The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1935-08-02

community health problems are greatly
increased.
We were an agricultural country
during Colonial times. Almost every
one got his living from the land, and
practically the only industry was home
industry. The only power, outside Of
the muscle power of man and beast,
was the power of few water wheels
In the streams along the New England
coast. 1t was at these sites that our
first industrial towns and cities grew.
Then came steam power, and since
steam power could not be transported
easily, the workers flocked to where
the boilers were. And then came cleo
tricity. Electricity can economically be
transported long distances, and hence
the development of industries using
electrical power, could be spread over
a wide geographical area.
This led naturally to the rediscovery
of small towns as ideal factory sites.
But whether in city or small town the
industrial worker did not till the soil.
During the last 40 years the popula-
ton of the United States has almost
doubled. For every 100 persons living
in the United States in 1890, there were
1876 in 1880. But for every 100 farmers
in 1890, there were only 124 in 1880.
In other words, there was an actual
decrease in the farm population in
those four decades. On the other hand,
the population of towns of 25,OOO to
100000 inhabitants increased 300 times
as compared to general population in
crease of 200 times. The figures are
still more striking in the larger cities
of half million to a million in popu-
lation. Here the increase has been
700 times what it was in 1890. We
were in 1880 a decidedly more urban
than rural population.
Now, due to the depression, we are
in the midst of a redistribution of pop
ulation. It has been estimated that
more than 100000 persons month are
moving from the cities to the land.
Many city homes have TO LET signs
on them, but it is difficult to find
vacant farm house almost anywhere.
Likewise it is difficult to find vacant
house in small town. heard of one
town the other day of about 1000 pop
ulation. 1t was in the iron mining dis
trict of Upper Michigan. When the
mine shut down 10 years ago because
the ore had run out, half the popula-
ton moved away. But newly mar
ried pair recently could not find a
house of any sort to live in. So many
former residents had come back, or
people from Milwaukee or Chicago,
who had loaded their families into
cars, hunting for cheaper living. had
decided to stay in this town. The new
Corners figure they can raise food, If
they can't do anything else. And this
condition is duplicated all over the
country.
Many Of these people will stay per-
manently in the small towns and on
the farms, although the probability is
that only a small proportion of them
will continue farming as an all time
occupation. The majority are still ma
chine-minded. Great industrialists, such
as Henry Ford, hold that the solution
of manufacturing slack is for the fac
tory to be situated in the country, with
the employees working their home gar
dens on off days to supplement, with
homegrown fruits and vegetables, their
factory income.
Be that as it may, the present fact is
that the rural districts have had wished
upon them an influx of population that
has been trained to city ways. Is the
migration going to be for the health
benefit of every one? We believe 1t is.
1t is better for children to be brought
up surrounded by green grass than by
concrete pavements.
On the other hand, the city-born peo-
pie have been accustomed to better
sanitary health guards than the coun-
try-born people have. They have, for
instance, been accustomed to safe drink
ing water, while In some country COM
munities the well water is not safe.
In the cities typhoid fever has been
practically wiped out. It is in the coun-
try districts that this disease now per-
sists. Medical officials are watching to
see whether there will be any fare-up
of this disease among the back-to-the-
land settlers.
Health authorities generally believe
that this spreading out of formerly con-
gested population will have very good
influence on the public health of this
country. The city people will learn
some valuable health lessons from the
country people, while the country peo-
pie will learn from the city. Many
cities have established infant welfare
stations; 1t may be that the country
districts will now deem it essential to
have these, too. Anyway. one thing is
certain: there will be more children
brought up with the benefits of sun
shine, fresh air. and direct contact