Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1913-07-02
MOVEMENT FARMERS BENEFIT.
Organization o of Farming on Business
Basis Is Chief Object.

thorough organization Of farming
and the establishment OF credit and
mark keting systems on business ba-
sis are among the objects of the rural
organization service-the latest
wrinkle to the many-sided agricultu-
raj department. There is also the
eyer-prCSent question as to what is
TO be done to keep the farmers on
the farms, or in other words how fol-
lowing agricultural pursuits as a
business may be mate attractive as
a business may be made attractive
from a monetary as well as a social
standpoint aud thus overcome the
young mans longing for the city.
DR.. ThOs. y. Carver, who severed
his long connection with Harvard
University to become head Of the new
department service, said to-day that
he took the Job because it will solve
for the farmers all the remaining
age-Old problems that heretofore
nave proved the great stumbling
block in the perfection Of American
farming methods" The plan is a new
one. it will be in an experimental
stage for some years to come. Prof.
Carver says the plan is the right one.
but admits frankly that it will take
many molths of digging and effort to
get the system running true to form.
Prof. Carver, therefore, has been
loathe 20 make any statement re-
gardin% the plans and workings Of
this new department. But to-day he
consented to explain some of the OBJ
jects and purposes Of his department
to the people of the country.
The movement we are launching
here" said Prof. Carver, "is, in my
opinion, one Of the greatest yet un-
dertaken by this government to i'm
prove the farmers financial, physical
and social condition. Let me say at
the start that 1t Is no detriment to
the American farmer that he has not
solved these problems for himself
He has had enough to do to plant
his crops and then garner them. He
has had no time for experiment. He
has had but scant time to organize
with his co-workers to market his
crops to best advantage. We will do
this for him by gathering all neces-
sary data to which he can refer at a
glance. 1t has long been recognized
that disorganization has been the
gratest weakness Of agriculture. Such
a condition Is natural because of the
vast number Of farms and because of
the isolation Of most farms. The far
mer has learned to cooperate better
with nature than with men and he
has not learned to cooperate along
financial and social lines.
we Will organize surveys to get
at the basic facts regarding organ
lied rural agencies. We will try to
be the medium between the farmer
and the financier from whom the
farmer wants credit. In this respect
we will perhaps use a great deal of
the information being issued to-day
by the American Agricultural Com.
mission which Is studying rural
credit systems in Germany and other
European countries. We will study
localities for the best means and
manner of transportation and we will
gather data regarding the best mar
kets for certain surrounding farm
districts. We will gather informa-
tion concerning farmers organiza-
tons and we Will study even the ru-
raj educational systems In an effort
to better them. All these facts and
data VIII be disseminated among the
6.OOO,eO0 or more more farmers of
the country without any cost in
money or time to themselves, at Diff
ferent intervals and In such man
ner as to appeal to the farmers.
And one more thing we will do
as an aid to the farmers will be to
study the reasons why the young men
from the farms insist on leaving the
farms for the city. Contrary to gen.
era impression, 1t Is not the farmer
who fails who sells out and goes to
the city. 1t is generally the farmer
who has succeeded who moves in to
town. This phase of our problem is
every bit as important as the better
ing OF the system OF rural credits and
the establishment Of farm banks. We
think we have hit the nail on the
mead at the start. One Of the chief
reasons for the exodus Of young far
mers from their farms is the lack of
attractiveneSs in life in the country.
How Will we remedy this is still a
deep question. The promotion Of So
clal centers, the suggestion of mod
erniZing the farmers homes with the
installation Of all the appliances that
go 70 make life in the cities easier.
may be the answer. We are going to
try 1t at any rate. We have a big
work ahead Of us-a difficult work.
but because thing is difficult Is no
reason for failure"