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Show THE TOWN DOCTOR ) (Tlio Doctor of Towns) i If liicr tlicro was a timci when it l)i:lioovi'(l .small cities and towna to nrf:ian; for a Ijik opportunity, it is J" i K 1 1 1. HOW. 1 : i ; r mi'ii, Iji industry and big town people aro looking to the smaller cities as they have never looked before. be-fore. Yon may call it tread of tlio times If you like, but whatever you call it, it Is one big grand opportunity for those who are wise enough to see it ami do (something to get ready for it. Leading publications everywhere are printing special articles on it and it Is moro and more a subject of conversation con-versation wherever big men get together to-gether publicly or In private conference. confer-ence. In a recent issue of The American Magazine, Henry Ford said: "Is it ellicient for business to pay high land prices and high taxes in congested congest-ed cities where ils workers must pay exorbitant reals? J.-y moving out, business could get lower land prices, lower taxes and J iwer rents and far belter living ionditions for its people. A bulletin recently issued by the American Highway Educational lHireau says: "Dependable all-weather all-weather transportation has already begun to work wonders in the decentralization de-centralization of manufacturing, with the result that more diversified forms : of employment are being brought to the country." This development, like many changes in these whirligig days, has been going on so quietly and steadily as to pass almost un- noticed. It has come to be a common remark among motorists upon entering enter-ing an unfamiliar town to ask, "What do they make here?" It is no longer enough to say that it is an agricultural town or an educational center, for surely they must be making mak-ing some product or another which the world at lar0e uses. "It is often said, and with some degree of truth, the bulletin admits, that the drift of population from farm to city remains unchecked, but the facte are that this drift is stopping short of the larger cities and has begun to build up the towns and villages that lie so close to and form such an integral part of the open country." I The lesson to be learned is that highway transportation is a going business and still greater returns will come from further improvement. It will not he economy to let down in j highway extension programs because our state systems are so well under way. There are the main arteries, which, if widened and they will be hold even greater possibilities as trade channels. GET READY you never know when a scout for a big man or a big business will be among, you. He may be in your town now. He will not come among you with blare of trumpets; trum-pets; his report will not be based on your individual likabl'eness, or good fellowship of the few shining lights, but on your town as it is not as you believe it to be. If you have ever thought about it at all. Big men are not interested in Hick-ville Hick-ville or Hickvilleites. They believe as they have a right to believe, that the automobile and good roads, radio, telephone and free mail delivery should have, by now, taken the Hick out of Hickville. If it hasn't, if such things have not awakened in the minds of towns the possibilities in the new- order of things, then some other town is where they must investigate. in-vestigate. Stand back and look at the picture of your community. Are you ready for big things? Copyright, 1909, A. D. Stone. Reproduction Re-production prohibited in whole or in part. This Town Doctor Article is published pub-lished by this paper in co-operation with the Lions Club. |