Evening star., 1928-06-10
DRIFT FROM FARM
TO CITIES SUBSIDIES
Autos, Good Roads, Radio
and Other influences
Check Migration.

The general alarm felt by economists
some years ago over the drift of popu-
lation from the farm to the metropoli-
tan centers seems TO have subsidized. and
the pendulum actually is beginning TO
swing the other way
Citing statistics to bear out this state
ment. H. II. Brooks, general sales direc-
tor in the automotive industry. offered
the suggestion that the automobile has
perhaps been the greatest single factor
In bringing this drift to q stop and re-
storing the equilibrium
Until very recently" said MIR. Brooks,
ut appeared almost inevitable that un-
less the trend was checked the rural
districts eventually would become de-
populated and that these communities
would be absorbed by the great cities.
Some five years ago, according TO
Government figures, the ratio of urban
to rural populations was as So to 90.
In 1925 more than SOC, 900 rural dwell
ers deserted the farms In favor of the
cities and In 1925 the number exceeded
! 100000.
Declares Movement Checked.
Had this progression continued. the
situation might have become alarming,
for the cities depend for their very
existence on the farms. Economists
foresaw not only scarcity of provi-
sionS, with resulting high prices, but
widespread unemployment, low wages
and an industrial slump. due to the
oversupply of labor In the cities, Last
year. however. the movement was
checked. and only 100000 persons trans
fcrred their residence from the farm 10
the metropolis.
There Is every reason TO believe that
the movement will be still further
checked. Isolation is not longer one of
the conditions Of farm life. The motor
car. together with hard-surfaced roads.
has brought the farmer closer 10 the
| market and closer TO the big world In
general. The motor bus carries his
children to the community school. which
has thousand advantages over the old
district school. The latest film releases
at the village cinema house are within
a few minutes drive from the farm.
The farmers wife or daughter, II she
needs BEAUTY treatment. facial or a
| permanent has only to hop into the
/ family bus step on the gas and return
an hour later as II from a Fifth avenue
salon. The farmer today has all the
advantages OF country life. with none
OF the discomforts Of the city.
Cites Other Developments.
Il am not discounting the influence
of the radio, the phonograph and the
electric power companies. which have
done 10 much 10 eliminate the drudgery
Of the farm and TO introduce the cnl-
tural element. And the time is not far
distant when teieyision will link the
most isolated farmhouse with the scenes
of the worlds greatest events.
THE automobile, however, has come
TO be A. much a part Of the farmers
equipment as the piow the harrow or
the churn. While Old Dobbin' had at
the most a radius of 20 miles day. the
motor car has eliminated distance and
made the farm and city one. II has
| broadened the social horizon as we'll,
| and has resulted In the disappearance
| of the 'hayseed' type OF rustic. Local
manncrisrns and dialects have been
submerged, and while some Of the pic-
turesqueness OF farm life has been lost.
cultural advances have been immeakur-
able Az q social force the automobile
has played an important part"