Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-10-11

There is much alarm over the aban-
comment OF the farm by the rural popu-
lation. and especially the boys and girls
Of the rising generation. Is Il surprising
that they should leave when all the farm
offers them. as they see IL, Is drudgery
ana cfrcumscrihed opportunities They
read a city napier and imbibe the city
point OF view they have city schools
which educate them away from the
farm. and they are lured 70 the city
d. the desire for wealth and the variety
and gaudiness OF the life which Il al
rords. The farm Affords a much bet
ter fnancaI opportunity TO the wide
awake. aggressive individual than Is
commonly believed. A successful farmer
SAYS that on the 100 acres OF land which
re has built up b. rotation, he makes
a O00 a year exclusive Of his living Con-
trast the opportunity which the farm
orrers TO the man Of limited means pro-
vided he knows how TO handle II ad-
vantageously. and which he should De
taught through the courses offered IN the
secondary and common schools OF ms
community. and that Of the city wage
Garner drawing 5000 a year. On 100
acres Of land in twenty years the farmer
should have made $4,000 in money be-
sides his living Suppose he paid $40
an acre for his land. at the end OF
twenty years il win be worth probably
so an acre; in many instances, IL actual
~ becomes worth from SO 70 SO. ana
even 500 an acre At the end OF twenty
years the farmer has a competency, has
probably educated his children advan-
taEsously. and has something laid aside
with which 10 help start them In
business OF their own. The other man
has lived. or better stiIl, existed On
- hn
shown that cotton may be made to pay
a dividend Of 10 per cent on land which
cost u.s00 an acre. Land equally as good
can be purchased in many parts OF Geor-
yia at from SIS to SIS an acre. The pos
sibiIities In farming II properly pursued
are unlimited, but to stem the tide OF
immigration to the town and city. we
must have a new scheme OF education
In the country and develop and fix ideals
In the mind OF the child which win en-
able him TO analyze life and find out
what Is really worth while.
THE CITY's INTEREST IN RURAL
EFFICIENCY.
The value OF an efficient rural popula-
ton Is not appreciated as it should be,
for n Il were, the most liberal endow-
nent Of agricultural education would
talze place Immediately. The city boasts
1f a great new industry; IL represents an
investment OF a million dollars and en-
pioys a thouxand hands and pays a
wage OF s5s40o0 a year. II Is indeed
great industry and means much 10 the
prosperity OF the city and the farmers
who live IN its vicinity. These same
fathers. however would hesitate to make
an Investment OF perform any service
for the farmers In their community un-
der the mistakes idea that Il &. is not
worth while Suppose. however. in a Civ
en- county containing 20o.0o0 acres OF
arabic land 5000 are devoted to cotton.
On the basis OF the average yield at
present Of 80 pounds OF lint cotton per
acre. the yield would be 1900 bales,
which at SIS would be worth 81 20. 90.
n the yield were increased to one bale
Ger acre. the 1900 bales az SO would
be worth s30n.0o0. a difference in net
revenue 10 the city and surrounding
country OF yl.S9.0o0. Since most Of this
money would be expended in the town.
Is Il not worth while for the city. even
from = strictly business point OF view.
70 take a definite interest In the mat
ter OF agricultural education, and in the
uphuilding OF the rural community by
which II Is surrounded These figures.
which are very conservative. demon
strate that the increased production OF
cotton would net the community almost
four times as much money as the pay
roll OF the great industry. Yet the city
viii absolve the corporation from taxes
and makes various other special con-
cessions to H. IL also maintains a