Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1912-01-09

Il population of over 50,000,000 pc
! pie, while Oregon, Washington an
t Idaho with a combined area of ovt
t 245,000 square miles, and resource
Y never dreamed Of by the people {
I Germany, have a combined populs
tion of only 2,5OO,OOO. Oregon wit
its $4,000 square miles has popu
} lation of only $4,000 people.
"Our principal cities have mad
phenomenal growth, but our rura
districts are not increasing in popu
lation as rapidly as we would wish
We are not faring as badly as tn,
eastern states, however. For there
in most instances the growth of the
rural districts is not only at stand
still, but in many the population is
actually upon the decrease. The
drift is ever towards the cities. There
is something about the glare and the
glitter of the city that not only at
tracts but holds the farmer boy and
it seems that most every attempt to
get him back to the soil proves fu-
tile.
Cities Becoming Top-Heavy.
"The Back to the Farm problem
is one of the greatest problems be-
fore the people today and it is one
which must be solved. Our cities
are becoming tOp-heavy. Their sup
port in the past has been the coun-
try and they must look to the coun-
try for support in the future. They
may for time outstrip the country
but in the long run they must wait
until the country catches up If
they would enjoy continuous pros
perity they should at all times lend
a hand toward the development of
the rural district.
"This Back to the Soil problem
while worrying the West is worry
ing the East far more and so long as
this condition of affairs continues to
exist we are going to be disappoint-
I'd in the class of people we get from
he East. We want farmers, and
rood ones at that, but we find that
large per cent of those who come
lrift to the cities and not to the
arms where they are so much de-
ired.
"The coming of the Panama Canal
vill be of great help to us in solv-
ng this problem for it will put us
.rectly in touch with ports in Eu-
ope where we can find class of
eople who are soil hungry and who
eally want farm home. Great dis
1mination should be used. however.
selecting these immigrants, for we
ant the class that will not be a )
lenaee, but a benefit, to our civili- !
alton. We want those who will not !
nly settle and develop our maniess
nds, but those who will help main <
nm our high standard of citizen Y
mp. We should at this time take G
cps to perfect an immigration or Is
lnlzation which will not only pro- <
ct ms from a food Of undesirables Is
ON Europe but which will secure u
e best to be had and see them 81
anted on the land. This can be u
me, as l see il, under the colony g
stem where families Of one nation "a
Ity are located together, where "a
ey can have their own church and. VI
til they learn to speak the new OF
lguage, have those around them m
10 can speak their own tongue and ia
tn whom they can visit. on
Must Be Protected. tn
These people when brought here tl'
'uld have every protection thrown ia
'und them. They should be given IA
'tection against the schemes of the on
land sharks and To- ca
ed upon desirable land and at IN
sonable prices. If this policy is SIT
ried out You viii see wonderful on
elopment in your rural districts ms
Will see a hundred goats where rel
see one today and you viii see ael
Z logged-off lands and brush The
tures give way to productive IN
Is and the communities marked all
-
thriving villages with their we'll
.nded schools and churches. ]
One great step which is being no,
m through our Agricultural Col the
and other agencies to solve the Tn.
ek 70 the Farm problem Is that ero
making farm life more attractive I !
at progress Is being made in this If
eiion and expect, at least I ner
TO see the day when most Of eor
couveniences and enioyments Of -
WiI he found in ~. .r-rI.-- z.