Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-03-28

farm women seemed to be the house
wives of the departments $4,000 vol
unteer crop correspondents. These
crop correspondents commonly are
among the most progressive farmers
in their communities, and it was
reasonable to suppose that the women
of their families would be fully quail
fed to discuss their W needs and
the fields in which the department
could serve other farm women in their
communities.
THE secretary, therefore, determin.
ed to send to these women a general
letter which would not formulate any
definite questions, but rather would
encourage them to discuss freely and
in their W way any matters in
which they believed the department
might improve it's service to rural
women or undertake new activities
in their behalf. A general letter Of
this character, it was believed, would
secure more valuable replies than
would a questionable blank, which
would tend to bring yes" and mo-
answers rather than a free discussion
of the general subject. It was real
lied that before any effective series
of questions could be framed it would
be necessary first to get the views and
opinions of many farm women as. to
what questions should be asked.
women and men in almost every
state held that the greatest service
the department could render to the
farm population would be the system,
attic improvement of country roads.
While, of co lrse, the advantage of
good roads in transporting produce to
market is fully emphasized, many
make a point that country roads esp..
cially adapted to winter conditions
would have a very important social
effect. These writer's point out that
during the summer months the farm
population, and especially the women,
are too busy to do much visiting, and
that by the time the crops are mar
keted and some leisure and recreation
are possible, the roads are so muddy
that it is impossible or very difficult
to drive ver them, with the result
that during the winter months, when
the farm families have time for visit
ing, they find it impossible or very
difficult to get to town or. to reach
their neighbGrs.
'In many letters there is evidence
of a feeling that in road building the
requirements of tile automobilists
are considered before the business
and social needs of the farm, and that
greater interest in developing auto
mobile thoroughfares has resulted in
diminishing attention to the improve
ment OF short stretches. of side roads
serving the actual EARNS. According
to several communications, the in
in automobiling has made it
hazardous or dangerous for women to
do much driving on many country
roads, This Condition, the writer's
say, frankly, is due to the lack Of con
sideration Of chauffeurs who fail to
stop their machines, and rush by farm
horses which are not used to auto
mobiles and so become frightened and
run away. One writer suggests a ma
tional law requiring the driver of
an automobile to stop his machine on
signal.
In a number of cases the letters
were signed by men who wrote either
on their own initiative or recorded
their wives views. The pleasant fea-
ture of the replies from men was that
the vast majority of them seemed to
that the women on the
farms do not always receive their
full due and that improvements are
needed to free them from unnecessary
drudgery and to make their lives hap
pier, less lonely, and more endurable.
Letters from men expressing selfish
or narrow views of the rural yoman's
place, or r~esenting the departments
endeavor to serve them, were entirely
exceptional. Av 7ss,sae%ss %aasassst&esm%s
Zone of the letters is typical:
"'Our farm woman is in the rut of
stay-at-home, and thus much of her
work is a monotonous round. She
owes it to herself and those about her
to take some time off. Taking All in
terest in things about will prove an
inspiration, and she will feel a new
interest in her work when she takes
it up again.
"'The hardest phase of country life
for the women in my neighborhood is
the monotony, with no means or op-
p~ortunity for any social life whatever.
we are so isolated we cannot even
60 to church on Sunday they say to
me. The country men do not care for
the entertainments and amusements