The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-02-11
Can Cities Be Too Big?

The typical American city Is always
struggling for the most part ineffective
ly, to bring its equipment and gov
erNmental facilities up even with its
population. Always there is paving
that ought to be done, sewers that
ought to be dug, bridges and water
works and public building that ought
to be constructed. Always there is the
problem of schools outgrowing school
houses, teaching force and appropria-
tons. Always there is the problem of
Americanizing newcomers from foreign
lands. The city is never settled, never
finished, so that it never, for single
year, is able to function normally, as
a mature municipal organism, Is this
condition to last forever, growing worse
rather than better as the city expands?
And the largest cities, those now
counting it such a high honor to be in
cluded in the first ten or the 'firSt
five" in the country-will they always
esteem it an honor and a blessing? Lon
don, England, has long since stopped
Dragging about her size; she finds it
a handicap and would gladly be
smaller If she could. But there is the
fatal side of it. Cities grow very
much as children do and if they are
destined to large growth because OF
location and other factors, could they,
by taking thought, limit their growth
if they wanted to? Could Chicago help
becoming the biggest, city in America?
And what sort of places will all our
Chicagos be, after another century or
50?
Try to picture a city of 10, 900 900 or
20,000,000 people. Can you make it a
pleasant picture? Or is it not in many
respects at least, a picture of vague
dread and horror? How can such vast
masses of humanity be cared for as
parts of, one civic organism? How can
thatr hOnSa1 faH nrONriIpH
with work, educated, transported,
amused, kept well in body and mind?
Civic problems will become vast be-
yond anything now imaginable.-Lan
sing State Journal Qnd.).
Unrest Among the Farmers.
There unquestionably is widespread
discomfort among the farmers, and the
principal reason for it is that while
the consumers have been paying eXOr-
bitAnt prices for foods, the farmers,
who are the producers, have not been
getting their share, the lions share 60
ing to the middlemen.
1t is clear that the farmers and the
consumers must be brought into closer
touch. If the farmers could sell direct
ly to the consumers they would receive
better prices and the consumers would
get their food cheaper, for it can be
taken for granted a majority of farm
ers would be well satisfied if to what
they get at present were added half
the profit that goes to the middleman.
The postoffice department sent out
a QUESTIONABLE to get information as
to the need of better facilities for en-
abling producers to ship their products
direct to consumers. The parcel post
system has done something in this way,
but it is far from all that is required.
Greater effort must be made also, to
provide farm help and to check the
migration of farmers children to the
cities To do this life on the farm
must be made attractive, and this GER
tainly can be done. Social centers
should be established to furnish rCcrea-
ton and intercourse, and the farm
hand" must be given more considera-
ton. 1t cannot be denied that on many
farms his life is dreary enough.
The situation is indeed serious. The
prospect of still higher food prices is
| like a nightmare to the masses. Every
! possible agency should be set at work
to avoid such calamity.-Albany Ar
| gus CDem. J.