The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-08-05
Lack of Agricultural Con centration and Adequate Transportation Facilities Hamper Development of Agriculture.
 Is Second County of State As To Density of Popula- tion-Makes Strong Plea For Extensive Farming.

tions found in Fairfield county by Ben- jamin M Rastall. farm bureau expert. recently employed by the Chambers of Commerce of Bridgeport. Norwalk, Danbury and Stamford for the purpose of disclosing actual farming, financial, social, civic and other factors for progress has been compiled.
 The report covers several hundreds of pages of foolscap with statistics, maps and epitomes. In brief it shows that the county has made rapid strides in it's values. manufactures and resi- dential holdings; while through lack of labor, agricultural concentration and | rural transportation, it's farming is threatened.
 | Of the various features, MT. Rastall says in part:
 1 Topography.
 4The general topography of this area is one of the most attractive for Eresidence purposes in the United States with its hills, ocean frontage streams and inland lakes. Nearly one-half the area of the county is oc- cupied by forest land and always will be and therefore offers even greater T advantages for home location than for business enterprise.
 Density of Population.
 "The population increases for Fair field county as compared with other counties of the state shows that Fair field county is one of the most dense- ly settled, being exceeded only by New Haven county. During the decade lsO0,10 it shows the most rapid growth of any county in the state. It is to be noticed that the population density of Fairfield county is much greater than the average for the state, also that the rate of population growth has been much greater in recent de- cades than for the state Figures of nativity show no wide divergence over those of the state. There are still a negligible number of ,orientals and a small number of negroes The popu- Ilation divides itself roughly into Ethirds as between white of native par entage, native white of foreign parent age, and foreign born white. The average number of persons per dwell ing for the county h six and the aver age size of family four and one-half persons.
 1 Wealth and Finance l is approximately $2so. 100000. The 4 total indebtedness of the various county units is shown as less than $10,- 0o0.oo with nearly $7.ooo,0oO annual income"
 I The report shows that in three Bridgeport savings banks there is a total of s21. .726e31 on deposit.
 There is a wide variation of land | f1 ho iv, lportion to the transportation distances from New York. The higher values are in the southern part of the county shading off to the north and north east.
 l Economic Activities "Economic activities approach to a complete cycle; that is. g complete self-sustained economical unit" T Manufactures
 "A large proportion of enterprises are of a type that employ skilled la bor. The rapid recent growth of lBridgeport's manufacturing indus tries greatly increases the manufac- turing character of the county's indus tries and problems.
 Some of the most serious prob lems of the cities of the county are those related to the industrial growth and the providing of adequate condi- tions of living form the largely aug mented population. A serious prob lem of rural development is also in- volved by the present rapid draining off of farm labor through the large new employment offered and high rates of wage of Bridgeport manufac- T turing plants"
 T Oyster Industry T The oyster industry is among one of the counties biggest industries.
 Agriculture Il Fairfield county is found to have II [ per cent of farm acreage as against 66 for the state. The productive acre. age of the state is recorded as 45 per cent as against 53 per cent for Fair field county. The average land values for farms in the state is $33 per acre. , In Fairfield county 1t is placed be- tween $75 and $1o0 per acre. the high ' est average of any county in Connec- ticut. Average size of farms is given as from 20 to 100 acres, a decrease in size of farms during the past de- : cade which is reported as favorable l to agricultural activity. Seventy five per cent. of the county farmers are
 
 } farmers in the majority of instances } being found as tenants. Land values are increasing.
 One half the total of Fairfield coun- ty production are on hay and forage, the report indicates. Tobacco produc- } tion is small and dairying, fruit and : vegetable growing occupy about the same proportions in county produc- : tion as in state production ' -"In other words" MT. Rastall states, 1.-The county is not capitalizing its proximity to markets by a higher percentage of production of highly valued food products"
 A strong plea is made for small and . extensive farming, modern market systems and crop specialization. Under the head of transportation. the investigator says that "The county roads may be said generally to he in poor condition" He scores the lack of electric transportation systems in the farming section and says that the northern half of the county is greatly handicapped by lack of railroad facili- ties to New York.
 The rural school systems are found in backward condition.
 An analysis of conditions in Fair ! field county shows that it is not LID | to the average farm development of other sections equally distant from NaW York while conditions fo, h,,.;