Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-04-30
FARMER AND
COMMUNITY.
Lecture by Prof. g. w. stephens. in the
University OF Maine Farmers Week course.l

referring TO the difference between the
| life OF a century ago aud that Of to-day.
A century ago the farmer was what might
be called smsll-scaie farmer; his farms
were SNAIL In area and his operations
were on small scale. another difference
| was the absence OF transportation a
century ago. Steam was only In its be-
| ginning, therefore there was an absence of
large manufacturing plants, such as we
have to-day.
Our industries to-day are Of a special
lied nature, and the farming to-day is a
specialized pursuit. Agriculture depends
\ upon transportation facilities, banking,
manufacturing, etc. There is great in
terdependence between different countries,
as one country is dependent upon the
other for some product.
| An illustration OF this point was the
strike which threatened France about two
years ago, when tile men on the railroads
threatened to go on a strike that would
cause great suffering in the more remote
districts of France; also the dock strike
| which occurred in England a short time
ago, when the English government felt
that 1t might be necessary to call the
| militia to handle the freight unless the
| strike was settled.
Prof. stephens spoke OF the mutual de-
pendence between the farm and the city.
The farmer may be independent in rela-
tion to nature herself, but is dependent
upon the city for marketing and selling
his products; also he is dependent upon
the city for finances to raise and move his
crops.
The high cost of living may be due to
three factors: First, increasing popuia-
ton OF the country. No country exists
where the population is not increasing.
Second, the area of land for food produc-
tion Is limited; as the population in
creases the area OF land is not increasing.
This means the average acre OF land must
produce more in order to keep pace with
the increase in population. Third, the
growth OF extravaganza, especially within
the last twenty years. The call for luxury
by the American people is very great;
social unrest is another point which is
the result OF this extravaganza, which is
shown among the lower classes In Ger
many and in France. Also there Is
general unrest among the Americans,
much more SO than people imagine.
Agriculture Is the only attractive in
dustry which Is seif-sustaininR. By an
extrsctive industry, Prof. stephens ex-
planned that be meant an industry which
dealt with the raw product. We have
LII.
from the earth, which might be termed
extrsctive, but they are not seif-sustain-
ing.
The farmer is the poorest business man
we have to-day. The reasons for this may
be sursmed up as follows:
First, the farmer Is not concerned with
competition among the different farmers.
This is factor which the average farmer
neglects. In other industries, for instance
the retail grocer, there is much COM
petition which must be considered. On
the other hand, the farmer is working
against millions OF farmers in other parts
OF the country, which be does not realize.
Second, the bounties which Providence
has poured upon the farm. The farmer
does not realize that in such sections of
the western part OF the United States and
Canada where the soil is virgin. that he
has had bounties poured upon him.
Third, characteristic nature OF city
business.
Fourth, indiyiduaiism OF the farm.
Prof Stephens spoke OF the social inter-
dependence OF the city and the country.
The men who are the best products of the
farm are used at the present day in the
city. This may be due TO the fact that the
people and their descendants in the city
one generation after another decreases in
vitality until finally, without some out
side influence, the best men of the city
would be utterly incompetent to carry on
the problems which confront them.
Another point in favor OF transferring the
best from the country into the city is the
| fact that many city people do not have
many children, and therefore we are fac
! ing the problem Of furnishing the children
| from the farm fog the city.
Another thing which tends to decrease
the number of children in the city Is the
recent movement against the use of child
labor IN the factories. There Is hnotner
factor which mnst be reckoned within
city life; that is, the number OF peopie
pursuing unproductive work in the atty.
Ii is factor which is conducive to ths de-
veiopnent Of immortality among the
masses OF the city. The drift of the youth
Of the present day and of the past has
been toward the city, which may be due
to the greater attraction for making large
fortunes, and OF the glitter and attrac-
tiveness of the recreation in the city.
In closing, PROF.. Stephens said to compets
with the city the farmer should give mors
attention to social problems in thu
country. He should make the country
attractive TO the youth, and there will bt
no trouble in keeping the young people
upon the farm.