Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1915-03-14
FOR COOPERATION
OF Communities
Department of Agriculture
Devises Plan for Benefit
Of Rural Residents.
H ELPS INDIVIDUAL
Scheme Calls for Organization and
Committees of Five to Deal with
Business Needs and Social
Requirements.
by Jonathan 'Winfield.(

| washington, March 13-The DEPART
ment Of agriculture has Just announc-
ed new plan to obtain community
cooperation in business and social
affairs in the rural sections of the
country and at the same time develop
nelghborhood patriotism among the
farmers.
This plan is to create community
organizations in the various sections
The scheme calls for the creation of
| ten committees, five of which shall
deal with the business needs of the
community and five with it's social
requirements. The business bodies
are to consist of committees on farm
productions; marketing, securing
farm supplies, farm finance and ac-
| counting, and communication and
transportation. The five committees
to attend to the social life of the Sec
ton will look after education, sani-
tation, recreation, Identification and
household economics.
In addition to the committees nam
ed, the scheme provides central or
executive organization having a pres
| ldent, secretary and treasurer. These
general officers together with the
chairmen Of the ten committees, are
| to form an executive body which is
to direct the general policy of the
organization, raise all the funds re-
quired to carry on it's work and con-
troll their expenditures.
Through such cooperation of the
rural communities great economic re-
suits may be obtained, the department
experts believe, and community spir-
it created which in it's way will be as
valuable to the farm sections as is
the national patriotism to the country
| at large. Patriotism, like charity"
it is stated, "begins at home, that is,
in the neighbornood,"
1t is pointed out that the various
committees can do much good in their
| respective fields. For instance, the
committee On production can improve
| the breeds of live stock on the farm
| through the cooperative purchase OF
| pure-bred stock. 1t can encourage
the formation Of corn. poultry, pig,
cattle, canning and gardening clubs
and carry en- useful study of the type
of agriculture best fitted to local con-
ditions. Such clubs, the department
| says, udNG liCih 'o'VC
in the sections where they have been
established.
In like manner the committee on
marketing can procure the Standard
zation of the community's products
and in this way obtain better prices
than when nondescript goods are put
upon the market. 1t is pointed out
that even if cooperative marketing
be not resorted to, the information
this committee would collect would
be of great assistance to the lndlvld-
ual shipper.
| Great economies in buying can be
effected by the committee on farm
supplies through the medium OF CO.
operative purchasing. Warning is
given. however, that the farmers
must not underestimate the cost OF
maintaining a community store or
commercial agency. There must be a
head to such an establishment and
it always pays to put GOOD man
on a task. This would entail the pay
ment of a proper salary. But the
advantages of cooperative buying, it
is stated, would more than Offset such
an outlay.
The department further suggests
that lust as the business commlttee
is to grapple with the problems OF
producing and selling, the five soclai
committees should devote their efforts
to improving living conditions in the
country. The problem of increasing
the farmers income is not the only
/ thing needed to make a rural lie
what it should be, it is urged. Inc
more prosperous a farmer becomes
the more convenience he demands,
/ that he may the more enjoy the fruits
of his labor. Thus it is that the more
nrosperous a farmer the more likely
he is to move into town or city
where he better may enjoy lie.
Five principal reason are clted iol
the belief of the farmer that ne eau
do this better in theNoWn or city tnan
on the farm. There usually are pet
Tier facilities for educating his emil
Idren. the sanitary conditions are pet
ter. the household facilities such as
hct and cold water, heating and nght-
Ing systems are more abundant ano
finally there is more opportunity 1ol
recreation and amusement.
| Co-operation on the part OF rural
Communities. it is argued, can &c
az much to alter these conditions az
/ to increase the average cash income
| The department, therefore, urges thai
1 the social committee should De con
sidered as important to the communi-
ty as those which deal with its Dusl-
ness questions and they should receive
the same supgsrt from the entire COM
munity they are trying to uplltt.