192 CHAPTERS IN RURAL PROGRESS 



defunct, but has been growing at a very rapid 

 pace during the last few years and has a large 

 influence especially in the East and Middle 

 West. It has practically no existence in the 

 far West and in the South. It has a national 

 organization, however, representing some twenty- 

 six states. Its influence in Congress is said to 

 be marked. The local Granges are doing a very 

 large work, socially, educationally, and some- 

 times financially. The Grange seems to under- 

 stand itself now. Its ideals have been worked 

 out pretty carefully, and its future growth is 

 quite certain. 



We have suggested that the significant rural 

 social movements of the past few years have 

 been the improvement of rural communication, 

 the wonderful development of agricultural edu- 

 cation, and the fairly satisfactory development 

 of organization among farmers. It seems also 

 apparent that there is a fourth line of develop- 

 ment that might be mentioned as being signifi- 

 cant, and it may be expressed in a somewhat 

 general statement that the interest in agricultural 

 questions has increased in a very marked way. 

 There is undoubtedly a new emphasis upon 

 country life generally. The people of the cities 

 have been going to the country more than ever 



