The Marietta journal. (Marietta, Ga.) 1918-1944, 1919-04-25
RAILROAD WORKING
WITH FARMERS
Wealth of The Earth Lies In The
Soil. Back to The Farm.

coming back to the paths of peace
a srapidly as the great transport sys-
tenn of the country can bring them.
Many of them went into the Army
unframed, undiciplined, physically
weak and frivolous Within few
months they were made forceful units
of the greatest fighting army the
world had ever seen BEFORE, an army
that upset all military traditions,
startled the world, and won the great
est war of mankind.
They are coming back, and with
the same facility with which they
became soldiers will they accommodate
themselves to the pursuits of peace.
A few days of fanfare and parade;
a few days of exuberant acclaim; a
few days of home greeting and then
they will be quietly absorbed in the
great army of industrial workers
The department of agriculture has
lust made the astounding statement
that the winter wheat crop of the
United States for 1919 will amount
to 837,OOO,0OO bushels which, at the
guaranteed price of the government,
will yield 1891 100000 to the farm
ers of this country, but it will prob
ably add 100000 bushels to this un-
precedented volume of grain.
The price of all other agricultural
products has arisen with wheat, fact
which seems to indicate that the next
aristocracy and plutocracy of this
country will be agrarian. 1t is not
improbable that hereafter the foun-
dations of great America fortunes
will be laid in the soil rather than IN
oil. the bank, the railroad and the
mill.
"Back to the soil'' will be the slo-
gan of all the returning soldiers who
have been reared on the farm, and
many others will yield to the lure OF
Mother Earth, whose appeal is either
active or dormant in the hearts Of all
men. Never before did this good dirt
of the United States look better than
it does today.
These farm boys and near-farm
bows who went out to war thoughtless,
indifferent, undisciplined and I'M
trained, have come back serious-mlnd-
ed men. with broader views and
higher value placed on their minds
and bodies. They will leave the rifle,
the machine gun and field pieces OF
destruction and take up the pillow and
other implements of production with
an initiative, intelligence and detern1-
ination that have never before been
in this country.
The renaissance of agriculture IS
being recognized by the railroads OF
the country, and through their agrl-
cultural departments they are plan
ming a great campaign OF agrlcuiIur-
al development and cooperation, THIS
is especially true of the Nashville
Chattanooga & st. Louis Railroad
which has done more for the soil i'm
movement and livestock industry IN
Tennessee than any other factor.
This company recognized the fact
that the return to the farm Of thous-
ands of trained, serious and we'll
balanced young men means an lnten-
sive cultivation of the soil and the ap-
plication of the technical methods TO
the conduct of the farm, which Will
he a new birth for agriculture IN Ten
nessee.
In Memphis there was held on
April 2, and meeting OF all the
AGRICULTURAL development agents OF
the United States under the railroad
administration. This meeting was
called by J. L. Edwards, manager OF
the agricultural department of the
railroad administration at Washing
ton. Many meetings, especially those
of a political character have received
more notice and have had more space
in the newspapers, but none has been
more important in the promise OF re-
suits looking to the peace, prosperity
and contentment of the people.
At this meeting every railroad I'M
der the railroad administration was
represented, and concentration OF Ell
fort and uniformity of methods were
urged and agreed on. In the matter
of cooperative marketing, 1T was
brought out that some agricultural
agents developed successful methods,
which they were using for the bene-
fit of their own sections, rather than
for the general good. This was con-
demned and plans made for uniforml-
tv of work. Plans were also made
to meet the movement in Canada to
draw farmers from the United States
into Canadian territory.
Another important matter discuss
ed was the question of aid to settlers
after they had been located. In this
matter the N. C. & st. L. railway has
an enviable record. Its agricultural
agents do not drop settler on the
land and then leave him to hoe his
own row under new and unfamiliar
conditions.
He is followed with assistance, ad-
vice and suggestions; he is aided in
oecic+od in the mr.