The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1914-02-19

THE HERITAGE OF THE NOUN
TAfNS
Sidney Rufin Rust.

What have We mountain people to
pass on 10 the coming generations
by means Of which they may earn a
livelihood? Our natural resources
timber and coal-have been ex-
hausted and our farms are worn out
and barren.
Near on to century and half
ago when Daniel Boone stood on
West Pinnacle and looked over the
surrounding country, he saw a part
Of great and magnificent forest
that covered our eastern Ken
lucky. A forest Of giant and pow
erful trees yet untouched, unslashed
and unbutchered for its timber. Be
meath large sections Of this forest
were vast coal deposts-coal mines
that would be almost invaluable TO-
day. These rich inheritances were
direct as il were from the Maker
himself.
But the coming Of settlers, the
rapid increase Of our population
each new generation being far more
numerous than the last, the making
Of inventions, the coming OF rail-
roads, the navigation Of our streams,
the rise of cities-resulting in trade
and industry, created a mighty and
growing demand and market for
our timber and coal.
Then il was when we deserted
our little clearing for the living
derived from the sale Of our timber.
We cut, slashed, and butchered it.
having absolutely no regard for the
younger grOwth-until our hills
were left barren. At the same time
we robbed the ground Of its fertii-
~ as the timber was moved.
When we realized that our timber
was gone and still we had to live,
We looked for another natural
source Of sustenance. We found
coal and like the timber il too has
gone, and still we have TO live.
Meanwhile we lived on food sup
plies from the Outside-such as ba-
con, meal, -four, beans, and canned |
fOOds-thus spending hundreds Of |
thousands Of dollars that should |
have been kept at home.
Thus our timber and coal sup
plies have gone. Our last natural |
resource has been exhausted. No |
longer are we able to buy food sup
plies from the outside. What have /
we 10 live on at home? What have !
we TO pass on to the coming gener-
atiOns? Nothing. Our population
is increasing and they have got TO |
be fed. The hunger Of this increas- |
ing population must be satisfied in
the face Of the decreasing produc-
tivity Of the soil. In the past ten
years our population increased i8
per cent while corn, our principle |
crop, increased less than per cent.
The time has come when we have
got to do one Of two things-either |
find another natural source OF sus-
tenance, which is absolutely impos-
sible or return to our worn out
farms. The forest recourse being
eliminated we have got TO do the |
latter The farm must save US or
we starve. At present the farm is
the only visible heritage that we
can pass on. But how can the farm
save us? II is very plain that there
is but one methOd-a slow and a
gradual one, but sure One-namely |
the training up Of an energetic sci
entilic people on our farms in order
to reclaim and to build them up.
This can only be done by two in
stitutiOns or agents the school and I
the church. Both working in coop
Grafton with one another, but from
different angles, the one laboring
with the youth, training and direct
ing their tastes and ambitions, could |
create a love and a desire among