Elmore County Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1910-1915, 1915-07-03
GEORGE JACOBSON, Publisher
The Community Idea.

The Republican is indebted to
an interested reader of Minneapo-
lis for a copy of the Minneapolis
Tribune containing the following
la ked editorial, a careful pc
ii of which convinces us that
some valuable lessons may be
found therein, in the manner OF
handling blooded stock as well
as a splendid lesson in co-opera
ton between members OF rural
communities and the nearby city
organizations and business men.
a closer relationship and better
understanding between these fac
tors, it is urged, would eliminate
much Of the mail order business
now so extensively carried ON.
Too often at a farmers institute
business men of the city where
same is being held, are conspicu-
GUS by their absence and the
same is often true of meetings OF
city commercial clubs and other
so-called cooperative organiza-
tions. Let us have more social
centers and a few get acquainted
gatherings and establish better
understanding among farmers and
that results will be gratifyingly
great for bothY Try it and see:
The little city of Mortified, Min
nesota, has attained enviable promi-
nence for what has come to be
known as the Mortified Community
idea. 1t is not that the idea OF COM
munity originated in Mortified or
li.at 1t has the copyright on it. Rather
Mortified siezed upon an idea that
was as old. as agriculture itself, re-
vived it, improved it, made 1t prac-
teal, and now is showing other COM
munities how to prosper under it.
Mortified is a rare example OF a
town and its surrounding country
abiding in perfect business and social
harmony. The live Commercial club
of Mortified keeps in touch with
I've farmers clubs of the territory
surrounding. In many things they
are correlative and In other matters
they are as one. The Commercial
hib helDs the farmers clubs to build
up the community and to make farm
life more pleasant; the farmers
alI.s hspl the Commercial club to
build up Northfield all of them work
for the common good.
Northfield is famous for its herds
of Holstein cattle. The idea OF
breeding one standard type of cattle
originated with Mr.. w. f. Schilling,
who learned wisdom from the horse
breeders. Northfield was famous for
rs ] archeron horses. Mr.. Schilling
v that the famous breeds of
iorses and cattle, all live stock, in
fac came from restricted district in
Great Britain or Northern Europe.
He knew that certain districts in
Denmark, Holland, Belgium, France
and England were famous for types
of horses, cattle sheep and swine.
He saw that these districts had pro-
duced the finest animals of their
special brG eds because the whole
community was devoted to that
bre,
Mr SchiiliIg began the breeding
"a Hoistein cattle as in his judgment
Ike best adapted for dairy purposes
ia Minnesota. His neighbors were
ding other standard types, but
y listned to him and now Holsteins
are about the only breed found around
NJrthheId. That is one OF the Sc
crets of Northfield's prosperity and
prominence. There is no dividud sem
tlment.
That is all there is to it. The
ople are of one mind. All are pusl+
Ing in the same direction instead of
pulling and haulino In all directions.
Nothing could be simpler than the
Mortified Community idea-and there
is no patent on it. Any community
can work it just as successfully as
Iorthfleld"