400 AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS 



national leaders of different denominations are not only alive 

 to the case as a problem of academic importance, but that they 

 are determined, both from motives of national patriotism and 

 from motives of a deeper spirit of Christian concession, coopera- 

 tion, and unity, to work out a solution. 



Health institutions. An inspection of the hospital records 

 in small cities will in certain sections of the United States dis- 

 close a surprisingly large use of hospital facilities by near-by 

 farm families, especially in surgical cases. The hospital, 

 general and maternity, should doubtless be extended into rural 

 territory for common use. 



The country nurse is proving a welcome visitor in rural 

 schools and communities, and bids fair to become the founder 

 of an institution. If the Red Cross Association could be 

 persuaded to take over permanently as its " after the war " 

 field of activity, the rural sections of the United States, and 

 become an agency for rural health and home service, the rural 

 health problem would practically be on the road to solution. 



Governmental institutions. One of the largest rural social 

 problems pertains to the local government of farm population. 

 The forms of government now prevailing in townships, counties, 

 magisterial districts, and parishes, should be inspected and 

 refitted to modern conditions. Reorganization is needed. 

 Very few attempts have been made to take the primitive tools 

 of rural government and replace them with machines for social 

 purposes. A commission in every state appointed to study 

 local government and present amendments would help solve the 

 problem of rural governmental institutions. 



Here is where the farmer should be presented with his chance 

 to have a democracy if he so desires. New England already 

 knows the values of a township democracy of farm and village 

 or farm and city. Perhaps other sections of the United States 

 are ready to amalgamate farmer and townsmen in some form 

 of local municipality. If the farmer, however, shall prefer a 

 municipality made up of farmers alone, even then, contrary 

 to general belief, considerable reorganization will be necessary 

 in order to give him the right population group of farmers for 



