TMs inventory or census should take into ac- 

 count the detailed topography and soil conditions of 

 the localities, the local climate, the whole character of 

 streams and forests, the agricultural products, the 

 cropping systems now in practice, the conditions of 

 highwa^^s, markets, facilities in the way of transpor- 

 tation and communication, the institutions and or- 

 ganizations, the adaptability of the neighborhood to 

 the establishment of handicrafts and local industries, 

 the general economic and social status of the people 

 and the character of the people themselves, natural 

 attractions and disadvantages, historical data, and a 

 collation of community experience. This would re- 

 sult in the collection of local fact, on which we could 

 proceed to build a scientifically and economically 

 sound country life. 



Beginnings have been made in several states in 

 the collection of these geographical facts, mostly in 

 connection with the land-grant colleges. The United 

 States Department of Agriculture is beginning by 

 means of soil surveys, study of farm management and 

 other investigations; and its demonstration work in 

 the Southern states is in part of this character. These 

 agencies are beginning the study of conditions in the 

 localities themselves. It is a kind of extension work. 

 All these agencies are doing good work; but we have 

 not yet as a people come to an appreciation of the 

 fact that we must take accoimt of stock in detail as 

 well as in the large. We are working mostly around 

 the edges of the problem, and feeling of it. The larger 

 part of the responsibility of this work must lie with 

 the different states, for they should develop their in- 

 ternal resources. The whole work should be coordi- 

 nated, however, by federal agencies acting with the 

 states, and some of the larger relations will need to 

 be studied directly by the federal government itself. 

 We must come to a thoroughly nationalized move- 

 ment to understand what property we have and what 



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