The Lexington progress. (Lexington, Tenn.) 1884-current, 1913-05-23

Farmers Letter.
BY CAPT. T. r. PECK
THE HIGH COST OF LIVING.

4AAA AAAC ~ 1870 ~ &%@ AA'N'
During the past few years the
talk about the high cost Of living
has increased In the cities and
towns; in fact everywhere that
people have to buy what they
live on. Many suggestions have
been offered and practically oil
Of them are far from the real
cause. There is one thing GER
tain, as long as consumption Of
farm products increases and pro-
duction does not keep pace, we
will talk Of the high cost Of liy.
ing.
This country has passed thru a
period Of great development in
railroad building, in the growth
Of manufacturing, in the growth
Va y a q H d
Of cities and towns. All the in.
fiuences have been exerted to
draw the people from the coun-
try to the towns and cities. The
laborers for work, the young men
and young women for positions
where they could wear nice
clothes and have more social ad-
vantages. The farmer, where
he could afford to do so, has left
his farm TO tenants and he has
taken Instantly to town to give
them educational advantages.
The schools have directed the
boys away, instead Of to the
farm. The result has been de.
creased production Of the farms
and consequent increase in cost
OF the necessaries OF life.
When we give more attention
to improving our farm lands, u.s.
ing more intelligent methods OF
cultivation, when we give more
attention to improving our pub.
lie roads and our rural schools;
when we are willing to make rn-
rail- life conditions attractive to
our boys and girls; when we give
to them the advantages they
can have 10 farming over other
lines Of work ; when we quit be-
lifting the vocation Of farming;
when we make available to the
farmer Of today the information
he needs for success in his work,
wewill find a solution to the
problem Of the high cost Of liv-
ing, and not before.
We must bring about eQuilib-
rum; labor is not properly ad-
justed. The cities and towns
are: overcrowded with young
men and young women seeking
positions. The supply exceeds
the demand and as q consequence
low wages prevail.
Our real prosperity is based
on the prosperity Of the farmer
and any other plan will exhaust
itself in time. So this problem
ID one that should enlist the CO.
operation Of the railroads, the
manufacturers, the teachers, the
professional men Of all classes.
Not that they should give up
their present work whatever
that may be. but in helping the
farmef to qualify for successful
" carrying on his work.
All can lend their moral and
and financial support to move.
ments to improve the rural
schools, that will teach agricul
ture and domestic science, to
better roads and to practical
denomination work with the
farmers that will enable them to
.build. up their soils. improve
their nethods Of farming, i'm.
prove their live stock and en-
courage them to q higher regard
TOR their vocation as farmers.
1t has been said often and
truthfully that all other profes.
sions and vocations grow out Of
the needsof the farmers. But
they have outdistanced the farm
en-; be has been drifting. He
must be aroused and stimulated
to take his proper place and de.
yelop bic industry as others are