The Holbrook news., 1921-02-18
NATION IN DANGER
Farm Abandonment Has Created
 Most Serious Situation.
Food Supply Threatened Through the Drift of the Population to the cities-No~ 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 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 and towns, each with more than 2,500 inhabitants, contain 54,31S,032 persons, or 51.4 per cent of the total population. while the farms and smaller towns together claim only 51 .399. .739 persons, or 48.6 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 a top-heavy condition of the industrial life"
 Farming Is and must remain the basic industry of the world. and cer- tainly should remain the basic indus try of a nation with a continental area like ours. It is small profit to gain the markets of the world with manufactured goods if agriculture has decayed so badly as to furnish an un- certain subsistence for our people, and fuctuating crops are reflected in price changes that upset the economic life of the country. Yet we are within measurable distance of that condition, sl,.ff T the cities continues.
 Most writers on this topic take 1t for granted that young folks go 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 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. It Is therefore hoped that there 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 1t will be necessary to bring these lands un- 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- ducted 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 pining for urban life with so many drawbacks. If con- ditions as above mentioned. showing such a 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.r and become a 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