Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1921-02-16
NATION IN DANGER
Farm Abandonment Has Created
Most Serious Situation.
Feed Supply Threatened Through the
Drift Of the Population 20 the
cities-No~ Is Great opportu-
nifty 20 Take Up Land.

nifty 20 Take Up Land.
The question. dow Is the COUNTRY
90 be fed II the population continues
20 drift 10 the citiesf" is one that
should create an agitation that will
bring about a reply that viii mean a
solution. The census. recently com
pleted. reveals n situation truly alarm
ing. one that has never been known
IN the United States before. The ur-
ban population Is now greater than
that II the rural districts by about
100000. Cities and towns. each with
more than $500 Inhabitants. contain
54.31S.O32 persons. or 514 per cent OF
the total population. while the farms
and smaller towns together claim only
~ .399. 10 persons, or $50 per cent OF
the total
As Is pointed out by an influential
Chicago daily. "the drift 10 the cities
Is thus proved and. reduced 20 figures,
showing n top-heavy condition OF the
Industrial life"
Farming Is and must remain the
basic industry 81 the world. and GER
tainly should remain the basic indus
try of a nation with a continental
area like ours II Is small profit 70
gain the markets Of the world with
manufactused goods II agriculture has
decnyed 50 badly as 20 furnish an un-
certain subsistence for our people. AMI
fuctuating crops are reflected In price
changes that upset the economic life
Of the country. Yet we are within
measurable distance - that condition.
n the present or recent drift toward
the cities continues.
Most writers on this topic take II
for granted that young folks 20 from
farms 20 cities merely 20 make more
money. Doubtless that is something
~ n motive az all times and was a
very strong one I'm the period imme-
diateiy after the war. when city indus
tries paid wages totally impossible FOR
farmers 20 rival.
II Is hoped that this drifting has
reached its apex. Unless II has. and
there stil remains n possibility OF its
continuance. the effect cannot he fore
told. The great wave ~ manufactures
FOR war purposes has ceased. and with
N the number % those employed IN
factories IS diminishing by thousands
daily. II Is therefore hoped that there
will again be heard the slogan. For
ward 10 the Land" II prices 20 which
farm land has reached are prices pro
hihitive 70 many. the opportunity IL
stIil omen elsewhere. There are states
possessing large areas 90 good land
that may still ie had az prices within
the reach ~ MANY. and II Is doubtless
true that In sclf-preservation Il win
pc necessary "a bring these lands I'M
der cultivation. The prices are not
high, considering their value. Then.
too there are the lands 81 Western
Canada. that hold out an inviting pros-
pert. Reports from there show that
the prosperity ~ the farmers there Is
not mythical. Farming there Is con-
Quoted on scientific principles, and
the climate Is such as appeals The
production amply renays an the ex-
penditure that may be made. The
social conditions are ~ n character
that make farm life n pleasure. and
tends % keep the young man and
young woman from nining for urban
life with 50 many drawbacks. II con-
difions rs above mentioned. showing
such a large percentage Of population
IN the cities and towns. continues. they
viii require food. The opportunity 70
supply II Is by the means suggested.
co forward 90 the farm. become In
dependent. and become factor IN
supplying the worlds needs In cattle.
sheep. grain and such other commo-
dities rs the farm viii produce and
the resident ~ the city requires
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