mans
endurance. That if only REQUIRED "a
exert himself for ten hours, and in some
occupants for eight hours, his effect
iveness is greater than if the hours
are extended. Farmers. very few OF
them, have not yet discovered that
fact with reference to their business.
The boy with any aspiration, any
stamina, finds these things out and
n conditions in the cities present
their attractive features. I dc not
know that / have any criticism to
offer of the boy who leaves the farm
where his hours are from daylight or
earlier, until dark, to enter a vocation
where only reasonable hours of work
are demanded. / well remember when
all farm boys. myself included, were
expected during the fall, winter and
spring months to be up by daybreak
and In the field by sunrise or very
shortly afterwards, and our days
work in h field closed with the set
ting Of the sun The chores were to
be done before and after that. They
were not considered a part of the
days work but as a sort Of amusement
thrown in on the side to keep us out
Of mischief. The unfortunate result
OF this system has been not only that
boys have left the farm hut in very
many instances the best boys have
done so. We believe that one Of the
reasons why so many farm boys have
been SO successful in the cities has
been the fact that 1t was the best
country boy that was attracted to the
city by the more modern methods OF
business and industry, and it was the
duh boy who did not appreciate the
difference in conditions who remained