Evening star., 1937-06-20
By Louis Seldine.
n HEY were holding very spe-

HEY were holding q very spe-
cial revival meeting in the
little Virginia church. Sud-
a denly, somewhere out of sight,
some one threw a switch and the
church was flooded with light. The
congregation burst joyously into
Brighten the Corner Where You
Are and thus was inaugurated at
Carmel Church the installation of
electricity in rural community that
heretofore had listened to services by
oil lamps, and at home had drawn its
water by hand, trimmed lampwicks,
washed in hand basins, kept provi-
sions in the spring house." and
otherwise lived for generations with
out the blessings of electric power.
This rural community near Bowl
ing Green Is one OF the most recent
to be served with electricity under
the Federal agency Of the Rural
Identification Administration, and
thus takes its place among the bene-
f1ciaries Of the Governments program
to modernize farmers homes and
equip their farms with labor saving
devices and conveniences adding i'm
measureably to comfort and happi-
Mesa purpose toward the achieve
ment Of which so million dollars have
been allocated in the past two years.
Since July marks the close of the
second fiscal year of operations of the
R. E. A.. 1t is interesting to review
some of the changes its activities have
wrought in the lives of that vast army
who live by the cultivation Of the
earth and sale of its products. Estab-
lished on May II, 1895, the r. e. A.
has increased rural electrification ac-
tivity from state Of virtual stagnation
to the highest recorded peak in our
national history. Lines now in con-
struction or approaching construction,
with Federal funds, are designed to
serve 100000 new customers. In the
past two years more than 800 projects,
totaling some sixty million dollars
have been approved. The major por-
tion Of this sum of money has been
used for building power lines, while
a small percentage has gone toward
construction of generating plants and
for financing wiring and plumbing in
stallations. The administration will
also expand its program shortly to
include loans for electric appliances
with the rapid educating of rural in
habitants with respect to the saving
of time, labor and money by their
general use
THE r. E. A., as a matter Of fact,
has literally revolutionized farm
life. All the comforts of the city are
now available. within = price he can
AFFORD, to the dweller in small towns
and villages throughout the length
and breadth Of the land.
Commenting upon this tremendous
change, the East st. Louis Journal Of
Illinois states editorially: For the
farm family where an electric high
line has been constructed the change
is sensational almost beyond descrip-
ton. Home Improvements follow elec-
tricity and are dependent upon 1t,
Thousands Of women, who have car
ried pals Of water into their houses
from outside pumps, are being re-
lieved of that task, which destroys
their bodies and youth. The eternal
tasks of laundering, sweeping and
cookery are lightened. New comforts
come. in the form Of electric refrig-
GRAFTON, fans to make Summer days
tolerable and heating pads to ease
the chill Of Winter. First and most
elementary Of all. bright lights mean
longer days. better opportunity for
reading and An advanced civilization.
BY and large, rural electrtdcation u
phase Of such TREMENDOUS social