1909.] Rural Conditions in the United States. 133 



agriculture during recent years, the cities still tend to attract 

 the best elements in the rural population. 



These problems have been considered by a Commission 

 appointed by President Roosevelt to inquire into the present 

 condition of country life in the United States, and the 

 Report of the Commission has recently been presented to 

 Congress, with a Special Message from the President. The 

 object of the Commission was not to help the farmer to grow 

 better crops, but to consider the means of raising the 

 standard of living, and generally of making the farmer's 

 calling more attractive. In his letter appointing the Com- 

 mission, Mr. Roosevelt observes that: — "There is too much 

 belief among all our people that the prizes of life lie away 

 from the farm. I am therefore anxious to bring before the 

 people of the United States the question of securing better 

 business and better living on the farm, whether by co-opera- 

 tion between farmers for buying, selling, and borrowing ; by 

 promoting social advantages and opportunities in the 

 country ; or by any other legitimate means that will help 

 to make country life more gainful, more attractive, and fuller 

 of opportunities, pleasures, and rewards for the men, women, 

 and children of the farms." 



After considering the Report of the Commission, Mr. 

 Roosevelt states that the three great needs of country life in 

 the United States are : — 



1. Effective co-operation among farmers, to put them on 

 a level with the organised interests with which they do 

 business. 



2. A new kind of schools in the country, which shall 

 teach the children as much outdoors as indoors, so that they 

 will prepare for country life, and not, as at present, mainly 

 for life in town. 



3. Better means of communication, including good roads 

 and a parcels post, which the country people are everywhere 

 unanimous in demanding. 



The recommendations of the Commission cover these and 

 many other points, some of which are of purely local interest, 

 but the Commission indicate three measures for the improve- 

 ment of the rural situation which they regard as funda- 

 mental : — ■ 



