Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 305, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 December 1914 — A Suggestion for the Betterment of the Community. [ARTICLE]

A Suggestion for the Betterment of the Community.

Just what we would do should we awake some fine morning to find that we had become the editor of The Republican, could prob--afoly be told in a short story. Yet we have some suggestions tor the present editor. It miight be well to consider that Rensselaer is built upon the farming community .that surrounds it. Should its Harvest fail, grass would grow in the streets and owls hoot from its abandoned homes. Farmers have most to spend when crops and prices are good and expenses are not too high. In the course of exchange much of this finds its way to -Rensselaer. Merchants deserve a reasonable return for their labor, good judgment, and business ability in performing their part of middlemen between factory and farm. There is no deed for more dry goods, drugs, Hardware or jewelry stores, enough harness, barber and blacksmith shops, no need for more banks, bakeries, elevators, garages, newspapers, tailors or cobblers. There may be improvements in the way these things are operated; there certainly is no need for more of them, and the reason is this: the surplus returns from the farms tributary to Rensselaer are not sufficient to afford more. The foundation will have to foe strengthened before the building is ifiade higher. But if some method be put in practice that will increase the returns from the farms, may we not conclude that more money will find its way to Rensselaer and business stimulated It’s not at all necessary to double the farm returns to double the profit; for instance, 50 bushel corn gives twice the returns that 35 dogs and 20 bushel wheat twice that of 16. This is not only possible but com*, paratively easy to accomplish. From the very nature of things newspapers are strong factors in moulding, and directing public opinion. How this can be done to the best advantage of all concerned (under conditions such as we have where the revenue for the town must come from the farms) without someone on the staff thoroughly posted on up to date farm methods is more than we can understand. Here is the tpiace tor the county adviser to earn a part of his salary. One of the most needed things the adviser could do would foe to organize a country club, if only a few members could be secured from each township it would foe a good start. A lecture course should be provided and an able speaker secured for, say, every three months; this would stimulate a better farm practice. There would be matters where the commercial chub and the country club could co-operate to mutual advantage. This would afford a basis for a more intimate relation between country and city folk. Along these lines we would suggest that the editor initiate the propaganda tor a greater Rensselaer— Vincent Beitramo.