386 AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS 



education in this area of investigation was apparently equal to a 

 $6000 bond bearing 5 per cent interest. Younger farmers, how- 

 ever, did not seem to be more highly educated than their elders. 1 



A remarkable series of " Rural Life Surveys," made from 

 the point of view of the church, in Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, 

 Maryland, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, and other states, began 

 to appear in 191 1 and continued through a period of several 

 years. In each state selected several counties were surveyed, 

 generally by townships. The economic conditions, the general 

 character of the population, the social mind (involving communi- 

 cation, community manners, meetings, amusements, families, 

 cooperation, organizations), clubs, education, recreation, morals, 

 religious conditions and activities, social welfare (involving 

 public health, distribution of wealth, community improve- 

 ments), maps and charts, are all included in the wide array 

 of topics taken up by these studies. Photographic illustrations 

 of bad and good conditions appear frequently in the pamphlets. 

 This series of surveys has had a wide influence, especially in 

 focusing attention upon bad rural conditions, and leading 

 people to a program of rural progress. 2 



Some significant township social surveys have been made by 

 various universities and colleges. These cover the range of 

 social, religious, educational, health, and economic conditions 

 in a general way, and mark the beginnings of serious effort to 

 correlate the facts in the whole field of country life. 3 



A few educational studies covering the rural school situation 

 in a state have been published by departments of public instruc- 

 tion, state universities, and colleges of agriculture. 4 



1 C. F. Warren, "An Agricultural Survey," Bulletin 295, Cornell University. 



2 The Department of Church and Country Life of the Presbyterian Board of 

 Home Missions. 



3 Carl W. Thompson, " Social and Economic Survey of a Rural Township in 

 Minnesota." Lewis H. Haney and George S. Wehrwein, "A Social and Economic 

 Survey of Southern Travis County, Texas." Paul S. Pierce, "Social Surveys of 

 Three Rural Townships in Iowa." George H. Von Tungeln, "A Rural Social 

 Survey of Orange Township, Iowa." 



4 E. V. White and E. E. Davis, "A Study of Rural Schools in Texas." C. C. 

 Sargent, "The Rural and Village Schools of Colorado." W. H. Allen, "Rural 

 Schools in Wisconsin." 



