The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-02-10
RACK TO THE COUNTRY AND
SMALL TOWNS

The population movement from '"e
cities 70 the small towns and the country
districts is one Of the striking developments
of these depression years. The OoOhl
wears sent millions of people from the
riIral sections and villages OF the country
70 the great centers of population. Nhle
the boom lasted and there was abundance
of employment at high wages that was the
life, Came the depression loss OF en-
pIovment, and the serious problems Whlch
have confronted the unemployed for the
mast three or four years. These conditions
started the movement back to the country
districts and the small towns. The Path
finder magazine notes these developments
in the movement:
"About the best proof that our small towns
villages and rural communities are the best places
in which to live is the fact that Americans con-
tinue to flock back to them. Following the World
war our population made its fateful cltyward
movement. For whole decade or more the peo-
pie made desperate effort to embrace the SWIFT
artificial modes of life in our big cities The 1881
census showed that the urban population in this
country was 562 per cent of the total, while the
rural population was credited with 43.8 per cent.
But the great. exodus to the country and small
towns since then has made it almost $3.50 propo-
sition.
ct took only a short period of the four-year de-
pressioa to send many ex-vilagers and many OF
their city cousins back to the wholesome life IN
our villages and rural communities. We say whole
some because no less an authority than the New
,1N,,Ne has IIstn
advantages village life as follows: Quiet, fresh
air; cooler temperature in summer; better condi'
tons for childrens play; the opportunity for flow
ers and garden; cheaper taxes, cheaper living
greater opportunity to own home; and greater
security, especially in the present times
''When we balance this up with the places city
ties live in we can readily understand these advan
tages. City folks live in the grand canyons of biz
buildings They live in a world of billion noises
And when it comes to fresh air they seldom breathe
anything but poison fumes
''This movement back to the land and the vii
lagos continues despite the fact that conditions OF
employment in the big cities have improved vastly
since last March The administration is encourag
ing it and is doing its share by establishing sub
sistence farms and communities where workers may
help support themselves and their families"
In considering this population move
ment away from the large cities, questions
arise as to-the wisdom of the migration to
the land in view of present rural cOndi-
tions and the difficulties farmers are con-
fronting. why send more people to the
land to produce more farm products when
there is oYerprOduction, and SURPRISES OF
farm products constitute one of the chief
difficulties of tillers of the soil? The an
swer to this question is that if those who
return to farming do so to enter into pre-
duction of the country's chief cash crops,
the movement is unwise and will prove a
failure. If they return to the land to choose
way of life, for the purpose of making q
living, they will add but little to farm sur
pluses and the movement of compare
lively large number of people back to the
land will have little effect on this problem
1t is doubtful if industry in this country
will ever again be able to give employ
ment to the numbers so employed in tht
boom years. Machinery and more and i'm
proved machinery makes possible indus
trial production on an increasing scale
which will probably continue to decreas
instead of increasing the numbers employ