Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-01-15
FRANK S. ADAMS
ON THE PROBLEMS
OF THE COUNTRY

L ..
speaking on THE Interdependence OF
Country and City at the Community
Efficiency Conference said:
my report on this topic will be SOLE
ly from the standpoint of the country.
The interdependence of the country on
the city and leave the city side for
some ether speaker" Among the
special things complained OF in driving
young people away from the farm the
speaker found to be poor country
schools, poor roads, Improbable farm
ing. lack Of good social relations and OF
modern conveniences on the farm.
Mr.. Adams believes there should be
a better credit system for the farmer.
1.-THE city banks" he said, should
have q committee to study farm condi-
lions in order to find out what farm
enterprises can safely be financed. He
is no friend of the farmer who makes
him think that he ought to have album
dant credit merely because his land Is
good security. To extend him credit on
that ground alone is a very good way
to encourage him to lose his farm, but
If the committee can say to the local
banker if these farmers can get mon
ey to buy brood sows, dairy cows, or
fertilizer which will be profitable to
them, the banker, if he is alive to his
own interests and those of the COM
munity, will certainly consider the
matter favorably.
Credit Rate Sheet.
II would recommend an agricultural
credit rate sheet. which I think Is used
in some western states This sheet Is
made in duplicate, one copy for the
bank and one retained by the maker
In this rate sheet the farmer makes a
statement of all his business, inventory
of real estate and personal property.
acres of different crops grown, live
stock kept, all assets and liabilities,
Fire and life insurance carried. With
the credit sheet the bank has a clear
statement of the financial standing Of
the farmer.
Zone of the most serious objections
urged against living in the country"
said Mr.. Adams, is the backward con-
ditions Of the rural schools. Our COM
mon schools recruit the academy, the
college and the university and they in
turn recruit every profession but farm
ing I believe that the schools needed
in the country are the consolidated
schools properly graded with perman-
ent high class teachers in charge and
courses of study that among other
things embrace such subjects az re-
late to the soil, plants, insects, birds.
domestic animals, rotation Of crops,
how to maintain soil fertility, care and
breeding of live stock. domestic sci
ence in all its branches for the girls.
Good Road Day."
IF the city and country are going to
cooperate for the good of the whole
they must cultivate a better acquaint-
ance. A Good Road day would be a
day Of getting together for the work.
Let US also have a day when the city
and country can get together for re-
creation and amusement, this has been
tried in some Of the western cities with
magnificent results.
In politics and civic life the farmer
has not been fairly recognized. The
best interests of the community at
large demand that agriculture assert
itself in social and public affairs. There
are about $50 lawyers in Congress and
only ten farmers. Is it good policy to
intrust the country's interests to the
hands Of a single profession whose
ethics make 1t justif1able in criminal or
civic cases to prosecute or defend de-
pending upon whose retainer Is first
received?
1.-The size of the problem does not
matter If only someone takes hold and
shakes it out" declared Mr.. Adams in
a closing summary Of the needs of the
rural districts.