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Show EDITORIAL: The Exodus From Utah CONCERN has been show of late over the migration of Utah born people to other states, and leaders are crying that something some-thing must be done to stop, what a few short years ago took on the appearance of an exodus. No survey has been made since 1940 to determine what percentage percen-tage of Utahns leave the state for greener pastures, but if trends since the close of the war follow those of the period, 1935 to 1940, then there is ample reason for serious concern. A recent bulletin from the Utah State Agricultural college, written b Joseph A. Geddes, and titled, "Migration, A Problem of Youth In Utah," discloses that during the five years, 1935 to 1940, 30,826 persons migrated to Utah while 43,218 people left the state. This represents a net loss to Utah of 12,392 persons. Although we can assume and argue that the war years boosted Utah's population, particularly in the urban centers, we can by the same token, be certain that now Utah's war Wbom is over manyi of those employed in defense work will return to their former homes. Hence, the state stands about where it did seven years ago. IN 1940 there were 606,717 native born Utahns residing in the United States. Of this number, num-ber, 433,478 lived in Utah, while 173,239 resided in other states. The number of Utah born people Increased in every state between 1935 and 1940 except Vermont, Iowa, South Dakota and Oklahoma. Okla-homa. And this in spite of the fact that Utahns, according to Mr. Geddes, are reluctant to leave their home state. Where did these Utahns go? Well, California claimed most of them, then Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Ore-gon, Washington, Wyoming, Colorado, Col-orado, Arizona, Montana, Illinois, and New York, in this order. But each of the remaining states Became Be-came the home of some Utah people. Why do Utahns in such proportions pro-portions take up their abodes in other states? It's no secret; fundamentally fun-damentally Utah is a state of small communities where few opportunities exist, outside of agriculture. Further, the Geddes report declares, "More Utah people proportionately go into the professions, proprietorships, clerical work and the crafts than i in the nation as a whole. Fewer go into operative work, service work, farm labor and other labor." SINCE Utah out-migrants are predominantly young people, the opportunities to enter and become successful in their chosen chos-en field of endeavor must be pro vided if the exodus from Utah is to be stopped. We are not in accord ac-cord with Mr. Geddes, who contends con-tends that little expansion in agriculture ag-riculture is expected. True, before be-fore the war years Utah's farms i and farming methods were not comparable to those of several other states. But Utah's agriculture agricul-ture has taken on new life, and with this new life will come increased in-creased opportunities in the field of scientific agricultural methods. meth-ods. Improved agriculture will bring greater wealth, increased and stable populations which in turn will invite Utah's now migrating mi-grating youth to follow a trade, a craft, or a profession in their home state. Utah can do much to decrease the number of its people who yearly leave the state. It can push the development of its own natural resources it can turn its attention to small businesses, for after all Utah is a state of small firms, and it can make living conditions in Utah so inviting that the would - be - migrant, couldn't possibly find a greener pasture. |