Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-08-20
PERTINENT FACTS TO CONSIDER

. A~SS@ A@N A@N = = &4S4 . AZ
The economic situation by which
we are confronted is difficult, but it
should neither appall nor dismay the
true-hearted citizen. We have not
been called on to face as yet any
thing like the privation and hard
ships which our soldier boys met
with such sang-froid when they went
overseas to save the world for
christianity and civilization.
we bear no marks of strife on our
bodies and we have not been called
on to face revolution, pestilence or
starvation. We still have our homes;
we are abundantly fed; we can still
AFFORD to eXpend great sums for non
essentials and luxuries.
We, individually and collectively
possess more of the wealth of the
world than any other nation. We
form of government. We still fol-
low from day to day the well-or-
dered. process of our lives. The fu-
ture is bright with promise. To-
morrow is to be a new day of glo-
rious sunshine and opportunity.
Let us bear the ills of the moment
with cheerfulness and firm determi-
nation. If our hearts are filled with
an appreciation of sacrifice such as
actuated the soldiers of our country
in the hour of peril. the good ship
America will right herself very
shortly and again sail the seas of
progress and prosperity. Let us ban
lSh peSsimiSm and Supervent it with
thrift and reconsecrate our lives to
industry.
Last year there was serious
scarcity of farm labor. 1t was so
acute in many sections that it
threatened to greatly reduce our sup
plies of food and raw materials. The
census figures reveal that more than
one-half of the population of the
United States IS now urban.
This represents a gain of 30 per
cent for the cities as compared with
the previous decade. AS matters
now stand only 100000 people, or
1873 per cent of our total population
live in what may be the open coun-
try Those capable of actual serv-
ice in matters of agricultural pro-
duction are probably limited to TO-
100000, or less than one-tenth OF our
total population. In Georgia IS per
cent of our people still live in the
open country.
Approximately 2,16S,0OO individ-
uals derive their support from our
farms. This is mighty army and
should enable aus under wise and
proper management to have an abun-
diversity our cropping system to any
extent desirable, and to produce crops
and live Stock on an economical
basis.
In spite of the fact that we have
materially expanded the use of fer
tilizers and brought ever-increaslng
areas of virgin soil under the ploW,
our yields per acre are virtually sta
r1onary. This would indicate that the
leavenirg influence which education
is expected to exercise upon our ag-
ricultural problems, has barely be-
GIN its hanign work.
When we think of the great ex-
tent of territory to be covered and
the comparative isolation of the
farm home, the necessity of improv-
ing the roads, homes. schools and re-
ligious opportunities in the open
country, the task assumes stagger-
ing proportions.
It is we'll that these facts should
come home to US at this time as WV
idly as possible, for the decadence,
evidenced in many Of our rural COM
mualt.es cannot be easily corrected.
Tn any event, agricultural education,
reserach and eX tension teaching lust
be endowed in the future on basis