46 COMMISSION ON COUNTRY LIFE 



permanent effort in investigation and actual work 

 along the lines I have indicated. You will doubtless 

 also find it necessary to suggest means for bringing 

 about the redirection or better adaptation of rural 

 schools to the training of children for life on the farm. 

 The national and state agricultural departments 

 must ultimately join with the various farmers' and 

 agricultural organizations in the effort to secure 

 greater efficiency and attractiveness in country life. 

 In view of the pressing importance of this subject, 

 I should be glad to have you report before the end of 

 next December. For that reason the Commission 

 will doubtless find it impracticable to undertake ex- 

 tensive investigations, but will rather confine itself 

 to a summary of what is already known, a statement 

 of the problem, and the recommendation of measures 

 tending towards its solution. With the single excep- 

 tion of the conservation of our natural resources, 

 which underlies the problem of rural life, there is no 

 other material question of greater importance now 

 before the American people. I shall look forward 

 with the keenest interest to your report. 

 Sincerely yours, 



THEODORE ROOSEVELT. 

 Professor L. H. Bailey, 



New York State College of Agriculture, 

 Ithaca, N. Y. 



Subsequently, Charles S. Barrett of Georgia, 

 and William A. Beard of California were added 

 to the Commission. 



