The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-11-11
Phone 1900
Before z p. |
TOO M.,.NY PEOPLE
IN THE CITIES
SAYS Ed MONO

Following q lengthy review of t4.e
food situation in this country. Q.
which be takes an exceedingly pessl-
nlist4c view, Richard ii Ednronas,
editor of the Manufacturers Record,
produces arguments to show that II
there IL not an adjustment OF popuia-
ton in thus country, as between the
rural and the urban jewellers. our dit
ticulties will increase rather than
aemlnIsh in the future. he says:
With this enormous relative de-
crease in country population. which
produces the foodstuffs, and the
enormous increase in city population,
which consumes the foodstuffs. We
can readily understand the gradual
decline in food production in proper
ton to population.
The nation must face the issue. and
We must learn food conservation to a
greater extent than we have ever
known it in he past, because, war or
no war, We cannot waste food as III
former years; and at this time with
the can OF the Allies for food, it is su-
premely important that we should
conserve food to the utmost extent
OF our ability, and that the same
thine every effort which farmers, bus
lne&Ss men anu national and state gov
ernhpents in combination can make
should be put forth to increase the
food production OF the coming year.
InduAtrial development, wmch has
broughtl about the great increase in
city pop ulation, has been due largely
to the II tarveious results of power
machine1 y. In the factory and on
the street power machinery, with all
that it msssssrA2 better streets, better
homes. better facNlfies for getting
around. better facilitAe s 70 doing bus =
mess, has aided city srowth.s In k@-e
country animal power and manyG l.
Dor stia predomlnate, and the cou
try has, to . large extent, been wit
out the great benefita which the c..
has had in the utilization of powt
machinery. Country life has be.
hampered by intolerably bad koa.
which have been a strong factor
driving people from the country
the cites. Farming operations y
beeh hampered, as compared wit.
dustr1al development, because Mn
the latter had power machinery
former did not. We must Iool:
the development of machine power
the farm in the shape of tractors a
10 good roads, which will lessen Il
cost of farming operations, as Wit:
factors in bringing about a larg.
production of foodstuffs in proportlo
to the number engaged in armin
than ut present. Otherwise we sha
have a continued advance IN food
stuffs to the point where living in tn.
cltv will become SO burdensomei,
heavy that the population will be
forced back from the city to the coun-
try by the swing of the pendulum. re-
versing the movement which has gone
on for 80 years from the country to
the city.
Tnese facts demand the nations at
tention. Every effort to ignore
them merely initiates the ostrich,
which sticks its head into the sand
and refuses to see danger, believing
that in this way there will be no
danger. Perchance the ostrich may
sometimes escape seeing the danger,
but we are compelled n feel the dan
ger by the decreasing supply and the
advancing cost of sooostlffs; and as
whole, the people do not understand
the reasons therefor. ;" These facts
may perhaps throw a little light on
some phases OF the situation and in
tersify the effort for food conserve
ton.