38 COMMISSION ON COUNTRY LIFE 



These deficiencies are recognized by the people. 

 We have found, not only by the testimony of the 

 farmers themselves, but of all persons in touch 

 with farm life, more or less serious agricultural 

 unrest in every part of the United States, even 

 in the most prosperous regions. There is a wide- 

 spread tendency for farmers to move to town. 

 It is not advisable, of course, that all country 

 persons remain in the country; but this general 

 desire to move is evidence that the open country 

 is not satisfying as a permanent abode. This 

 tendency is not peculiar to any region. In diffi- 

 cult farming regions, and where the competition 

 with other farming sections is most severe, the 

 young people may go to town to better their con- 

 dition. In the best regions, the older people re- 

 tire to town because it is socially more attractive, 

 and they see a prospect of living in comparative 

 ease and comfort on the rental of their lands. 

 Nearly everywhere there is a townward move- 

 ment for the purpose of securing school advan- 

 tages for the children. All this tends to sterilize 

 the open country and to lower its social status. 

 Often the farm is let to tenants. The farmer is 

 likely to lose active interest in life when he re- 



