Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1920-07-23
The Editor of The Register

ne Editor OF The Register:
Dear Sir
The return of the old conditions in
Vermont, when farming was the prin-
cipal occupation of the people is so
desirable now, that I venture to call
the attention of your readers to a gov
eminent method of helping men to own
farms. My information is derived
from a book on this subject by Elwood
Mead, Professor of Rural Institutions
in the University of California, and a
member of a government commission
sent to study farming conditions in
Australia, and also in Europe. In
nearly all the Atlantic Seaboard states
he made a special study of the subject
As result of the investigations in Aus
tralia the California State Govern
ment founded the Durham Settlement
The government bought a large tract
of unoCCupied land which it sold in
lots of about forty acres to men who
were in search of farm homes A
small part of the price was paid on
{ NH4N444S BO's-NNlOll lIN lEHdlHQEI Ill
yearly payments A superintendent
appointed by the government, gave adj
vice to the buyer as to the nature Of
the soil of his farm and the suitable
crops, helped him in the purchase OF
seeds and stock, and farming tools,
and especially in the building of his
house and barn He exercised no au-
thority over him but was simply an
intelligent advisor Almost more i'm
portant in some respects than this
wholesome work was the selling of
small lot of about an acre, fit for gar
den work, to the farm hand, paid for
in the same way as the large owners.
He was advised as to what to raise in
his garden, helped in the purchase of a
COW and hens, and especially in the
building of a little farm house By
this means the farm laborer became
as interested in the development of the
farm as its owner This plan has been
carried out in parts of Ireland and from
a report of the American Industrial
Relations Commission l learn that "a
wonderful change has taken place in
the social and economic condition of
the Irish peasant . Within a decade
the wretched and more or less law
breaking farm tenant has been convert
ed into an industrious, progressive and
law-abiding landed proprietor; in fact
he has become so law-abiding that
many jails in the farming districts,
formerly filled with agrarian crimi-
nails, have been converted into public
schools" This wonderful and touch
ing result is largely due to the fact that
the government furnished the various
farm districts with farm advisers,
trained graduates from agricultural
colleges, who act as friend, adviser,
and scientific farm instructor to the
peasants. This helping men back to
/ the farm, and interesting and instruct
ing them in the best way of develop
ing its wealth and especially in the
changing the condition Of the helper
from being merely a hired man to
that of a farmer and owner OF his farm
will be brought about by the establish
ment of a working partnership between
the government and the farmers. The
government must take responsible
part in aiding rural development and
in helping to shape rural civilization"
Soldier settlements should also be con-
sidered. for "all of the English speak
ing countries except the United States
have passed special soldier settlement
legislation and made appropriations
therefor Where good, free land exists,
that is offered to soldiers
lanes NJ. Hubbard
Bread Loaf, July 90