Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1921-02-12
NATION IN DANGER
Farm Abandonment Has Created
Most Serious Situation.
Food Supply Threatened Through the
Drift of the Population to the
Cties-Now Is Great Opportu-
nifty TO Take Up Land.

The question. How is the country
10 he fed If the population continues
20 drift to the citieS?" is one that
should create an agitation that will
bring about a reply that will mean
solution The census. recently com
pleted, reveals a situation truly alarm
ing, one that has never been known
In the United States before. The ur-
ban population is now greater than
that of the rural districts by about
100000. Cities aud towns, each with
more than $500 Inhabitants, contain
54.3lS032 persons, or 5l.4 per cent Of
the total population, while the farms
and smaller towns together claim only
51.399T29 persons, or 1876 per cent OF
the total.
As is pointed out by an influential
Chicago daily, "the drift 10 the cities
Is thus proved and, reduced TO figures.
showing a top-heayy condition of the
Industrial life"
Farming is and must remain the
basic industry of the world. and GER
tainly should remain the basic indus
try Of nation with a continental
area like ours. II IS small profit to
gain the markets of the world with
manufactured goods If agriculture has
decayed So badly as 20 furnish an I'M
certain subsistence for our people ard
fiuctuatlng crops are reelected in price
changes that upset the economic life
of the country Yet we are within
measurable distance N that condition,
II the present or recent drift toward
the cities continues.
Most writer's on this topic take II
for granted that young folks 60 from
farms TO cities merely TO make more
money Doubtless that is something
Of a motive al all times and was
very strong one in the period lmme-
diately after the war, when city indus
tries paid wages totally impossible for
farmers 10 rival
II is hoped that this drifting has
reached It's apex Unless It has. and
there still remains a possibility OF IFS
continuance. the effect cannot be- fore
told The great wave Of manufactures
FOR war purposes has ceased. and with
Il the number Of those employed In
factories is diminishing by thousands
daily II is therefore hoped that there
viii again be heard the slogan, "For-
ward to the Land If prices to which
farm land has reached are prices pro
hibitiye 70 many. the opportunity IL
still open elsewhere There are states
possessing large areas of good land
that may stil be had at prices within
the reach of many and Il is doubtless
true that IN sclfpreservatiop It viii
be necessary. to bring these lands IN
der cultivation The prices are not
high. considering their value. Then,
too, there are the lands Of Western
Canada. that hold ont an inviting pros
pect. Reports from there show that
the prosperity Of the farmers there Is
not mythical Farming there IS con
Quoted on scientific principles, and
the climate is such as appeals The
production amply repays all the ex-
penditure that may be made The
social conditions are Of a character
that make farm life a pleasure. and
tends to keep the young man and
young woman from pinlng for urban
life with so many drawbacks. If con
ditlong as above mentioned showing
such q large percentage Of population
I'm the cities and towns, continues, they
VIII require food The opportunity to
supply It Is by the means suggested.
Go forward to the farm, become in
dependent, and become a factor In
supplying the worlds needs in cattle.
sheep, grain and such other comm0-
dltitS as the farm win produce and
the resident Of the city requires
Advert sement.