The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1914-07-24
TENNESSEANS MUST
DEVELOP RESOURCES
BY MUTUAL EFFORT
CAPTAIN PECK SAYS THEY HAVE
SOLD THEM IN PAST YEAR
FOR MESS OF PoTTAeE.
CONSERVATION THEIR MOTTO
Individual Small Farmer viii Be
Crowded Out Unless People Co.
Operate In Each Community and
Develop Wealth of That Section.
(By Capt. T. F. Peck.)

(By Capt. T. F. Peck.)
Just few years ago, resident Ten.
nesseans owned our timber and min
eral lands in the state. They owned
the undeveloped water powers. They
did not appreciate their possibilities
for development and producing
wealth. They did not appreciate
their possibilities for development
by cooperation; but capitalists from
other states did, with the result that
our own Tennesseans have sold their
birthright for a mess Of pottaxe.
Those resources are being develop
ed. We are furnishing them a mar.
Ike for their products We are fur.
nishing them cheap day labor, and
the profits are leaving Tennessee, to
enrich other sections of the country.
Now some things are not pleasant
to contemplate, but we had better
analyze conditions, understand them.
and do what we can to improve them.
While a small percentage Of our
farmers are wide-awake, and proving
that they have the capacity to profit
by their opportunities, we all know
that too many Of them are clinging to
obsolete methods of farming and
farm practice that every year reduce
the fertility Of their farms and make
it harder for them to provide the
comforts and conveniences for those
dependent upon them. We know
they cannot continue indefinitely the
l, hopeless struggle. Gradually they.
/ too, will sell their birthright for
mess of pottage, and they will join
the vast army of day laborers with
little hope of ever becoming again
independent producers.
The value of Tennessee soils and
their ready response to intelligent
treatment is known. Our climatic
conditions and splendid rainfall are
also well known. Capital also knows
that men trained in scientific agri-
culture can be secured, who can
take the neglected land and the labor
that will then have no choice and
rebuild those farms and make them
produce bountiful crops and return
good dividends for the invested
capital.
The possibilities of our soils and
advantages of climate and rainfall
are too well known for the land to
remain idle. 1t will be developed,
but by whom? Our native Tennes.
scans or by combinations of outside
capital, where the profits will go to
the money centers instead of remain
ing in active local circulation? 1t is
far better for Tennessee and Tennes-
scans to retain the individual small
farmer to till his own ground, har-
vest his own crop and the profits
from his labors remain in his own
community, county and state, to
make conditions better for all our
people.
1t does not matter whether we are
farmers or engaged in some other
vocation: il we are Tennesseans wa
are vitality interested in this question
of improving rural life conditions and
we can all cooperate in getting more
cohesion among the farmers. II
think the first important step is in
dividual work in encouraging COM
munity cooperation. Prepare the
wa y for boys corn clubs, girls
tomato clubs demonstration and in
stitute work, short course work by
the College Of Agriculture.
You are interested in your home
community. 1t means most to you.
Get ready for community cooperation
so that we can save the Tennesseans
the birthright that will elude thefh
grasp unless you help them adjust
themselves to conditions confront.
ing them that must be intelligently
met.
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