The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1915-03-26
Rural Community Organization

duct cooperative store which rem
ders the same service to its Gus
toners that private enterprise
would. This, however, inevitably
leads to complications and should
only be undertaken after some ex-
perience with similar methods of CO.
operation.
| With the committee on farm
finance and accounting, the first
duty is to ascertain what farm en-
terprses can safely be financed. This
is only possible when accurate ac-
counts are kept and carefully ana
lyzed. After this has been done the
next step is to secure the most ia
vorable terms for financing proper
and sound enterprises. This is fire.
Quently not difficult If the commit
tee has thoroughly mastered the sub
ject and is able to put it clearly be-
fore local bankers.
Securing Capital.
Where the local bankers are un-
willing to finance genuinely product
i've enterprises at reasonable rate
of interest the committee must con-
slider other ways of securing capital.
One of the simplest plans for accom-
plishing this is credit union or CO.
operative credit association. The es-
sential features of this plan are that
a group of farmers organize them
selves to receive deposits and make
loans.
BY keeping the expenses down to
minimum 1t has been possible in
some cases for such associations to
pay interest on deposits that Is within
/ per cent OF the interest 1t charges
on loans.
The committee ON communication
and transportation should deal pri-
marily with the roads and telephones.
The keynote of the work should be
organized self-help, not appeals to
get Government help.
Just as the five business commit
tees are to grapple with the funda-
mental problems of producing and
selling in their various forms, the
five social committees should direct
their efforts to the improvement Of
living conditions in the country.
Increasing Average Income.
To increase the farmers income is
not the only thing needed to make
rural life what it should be. AS a
matter of fact, says this article, it is
the prosperous farmer who is more
inclined to move to town than his
less fortunate neighbor.
Having accumulated competence
he wishes to enjoy it, and there are
five principal reasons which lead
him to believe that he can do this
better in the city: First, there are
usually better facilities for educat-
ing his children; second, the sani-
tary conditions are frequently much
better in towns, and the time does
not seem to be far distant when the
: cities will be actually more health
, full than the country. Again, house
: hold conveniences such as hot and
cold water, heating and lighting sys-
! tens, etc, are more abundant in the
, towns and add greatly to the COM
: fort Of living. Finally, there is more
opportunity for recreation in the city
: and frequently, strange as 1t may ap.
= pear, more to appeal to the sense OF
= beauty that is inherent in practically
every man.
} Cooperation on the part of rura
: communities can do as much to al
! ter these conditions as 1t can to in.
, crease the average cash income. The
) committees that have these matters
5 in charge should, therefore, be re-
t garded as quite as important as those
7 which deal with business questions
: and they should receive the same
, support from the entire community
t which they are endeavoring to ben
| eft.
: The result will be a community
: spirit which, In its way, is capable
of producing as valuable results al
the National spirit. In fact, says thu
: article in closing, Patriotism, like
= charity, begins at home-that is, II
} the neighborhood.'
E O,,i or tI,n Mouth. af Va..In