Show I HOME TOWN BUILDING I Loss of or Population in the Rural Districts Districts Dis Dis- of or the United States Why are the country towns town of the West and Middle West going backward backward backward back back- back back- ward It is a fact known to many people that during the past ten years year towns in Iowa have suffered a decrease decrease decrease de de- de- de crease in jn population The rural districts districts districts dis dis- dis- dis of Illinois Ois Indiana Michigan Missouri Ohio and Kansas have been adversely affected in the same way During the ten years covered by thelast thelast the thelast last official census the larger cities in Utah increased 69 5 per cent while the rural population of the state stat made madea a gain gam of only 18 9 per cent standing the standi Huge irrigation huge e irrigation 1 and ti er development projects fostered during during during dur dur- ing that time This indicates that the young people are growing to dislike dislike dis- dis like ike conditions prevailing in country towns owns and are leaving home hom to find employment in the big cities because of the allurements of city life or the greater advantages which the cities seem to offer to the ambitious youth This is a condition not well calculated calculated to improve the business or moral moral mor mor- al status of the nation The question which is now confronting the American American American Amer Amer- ican people is How can this exodus from rom the country towns to the larger cities be checked What is the cause and who can supply the remedy We must all realize that a healthy industrial industrial industrial indus indus- trial growth is a prime prime necessity for forthe forthe the future welfare of our Home Home Town Tow and all aU other smaller towns throughout through through- out the country Without prosperity and industry we cannot have life progress or morals As far as Ephraim is concerned we i I are convinced that we should shape our policy so as to give our young people a chance to develop a future at home instead of making it necessary necessary necessary sary for them to turn their eyes city city- ward As a beginning to that end the merchants of this town must have havethe havethe havethe the trade of its citizens If they do donot donot donot not get that trade the town will wilt die of dry rot roLe The Enterprise has decided to open its columns to a a. dis discussion of this question of Home Town Building and an article bearing on the subject will hereafter be printed weekly Contributions Contributions Contributions Contri Contri- from our readers ar are invited We believe there is a rem remedy dy which will improve local conditions both as asto asto to financial al betterment and a a. steady he heal thy c rather growth rather than a d decline clin of the kind which we a all l know is much uch in evidence in many s sections of the country In another column is printed the story of Mrs A. A R. R Canfield mayor mayor- ess of Warren Illinois who recently visited Chicago to learn som something thing of the ways of the w world She probably probably probably ably meant the underworld When I go back to Warren paid said she I will do everything in my power pow pow- er to make the thet t town attractive to young girls If only I can keep Warren Warren Warren War War- ren ren girls in Warren I shall be happy I We Wo know of no better way in which Mrs Canfield can immortalize herself and her administration than by devising de- de means mean means to accomplish the purpose purpose purpose pur pur- pose she has in mind The question involved in her experience is one of the most important of the can we keep our young people at home is a a. big problem As previously stated suggestions I from frow our readers are invited Let us I have your views on the subject Communications Communications Com Oom- under uder this head will be he I printed in our next weeks week's issue |