Revort of Missouri Farmers' Week. 353 



interests us most is not a real knowledge of the intricate workings 

 of these methods but some legislation that can be generally put into 

 practice. While legislation is important, organization is positively- 

 fundamental. 



The conditions in this country, since there are no more govern- 

 ment lands, are year by year growing harder, and since lands have 

 doubled in value during the past decade and in productive value 

 have actually gone in the opposite direction, it is all the more im- 

 portant that measures be worked out so that the young man with 

 but small means may more easily become the owner of the land 

 he tills. 



CLOSER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CITY AND COUNTRY. 



(T. N. Witten, President Trenton Commercial Club.) 



There are many great questions before the American people 

 to be solved. I believe there is none that is deserving of more 

 intense thought and of more real value to the government than 

 bettering the conditions of rural life. In order to do this there 

 must be a closer relationship between the citizen in town and the 

 citizen in the country. I believe that in our county we have solved 

 this problem, the solution of which will be a great benefit to all 

 small cities and towns and rural districts. I refer to what is known 

 as the "Trenton Idea." 



The "Trenton Idea" proclaims, in practical terms, the reaching 

 out for wider fields hitherto untouched; results in a closer co- 

 operation of the agricultural and commercial communities, and 

 promotes a permanent union with the interests of all the people in 

 the trade territory commercially, agriculturally, civilly and socially. 

 It obliterates the established legal but imaginary line that surrounds 

 the town and country. It extends the zone of activity from the central 

 point of real town to the circumference of the community at large. 

 It ignores the tendency to confine its efforts within the limits of 

 the city; tends toward the uplifting of the whole community or 

 trade territory contributary to the town ; works to the end that the 

 interests of all the interests of each and gives vent and direction 

 to the urban and suburban citizen, each alike, in uplifting the whole 

 community in every way possible to better the conditions of that 

 community. Many a man has fitted and equipped himself for 

 bigger and better success in his own business by his public activities 

 in the interest of all the community. 



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