Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1921-02-10
NATION IN DANCER
Farm Abandonment Has Created
Most Serious Situation.
Food Supply Threatened Through the
Drift of the Population to the
Cities-NoW Is Great Opportu-
nifty to Take Up Land.

The question, How is the country
to be fed if the population continues
to drift to .the cities?" is one that
should create an agitation that will
bring about "a reply that will mean a
solution. The census, recently COM
pleted. reveals 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 r.
54,31S,032 persons, or 51.4 per cent of
the total population, while the farms
and smaller towns together claim only
L51 800, 739 PERSONS, or 1876 per cent Of
the total, ....s.,. 80 -.
AS is nointed out by an influential
Chicago daily, "the drift to the cities
is thus proved and, reduced to figures,
showing a tOp-heavy condition of the.
industrial life" ..... So. e.,
Farming is and must remain the
| basic industry of the world, and GER
tainly shouTd;remain the basic indus,
try, of a nation with a continental
area like ours. 1t is small profit to
gain the markets of the world with
manufactured goods if agriculture has
decayed>so hadly as to furnish an I'M
irertain subsistence for our people, and
Ifuetuating crops are reflected in price
changes that upset the economic life
Of the country. Yet we are within
measurable distance of that condition,
If the present or recent drift toward
the cities continues.
Most writer's on this topic take 1t ~
for granted that young folks 90 from
farms to cities merely to make more
money. Doubtless that is something
of a motive at all times and was a
very strong one in the period imme-
diately after the war, when city indus
tries paid wages totally impossible for
! farmers to rival.
It is hoped that this drifting has
reached its apex. Unless it has. and
there still remains a possibility Of its
continuance, the effect cannot he fore
! told The great wave of manufactures
for war purposes has ceased, and with
it the number of those employed In
factories is diminishing by thousands
daily. 1t is therefore hoped that there
will again he heard the slogan, "FOr-
ward to the Land" If prices to which
! farm land has reached are prices pro-
hihitive to many, the opportunity is
| eft oil C+o
| possessing large areas of good land
that may still be had at prices within
the reach of many. and it IS doubtless
true that in Self-preServatiOn it will
he 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
poet. 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
I young woman from pining for urban
life with so many drawbacks. If con-
ditons as above mentioned. showing
such large percentage Of population
in the cities and towns, continues they
will require food. The opportunity to
supply II is hy{tbe means. tSlggested.