Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 64, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 November 1916 — A MODEL COMMUNITY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A MODEL COMMUNITY

Down among the mountains of Tennessee, high on tin*-Cumberland table lands, lies the little town of Clifty. It is just a little mining town, peopled by a hardy, industrious set of people, but it is showing to the world how neighbors and friends may “dwell together in unity.” We have said that it is a mining town, but it is more; that the people are harjjLy and industrious, but they are more; they have the true community spirit—they are real NEIGHBORS. This little town has conceived and put into force some community plans that might well be copied by other towns. Of course almost every family in the town owns and cultivates its own garden and “truck” patches, but this is not all. A few years ago the mine superintendent, a man of considerable learning and of a progressive spirit, conceived the plan of having all the citizens of the town own and cultivate a small tract of land in common. t’ive or six acres were first jbpught and cultivated as a •‘community farm.’’ The result was a pronounced success, and each year thereafter the town added to its holdings until this past season it had about 100 acres under cultivation on the “community” plan, and the people announce their intention of branching out etill further. Now there would be nothing out of the common Mn this if the experiment had not developed some gratifying results. ■ f First, they discovered that instead Of fifteen or twenty sets of agricultural implements being needed, only three or # four or each kind were necessary, and of some, only one—| a great saving all mast admit. Each '

stockholder bears his pro rata share of expense and furnishes his pro rata amount of labor. Briefly, the plan has proven such a success that the community now has its own silo, blooded hogs and cattle, and last year their exhibits led all others at their county fair. But these are not all of the results. The close business association necessary in the successful working out of the plans has developed a spirit of community brotherhood that is a pleasure to witness. In this little town is exemplified a typical brotherhood of man. The welfare and comfort of the most humble is as carefully looked after as that of the most wealthy. They have a splendid school, church, Sunday school, and recently a commodious club house has been erected that is proving a power for good to both young men and older ones. We have briefly sketched the results of this community plan of cooperation as showing what a true community spirit will accomplish. Many features of interest have necessarily been omitted from this article from lack of space. But should any other community desire to know more of their workings, a letter addressed to the postmaster will receive prompt and courteous answer and full information will be given of plans that cannot fail to benefit any community.