Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1916-06-15

~ ~ ~ = think we are facing :
"a M new condition OF affair1 IN
" " the drift OF the young peo.
pie from the country to
the cities. in the steady rise in the
cost OF living. and in the decline Of
our food exports. 1t is true, for ",
this is a new situation, but for the
world 1t is as old as civilization.
Plntarch Numbered against the de.
population of the rural districts. Jus.
tinian, the great lawmaker, was In
favor OF legislation designed to keep
people on the farm. The great RO.
man emperor. Augustus, before the
Christian era, saw that his empire
was being undermined and called to.
him the poets of the nation and com,
manded them to sing OF the beauties
and profits of country life.
The young people of this country
have been taught in their homes In
the schools, and through the literaturs
placed in their hands. largely to over.
estimate the advantages OF ely
life and they have not been Taught
correctly to comprehend its disadvan.
tages. Likewise. the people Of both
city and country exaggerate the dim.
culties and drudgery of country life
and fail to appreciate fully its great
and peculiar advantages.
Low City Wages.
One middle-aged man in New York
city, i'll answering the question, why
young men leave the farm, says: II
wish to say that 1 speak from expe-
rience, for am one OF the army Of
deserters, and like thousands OF 9TH
ers, am now too poor financially to
go back to the farm, and too proud
to go back broke know a great
number here in New York city Who
are i'll the same position as Am.
While l know many country boys,
know but very few who do not wish
they had stayed on the old farm, and
everyone tries to make his friends up
the state think he is happy and very
prosperous on salary Of twenty -hv4
dollars per- week, when, at the sAItS
time, he is trying to make both ends
meet and still live respectfully"
Probably the best way to conyince
boys that it is best to remain ON the
farm is by such methods Of farming
as will yield the necessary profits to
provide the necessities, comforts, and
some OF the Injuries Of life. There
are thousands OF small farmers cult.
waiting farms with labor-saving tools
and keeping plenty Of good live stock.
who are making the work Of their
own hands bring them in more than.
fifteen hundred dollars annually. Com.
pa1atiyely few men In towns and
cities get as large a salary. The farm
er grows his living on his farm aud
pays 40 house rent. The larger part
OF his fifteen hundred dollars ia net
profit. The fifteen hundred dollar
town man can hardly make both ends
meet.
Demonstrations. lectures, bullstins,
books and contact with men trained
and paid to advise and help him are
now his privileges. He has chance
with tremendous odds in his favor to
be a mainland successful farmer,
Permanent Prosperity Sure.
1t is un4uestioned that we are now
entering permanent era OF high
priced farm products and high priced
land. This being true, it is advisable
for farmers boys to buy land end
grow high priced foodstutfs.
The country schools and churches
are rapidly being consolidated, aud
made the equal of the best in the
towns. Our industrial and CONNER
cial affairs will soon be adjusted 30
that farmers will receive their full
share OF what the consumer pays.
Farmers will soon have an equal
chance with other men In securing
capital to supply their farms ana
homes with labor-saying and wealth
producing equipment. The business
world expects food OF the right kind,
and at prices commensurate with pro.
gressive living and is Joining TIN
farmers in advocating the establish
ment OF financial institutions that
will afford capital to meet the legiti-
mate needs OF farmers.
The farmer and his family uaauy
now have all city conveniences. Wa
ter, electric lights, telephone, freleas
cookers, gasoline engines, autOmD-
biles, and SO on, can be obtained TOT
a comparatively small outlay a
The time has come when county.
agents. agricultural specialists, prin-
cipals of agricultural high schools,
and, in fact, agriculturists for all
kinds of agricultural work will be
selected from among the successful
farmers and dragged from the farm.
More farmers will be elected govern
ors and sent to congress. There ID q
bright future for the educated. sue
cessfui farmer.
TIM oe,,,a.o ,,aa~