. . . about the author
These reassuring words for Rural America
come from an old friend, C. B. Cunlogson
of Racine. Wisconsin. An agricultural engi
neer and expert in many fields, CB "retired”
recently but did nut mean it for a minute. Hr
is now busily engaged in the greatest project
of all — telling our rural people what a won
derful life is right in front of them — if they
just do things begging to be done.
COUNTRYSIDE
A recent study of conditions in rural areas among
small town and farm people has brought to light
many interesting findings which signify the begin
ning of important changes in the future of Rural
America. Despite the recapitulation of trends and
various opinions expressed in print and on the air
about the widespread migration of people toward
cities, the countryside is not about to wither away
and become a “no-man’s land”. All the enduring
elements are still there and the roots are firmly in
the ground to assure a healthy future and, in due
time, a resurgence of growth. Here are some facts
which may be of interest:
The countryside comprises nearly ninety per cent
of the land area of the country, not counting public
lands. It contains a large and very important seg
ment of America’s total population and economy.
The census places the rural population, people liv
ing on farms and in towns of 2500 or less, at 55,000,
000. Actually we may add to this five or six million
more who live in slightly larger towns but are es
sentually rural.
This adds up to 60,000,000 or close to a third of
the total population, about 25 per cent of which live
on farms.
While the basic economy is farming, these people
are engaged in highly diversified enterprises. This is
the third of the population which not only produces
but also forms the first link in connecting the rest
of the population with the necessities of life. This is
the third which annually produces more primary
wealth than all the rest of the population.
This is the propertied part of the population. In
addition to the 1.12 billion acres of farm land fn
tneir nanas tne per capita ownersmp or nomes and
other property (except in a few areas) is consider
ably higher than for the rest of the country.
These people are different and their environment
is different. They are more independent and less
regimented or group controlled. The percentage of
enterpreneurs, self-employed and owners of busi
nesses is far higher. These conditions and experiences
have made for greater resourcefulness, enterprise
and better work habits than is generally found
among city people. They are closer to the realities
of life and their values are different.
For many years rural people would look to the
city for advancements and advantages. They were
enchanted by big industries, big businesses, big pay
rolls, glamor and adventure. The lure of big pay
and easier work attracted millions. During war and
in prosperous times intensive recruiting campaigns
for factory workers reached almost every rural com
munity. Most of the recruits remained although
some returned when work gave out, rather than join
the ranks of the city unemployed.
Young people from the country who had educa
tion frequently attained much success in the city.
To “make good in the city” became a great challenge
in many communities. While this has been a two
way blessing, it has tended to make country people
look too much in one direction and overlook oppor
tunities at home.
Except for the local weeklies (and farm papers
going to farmers) nearly every type of media reach
ing the country is city oriented and slanted. There
is little in any of the general run of periodicals that
is geared to country people, or identified with their
way of life, opportunities and aspirations. Essentially
these publications are designed to serve the urban
level and interests.
THE TIDE MAY BE TURNING. There are signs
that the tide may be reaching its crest. The process
of change is many sided and it is being shaped by
people—people with desires, needs, values and who
reason and plan for their future. For one thing cities
are becoming less attractive. Many are suffocating
from over-population. Many are facing serious finan
cial problems, unemployment, influx of aliens and
indigents, inefficiency, slums, growing crime and dis
integration of human values. These conditions are
tending to worsen and their solutions grow increas
ingly difficult. The big city complex may be likened
to an old structure that has been repeatedly added
to, shored up and patched up. It has become ineffi
cient, outdated and unsound. Many city people are
living on a thin margin and many are disillusioned.
Country people are becoming increasingly aware of
some of these conditions.
Some years ago industry began to decentralize
because bigness in one place created certain prob
lems which could best be solved by establishing
other units. Behind such moves many factors are
involved such as sources of materials, accessibility
to markets, transportation, over-crowding and other
environmental conditions. Now many industries are
studying how this process may be carried on still
farther. Actually new approaches may be evolved
enabling certain industries to disperse their produc
tion into still smaller units.
In ronpnt vporc onnfbnr mm/omonf rmt nnrlor tiratr
People began to suburbanize and business centers
began to spread into the country. This may be the
beginning of a broader movement which may reach
out still farther. This country has never stood still.
Free people will always continue to seek better liv
ing conditions and new opportunities.
THE COMMUNITY PACKAGE CONCEPT.
There are two new developments which are likely to
halt a long trend and almost certainly will help to
shape a new future for Rural America. A number of
small towns are making a reappraisal of themselves
and what the community has in resources and people
and potential opportunities. This has stimulated local
planning and efforts which in many instances has
brought significant improvement in local attitudes
and economic conditions.
There are many factors which are changing this
attitude and are bringing the farmer and townsman
together in a common purpose. Better roads, of
course, have brought the farm and town closer to
gether. The consolidated school has been an impor
tant influence in many counties, enabling children to
occupy the same class rooms and enjoy the same cul
tural, social and recreational activities. Farmers and
businessmen are joining together in community,
business, recreational, social and church affairs.
The results may be widely noted in the growing
number of new hospitals, clinics, homes for the aged,
parks and public works. At the same time planning
on the economic front has not been over-looked.
Many communities have active committees (or
Chambers of Commerce) made up of local business
men, farmers and professional people carefully sur
veying every likely area for economic development.
This has included processing of farm products and
other locally oriented enterprises or service. Some
manufacturing plants turning out various products
or parts have been successfully established in many
small towns.
These committees have discovered that the coun
tryside has many hidden assets and attractions which
can be developed to make the community better
and provide opportunities for people. They are also
discovering that to succeed a community must have
self-starting and generating forces within itself.
Never before has there been more widespread
interest and endeavor in behalf of rural develop
ment. One noteworthy example is the rural develop
ment program launched a few years ago by the De
partment of Agriculture. Some of the Agricultural
Colleges and the Extension Services have under
taken various studies. These agenices have not only
been helpful but they have shown readiness to co
operate in these local undertakings. The agricul
tural college operates largely on state basis and is
freer from Washington politics than some of the
agricultural agencies.
THE COUNTRY NEWSPAPER. There is much
evidence to show that a g<iod local newspaper is one
of the key factors in the life and progress of any
country community. Without it the community is
somewhat like an individual deficient in speech,
hearing and eye sight. The newspaper is the instru
ment which can help most to keep together and keep
moving ahead the many-sided interests in a country
community. It alone can present the living pulse
ana progress or a community to tne local people ana
the outside world. It records family gatherings,
births, school doings, Sunday sermons, local sports,
field and crop conditions, and the affairs of local
business and industry.
Nowhere else are the character and the prospects
of a community reflected more clearly than in the
columns of the local newspaper. Indeed, if one were
selecting a new location for a business one of the first
things to look into would be the quality of the local
paper.
TIME IS ON THE SIDE OF COUNTRY PEO
PLE. To know much about the country one has to
experience it and sense its qualities, magnitude and
infinite variety. Within its boundaries of oceans, the
Rio Crande and Canada it has nearly 3 million
square miles of land outside cities and their suburbs
and many regions and climates. It has 3 million miles
of highways, 15,000 towns and about one million
different businesses and services. Never have the
opportunities in this vast and varied country been
greater.
The growing population pressure in populous cen
ters will place ever higher premium on the very
things which now are in super abundance in the
countryside: land and congenial living space, prod
ucts of the good earth, beauty of the landscape,
woods, clean water and wild life. It is inevitable
that people of the cities must turn increasingly to
the country for these essential needs of life. No
wonder that people in many rural areas are begin
ning to reappraise these assets and their strategic
position. No wonder that many city people are be
ginning to look and to long for the country.
