Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-11-17
SMALL TOWNS
ARE ]. LOSING
POPULATION
Birkbead Finds Farm Ten
antfy Increasing in Most
Communities Visited.

Kansas City, Mo-, Nov. 17.-One of
the outstanding features OF a survey
Of SOCIAL cond-l.onsSAn rural communl-
ties or the mlcus west by L. NJ.
Birkhead, pastor OtaAll SOUS Unitar-
ian church Of tins, st;ttaG9 is the de-
cadence OF the country town. The
survey is based on observance made BY
DR.. Birkhead in more than eighty
towns in Mime SOFA, South Dakota,
Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Ne
braska, Colorado, illinois and Wlscon-
sin while he was On a lecture tour.
DR.. Birlkhead, who Is an active work.
er, discussed community problems in
each Of the towns and made, careful
inquiry as to local conditions in orde1,
to make his lectures pertinent.
Almost everywhere, DR.. B.rlkhead
reports, the country toYn is either ac-
tually losing. in population or is barely
holding its own. Instead of being the
CAPITA, as it were, of the surround
ing farming district, leading in bust
ness enterprise, education and prog
ress, almost everywhere the country
town is out classed by the farmers.
Leadership is needed, DR.. Birkhead
says, but there is nothing to develop
leadership, mo satisfactory opportunity
where. In one community SO per cent
Iof the young people went to the city.
The country town merchant. accord
ing to Dr. gBirkhead, conducts his
business BY time worn methods and
the mail orderGhouse takes his place.
In addition. he says, the retired farm
er is not an asset TO the town, SEEM
ing to "rot OUT after leaving the ac-
Invites OF farm life.
On the other hand, DR.. Birkheah
says. the farmer Is wide-awake and
progressive SO long as he remains on
the farm. Cooperative enterprises
are springing up everywhere. There
are cooperative hardware and gen.
Ieral MERCHANDISE stores. Thcre are
cooperative mills and elevators owned
The projects are Incorporated, the
farmers are stockholders, they hold
meetings and appoint salaried men to
administer the business \
Great pride is taken in the
schools, DR.. Rirkhead's survey shows,
but in every town there were from
one to five dead churches. Some
signs of az movement to establish
jcommunity churches were apparent.
The farming communities have re-
ceived their inspiration from the ma
Itionaf and state departments of ,agri-
culture, from the agricultural colleges
and from the farm papers, according
W ~ p AC0A LH AAAEAO Is a 4dl1l
agent lin practically every county VIVA
representa- the state department OF
agriculture. farmers Institutes,
which beganrat state agricultural col
Ileges are now held in different towns
and lectures on farm subjects are
given. +
In many counties there is a woman
demonstration who advises with the
concerning everything about
the homecoming modern kitchen
saquipraent. 2slaundry machinery and
similar subjects. ASA
" There is nothing like this for the
country toMn---no organisatton for
improvements. III
THE two great needssof the farm
eare better equippedMhomes and good
roads, Dr.. RirkheadS says. .'The
American farm is the best equipped
In the world. but modern improve
snsenta in theshomesaare greatly need
fed. InSmany cases thu barns are bet
tereequipped than the houses. per-
lhape having RUNNING water where
THERE'S none sat the house,.
ri many places, yfArmstenancy Is in
EcIeasing and the permanent good OF
fthe 4farEfMand Of the community suf-
Her Tho tenant does not take the
same Interest IN keeping up the value
of the land. nor In the cooperative
enterprises OF the GonAmunity. The
Icondition IL dueggto farmers retiring
and leaving their lands st0SstenAnts. In
SOME lcoNuttas, az Mlchsae5ee per- cent
Of theffarmslAnd - socc6nted9 by ten
In RtA Yxgpf kIagN3.l E n s{@mS df.SAtTSJT 49,