Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1928-01-06
RI1RAL PROSPERITY

RURAL PROSPERITY
In former years the business mel
of cities were often rather indiffer-
ent to the country people and dis
posed sometimes to make fun OF
them. But during recent years they
have discovered that their prosper
ity depends largely on the extent to
which prosperity exists in the neal
by country towns.
What we need in such town as
Milford is to have every home in all
our outlying country prosperous and
happy, so that the people will be
able to contribute to the community
welfare. and to create a market for
the merchandise distributed in Mil
ford.
An abandoned or poorly worked
farm in our territory is damage to
the whole section. 1t means resour-
ces lying partly idle, labor not fully
employed, and a decay Of social
forces.
Several things are necessary for
this rural prosperity. Good roads
are very essential. People dislike to
live in a rural neighborhood where
the roads are poor.
Good schools are also necessity.
Just as soon as a family has chill
dren, it begins to consider educa-
ton as a factor in it's location. If
the schools in the country neigh
borhoods are not good, that family is
likely to go elsewhere.
Business methods on the farms
are vitality necessary: Agriculture is
a scientific business calling for
technical skill. If it is carried on
by knowledge handed down from a
past generation, it is not likely to be
prosperous. The farmers need to |
follow the developments in their
line as closely as a manufacturer
has to follow the changes in his
styles. The business men of a dis
trict need to look after the facilities
that are offered to the farmers so
they can train themselves in mod
ern methods. If such facilities are
not being offered, the business men
should take the initiative to see that
hey are provided.
%o@
IN MANY hundreds of cities and
owns, the town boosters are shout
ng for their respective communities,
md trying to interest people to
move into them and start business
there. Some critical
olks think this boosting is exagger-
ted, and that the towns that are so
xtolled do not come up to the de- (
cription.
But somehow, when a group of en-
husiastic people get to boosting, !
hey do a lot of things that help !
ubstantial progress. When they !
cast that city has advantages,
hey feel it necessary to make good !
n their claim. They spread abroad
feeling Of hope and confidence, J
nd when people have that senti-
lent, they do more business, they !;
improve the community, and the t
hole place rises to a new level of 7
evelopment. c
WE HAVE good boosters for Mil t
'rd among our adult people, and S
Ow we need a lot of enthusiasm =
arted among our young folks for
leir home town. Too many of them f;
re dreaming of going elsewhere "
hen their education is finished,
hen the best thing most of them =
,uld do, is to settle down here q
here there are opportunities ready
T them. a
It would be a fine thing if the u
lsiness men could visit the schools
regular intervals, and talk about IL
e chances for good jobs and bust N
ISIS openings here. The fine fea- te
res of our community life should -
pointed out, so that the young ia
ople will become enthusiastic re
er their home community and its pl
ture. -