Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-11-27
Movements which Threaten Our Agr1-
Cultural Industries


The trend of population towards ur-
BAN centers is one OF our most diScon-
certinE economic problems. The incre-
ment in total population between 1850
and 1919. a period OF thirty years. was
SIS per cent The percentage increase
n the number OF wage esrners in man
ufacturing industries was I42.l in sgrf-
crlture. only a. per cent During this
same cycle the growth in urban popula-
tion was 1855 per cent; and in rural
population S9.4 per cent. The result OF
this tendency OF our people TO congre-
gate IN urban centerS has been re-
duction in the per capita production OF
staple food crops. In ne era from 1876
70 1854 our annual per capita output OF
wheat was SIS bushels: from 1906 TO 1914
81 was 10 bushels The same relative
decline in food animals is also observed,
end. as q corollsry OF this situation, our
exports OF focdstuffs and animals have
fallen from approximately 20 per cent
IN the decade lSSO-1SSS 90 80 per cent in
IeIe-1sIl-
Even before the declaration of war
the United States was becoming less
able to feed other countries and needed
the greater part OF the fOOdstuffs annu-
ally harvested for. home consumption
A temporary stimulus TO our food pro-
ducsion has come about by reason Of the
unusually high prices now prevailing.
but its continuance on the conclusion
OF the war is altogether predetermined
unless We can change the attitude or
our peopIe towards life in the open coun-
Try. II this IL TO be accomplished we
mus make them see ana appreciate the
opportunftv which farm life affords. not
only for obtaining a desirable livelihood
brit for the establishment and mainten-
Hrce OF a proper equilibrium between
the production OF raw materials IoI
manufacturing purposes and for use as
food
The present war seems TO indicate
that the strength OF a nation primarily
s-Tters in its ability 10 balance up all
SIS Industries and TO become as nearly
seTf-s,istainiug in the matter OF its food
requirements as possible The economic
drift o. the present moment, II allowed
20 continue IS bound TO weaken the
Tinted StotNs as a producer Of raw ma
.eFials ana agEravate the cost OF living
TO an uubearabls degree This viii bring
shout friction between employer and en-
pIoye. increase the cost OF manufactured
goods 20 a point where successful world
competition becomes difficult and result
IN the overconCestiOn OF our urban CEN
tiers with a population less virile than
that found in the open country
These issues are OF such vast impor-
lance to the welfare OF the United states
that their consideration cannot be light
u dismissed save by the uniformed II
s. manifest TO all students of economics
that the present movement toward urban
communities and the neglect Of the
open country Will continue as long a.
our government and our industrial en-
terprfses continue 10 pay, the scale OF
wages now prevalent in most localities
j is not reasonable to expect a farmer
with a labor income OF $500 or $500
wear 10 continue to operate snail farm
in view Of the d.ficulties and discom-
forts he must daily face when nearby
Industry is Offering him $1,000 TO $4,000
q year to move from the country into
the tenement district OF the city where
ne can. as he and his family think. en-
ioy all the so-called delights recreatons
and privileges OF an urban center. Our
people are not sufficiently well organized
or educated as yet &c be able 10 dis
criminate clearly between relative val
ues. and what constitutes real oppor-
tunity. At present we seem 10 have
unfortunately placed a premium on liv-
ing in the city. Our government being