The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1921-02-10
ton IN DANCER
Farm Abandonment Has Gre ated
Most Serious Situation.
Food Supply Threatened Through the
Drift ct the Population % the
citiss-Now is Great opportu-
nifty @ Take Up Land

The question. How is the country
70 be fed II the population continues
to drift 10 tho cltles2" Is one that
should create an agitation that will
bring about reply TINT viii mean q
solution. The census, recently COM
pIeted, reyeAls 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 and towns. each with
more than $500 inhabitants, contain
54,31B.o32 persons, or 5l.4 per cent Of
the total population, while the farms
and smaller towns together claim only
81 ,399, 739 persons, or 48.G per cent Of,
the total.
AS is pointed out by an influential
Chicago daily, "the drift to the cities
Is thus proved and, reduced to figures.
showing top-heavy 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 g nation with continental
urea like ours. 1t is small profit to
gain the markets of the world with
manufactured goods II agriculture has
decayed SO badly as to furnish an UNI
certain subsistence for our people. and
fiuctuating crops are reflected In price
changes that upset the economic life
of the country. Yet we are within
measurable distance OF that condition,
IL the present or recent drift toward
the cities continues.
Most writer's on this topic take it
for granted that young folks go from
farms to cities merely to make more
money. Doubtless that is something
of motive at all times and was
very strong one in the period imme-
diately after the war. when city indus
tries paid wages totally impossible for
farmers to rival.
1t is hoped that this drifting has
reached It's apex Unless 1t has and
there still remains possibility of it's
continuance, the effect cannot be fore
| told The great wave of manufactures
for war purposes has ceased. and with
| 1t the number of those employed In
factories is diminishing by thousands
daily. 1t is therefore hoped that theNe
| will again be heard the slogan. For.
ward to the Land" If prices to which
| farm land has reached are prices pro
hibitive to many. the opportunity Is
still open elsewhere There are states
possessing large areas Of good land
that may still be had at prices within
the reach Of many and 1t is doubtless
| true that in self-preservation it will
be necessary to bring these lands I'M
der cultivation. The prices are not
high. considering their value Then.
too there are the lands Of Western
| Canada. that hold out 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 character
| that make farm life a pleasure, and
tends to keep the young man and
| young woman from pining for urban
life with so many drawbacks If con,
!, ditions as above mentioned. showing
such large percentage Of population
| In the cities and towns. continues, they
will require food. The opportunity to
! supply it is by the means suggested.
Go forward to the farm. become In
! dependent. and become factor in
| supplying the worlds needs in cattle,
| sheep, grain and such other commo-
| dities as the farm will produce and
| the resident Of the city requires
| Advertisement.