22 THE AGRICULTURAL BLOC 



tematized until the American farm had become 

 a business unit with as high efficiency as had 

 been obtained in manufacture and commerce. 



From time to time, however, foresighted 

 statesmen had observed needs which had not 

 been provided for and special surveys were 

 made to uncover the true situation. When the 

 Country Life Commission was appointed, due 

 to an appreciation by Theodore Roosevelt of the 

 fundamental importance of agriculture and its 

 relation to the national welfare, there were 

 many skeptics who felt that the surveys were 

 unnecessary and even Congress refused for a 

 time to recognize the merit of the conclusions 

 which were developed by this Commission. This- 

 served to give a nation-wide viewpoint to many, 

 however, who had heretofore been living in 

 relatively limited circles.. 



Still later, the rapid growth of agriculture 

 as an industry, demanding a larger volume of 

 invested and working capital, forced attention 

 to be given to the needs of rural credit and a 

 commission was appointed to investigate* 

 systems followed in older countries with a view 

 to developing a financial system which would 

 meet the needs of American farmers. This 

 commission brought about the development of 



