The news in this publi
cation is released for the
press on receipt.
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA
NEWS LETTER
Published Weekly by the
University of North Caro
lina for the University Ex
tension Division.
JANUARY 25, 1928
CHAPEL HILL, N. C.
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA PRESS
VOL. XIV, No. 11
Editorinl Boardi £
C. Branaon. S. H. Hobbo, Jr.. P. W. Wager, L. R. Wilson. E. W. Knight, D. D. Carroll. H. W. Odum.
Entered as eecond-clasa matter November 14. 1914, at the Postoffice at Chapel Hill. N. C., under the act of August 24, 1912.
DIRECTED FARM COLONIES
the United States Department of Agri-1
, . . , culture. Familiarity and close contact!
The Bureau of Reclamation o e ■ movement since its inception i
Interior Department (the Hoir.e-Mak- ; convinced me that it was your
ing Department of ““r Government) ; developing six com-
bas proposed a very definite and prac-1 every
tical plan for assisting southern agri- , community life could be de-
culture, After a somewhat exhaustive as community cream-
eries, community abattoirs, community
agri- :
After a somewhat exhaustive!
study of certain tracts of land in North
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia,
Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and
Tennessee, by a commission appointed
by the Secretary of the Interior, this
commission recommended that these
tracts be further studied to ascertain
the nature of engineering work to be
done on such selected tracts to formu
late detailed plans and programs for
the contemplated reclamation settle-
.ments and prepare estimates of costs
of launching and guiding such settle
ments.
They recommended further that the
plans for the creation of an organized
farming community of at least 100
farms in each of the states mentioned
should »,-.elude the following features;
Expert and experienced planning and
superviaiou;
Provision of money to be advanced
to settiecii to help complete improve
ment aad equipment of farms;
Centralized responsibility and con
trol in launching and guiding the un
dertaking:
Cooperation among the private, lo
cal, State, and Federal government
agencies having related functions.
Of National Benefit
While present plans embrace only
southern reclamation or rural home-mak
ing the movement is really national
in its scope as the prosperity of south
ern agriculture is vital to the nation.
The industrial East and the agricultur
al West suffer alike from decreased
^. buying power in the South. j
The writer bfelieves that many of
those who are expressing opposition ^to
this movement, which should result in
benefits to all, ate'doing so because of
a lack of knowledge of just what is
proposed. Without entering into a dis
cussion of the matter at this time, we
feel that the response of Dr. W. W.
Long. Director of Agricultural Exten
sion Service, South Carolina, to the ad
dress of welcome delivered by Secre
tary Work of the Interior Department
at the Southern Reclamation Confer
ence ihetd in Washington, December
14tb ana I5th, 1927, should be of inter
est to all concerned:
“There are occasions when to reply
to an address of welcome is of little
interest. There are other occasions
when to reply to an address of welcome
is a great pleasure and privilege. Such
is this occasion, Mr. Secretary. First,
because it gives me the opportunity as
an humble representative of the South,
a part of our common country, to ex
press our appreciation of your interest
in our agricultural development. We
are not unmindful, Sir, that you are
the first Secretary of the Interior to
advocate that the reclamation policy of
the country should be national rather
than sectional. The intelligent solution
of reclamation in the South, briefly
speaking, is in part, taking water off
the lands, while in parts of the west it
is placing water on the lands. There
fore, the welfare of the country is
closely identified with the constructive
solution of this question, it was the
statesmanship of yourself and your able
Uommissioner. Dr. Elwood Mead, for
whom the South entertains warm af
fection, that envisioned the interde
pendence of engineering, agriculture,
, and the Human factor.
Criticism Ill-Founded
‘ ‘The statesmanship that takes origin
al lines frequently brings upon itself
criticism growing out of ignorance and
misunderstanding- You, Sir, and your
honored Commissioner have suffered
this fate. The criticism of this move
ment you have originated in the South
is that it is a movement to settle the
cut-over and swampy lands and thereby
increase the farming population of the
country. This criticism was emphasized
in a resolution recently passed (with
out naming you or your department)
by that distinguished body of scien
tists and educators of the agricultural
colleges at their meeting in Chicago.
Likewise, this idea prevails among
many of the agricultural workers of
hatcheries, community cotton gins, com
munity seed improvement, community
schools, community libraries, and such
other community activities as will best
serve the people.
“Fortunately for the South, twenty-
five or more years ago Dr. Sea
man A. Knapp came from the
West with a great vision to aid
southern agriculture. His idea was
to touch the individual farmer on his
farm by practical demonstrations, bet
ter cultural methods, the use of better
seed; soil improvement, more and bet
ter livestock, and likewise to teach
through demonstration methods the
rural boy and the farm woman in her
home. Criticism came to him from the
same sources as are visiting it upon you,
Mr. Secretary, and your able Commis
sioner. Fortunately Dr. Knapp lived
to see his critics shamed and the entire
South rise up and call him blessed.
And now you come from the West,
Sir, with a vision to demonstrate or
ganized community life. If the people
are given the opportunity to catch your
vision, demonstrated through your six
community developments, your critics
will be shamed and you, too, will be
hailed as one of the South’s great
benefactors.
Organized Communities
“We are told on all sides how neces
sary it is for the farmers to organize,
how our surpluses and other factors
pertaining to the welfare of the farm
er can be controlled through organiza
tion; but I have yet to see one line that
suggests the character of organization
that the farmer should perfect other
than cooperative marketing, which is
simply one phase of organized agri
culture—an important one, I admit.
What is the "unit of this proposed or
ganization? If it is the,state, it is
doomed to failure; if it is the county,
success is doubtful; but, if it is the com
munity, its success is assured. This
Sir, as I understand it, is your concep
tion of the first step in an organized
agriculture.
‘ ‘Then follows a federation of the com
munities in each county;likewise in the
state. With such an organization in
each state reaching down to the indi
vidual community, there would be little
difficulty on the part of our legislators
and agricultural leaders to understand
readily the needs of the rural class.
With good roads prevailing throughout
the country, with rapid and better trans
portation because of the automobile,
the farmer could reach his community
center as readily as the business man
can reach his chamber of commerce,, or
the laborer his union.
Demonstrations Needed
“It is claimed that this is a stupendous
task. I grant it. To organize the
farmer by communities is a stupendous'
task, but the foundation is already laid
in the South. Many communities are
groping in the dark, but these demon
strations would be the beacon light to
definitely point the way. It must be
remembered that farmers show their
greatest interest in organizations in
which they play a personal part and
are constantly ^oming in contact with
the beneficial euects of their organiza
tions. An organized agricultural com
munity is a little world somewhat to
itself, but with every man, woman and
child cooperating not only in producing
the best possible from the individual
farm for living at home but contribut
ing in like manner to the nonproducer
of food while living under the best
rural conditions with modern facilities
for comfortable living. The standard
of what we call today civilization is a
city standard and only through or
ganized rural communities can we
break down the differentiation between
ISSUES OF FARM LIFE
For ten years Dr. Kenyon L.
Butterfield has delivered the i^resi-
dential address before the Ameri
can Country Life Association.
This year his theme was “The Is
sues of Farm Life.” He presented
three issues: (1) How can we retain
a body of farmers economically ef
ficient and free, who can compete
with industry and commerce for
capital, labor and income? (2) How
can we maintain the quality of the
people on the land, in view of the
enormous and alluring urban re
sources for education and ^social
development? (3) How can charac
ter-building be advanced in a world
dominated largely by economic ac
tivity? He believes that the latter
issue applies to urban as well as
rural life.
Among the suggestions made by
Dr. Butterfield were these: that the
urban population must help to pay
for rural education, that agriculture
must be treated by the government
and industrial leaders as “a most
favored industry,” that farmers
must organize more efficiently for
their own protection, and that re
lations between urban and rural
populations must be given increas
ing attention by those who are con
cerned about the nation’s welfare.—
Fei^pral Council Bulletin.
intelligent, ambitious rural boys and
girls in the country districts.
“We need a positive, direct and in
telligent leadership that deals with
specific and definite details and not in
glittering generalities. What we want
to know is bow, and you have
furnished the answer. ”—G. A. Card-
well.
THEATRE ADMISSIONS
One of our current federal taxes is a
tax of ten percent on theatre and con
cert admissions in excess of fifty cents.
During the last'fiscal year the govern
ment collected $17,068,036 from this
source. The amount of revenue raised
from this source is relatively insignifi
cant, but a study of the treasury report is
interesting for the light it sheds on the
habits of the people. It is interesting to
know, for instance, that out of an esti
mated expenditure of $960,000,000 for
theatres and movies only $170,000,000
was paid for tickets that cost more
than fifty cents. This indicates the
extent to which the movies have en
croached upon the legitimate stage. This
is nothing to be deplored. The movie has
brought dramatic art-within the reach
of the humblest wage-earner, and
through the medium of the screen un
lettered people may become acquainted ■
'with the great characters of literature.
The motion picture is perhaps the most
powerful influence in America today—
partly good, partly bad. Whatever its
influence, it is at least a democratic
institution, furnishing rest and enter
tainment to millions of -people every
day in every walk of life. Neverthe
less, it is undoubtedly robbing music
and drama of some of the patronage to
which they are entitled. An annual
expenditure of $1.43 per capita for the
support of all high-priced entertain-
mentj anything costing over fifty cents
being considered high-priced, is indeed
a meagre showing.
Rural Entertainment
A study of the treasury report is inter
esting, too, for the light it throws on the
location of these theatres and concert
halls. The table which appears else
where in this issue ranks the states
according to per capita expenditures
for admissions subject to the federal
I tax, that is admissions in excess of
fifty cents. It does not include admis
sions to athletic contests, cabarets, and
social clubs.
the country home and the city home, ] New York, quite naturally leads the
between the country woman and the states in volume of theatre admissions,
city woman, between the country boy In fact, its receipts amount to three^
and girl and the city boy and girl. | eights of the total for the Uni ed
The organized rural community brings States. If these were all paid by the
much of the total is paid by people
■ from other states while visiting in New
York City. Most of the other high-
ranking states are states with large
urban populations or states' which
enjoy a large tourist trade. Nevada’s
rank in second place is surprising.
Nevada has, however, a large amount
of wealth per capita and its wealth is
widely distributed. Apparently the
people are liberal supporters of the
higher-priced entertainment. Only
seven states exceed the United States
average of $1.43 per capita.
The rural states show relatively
small expenditures for theatre admis
sions. The people do not have the op
portunity to attend good shows even
if they have the inclination. Some
rural states make a far better showing
than others, however. Oregon, Utah,
Washington, Colorado, and Wyoming
are sparsely inhabited, yet rank relative
ly bigb in theatre support. The Middle
West does not do so well. Of course
it has few cities and its farms are
widely scattered. All the Southern
states except Florida and Louisiana
rank low. The explanation is found
partly in the presence of the Negroes,
partly in high rural ratios and bigb
tenancy ratios,, and partly in the cul
tural level of the people.
N. C. at the Bottom
More surprising than the generally
low rank of the South is the unenviable
position of North Carolina at the foot i
of the list. North Carolinians are
paying on the average nine cents a
year for shows and entertainments
other than movies. Of course, we can
offer many excuses, su.ch as lack of cit
ies, high negro and tenancy ratios, and
lack of theatres and auditoriums. But
why should North Carolina rank below
any other Southern state? Is it con
tent to remain so?
In these days of automobiles and good
roads there is no reason why every
county seat cannot support a few high-
class theatrical and musical productions
each year. Every county seat ought
to have a good auditorium and stage.
Most of the new rural high schools
have auditoriums and should put on a
series of first-class entertainments
each season. The fact that North
Carolinians are largely farmers is no
reason why their entertainment should
be limited to movies, circuses and
carnivals. To assume that they have
no taste for high-quality productions is
ungenerous, and were it true there is
the more reason why they should be
given a chance to develop a taste. It
may be that North Carolina’s artistic
appreciation is on a par with its read
ing habits, but both can be greatly
elevated, and must be if we hope to be
accepted as a cultured state.
It would be unfair to imply that
North Carolina is making no progress
in this direction. Several first-class
theatres have been built in the state
within the last two years. Some of
them are in comparatively small towns,
as in the cases of Elizabeth City and
Lumberton. But more encouraging
than the appearance of comfortable
and attractive show houses is the de
veloping interest in high-class produc
tions. Witness the excellent glee clubs,
the inter-collegiate dramatic contests,
the North Carolina Playmakers, and an
increasing interest in and support of
community bands, choral societies, and
dramatic organizations. May their
number increase. A high state of
culture is reached only when people
have learned to play together as well
as to work together.-Paul W. Wager.
UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES
The number of-volumes in each of
the leading university libraries of the
country in 1926 is indicated below:
Harvard 2,622,400
Yale 1,838,099
Columbia 1,192,343
Cornell 787,127
Chicago 768,669
Illinois 708,860
California 666,680
Michigan 649,912
Pennsylvania 636,070
Princeton 694,195
Minnesota 501,607
Stanford 420,616
Texas 388,016
Wisconsin 369,067
Brown 361,202
Ohio 306,906
Johns Hopkins 293,067
Oberlin 286,417
Northwestern 280,426
Washington (St. Louis) 277,886
Iowa 266,132
Missouri 240,784
Dartmouth 236,000
Nebraska 209,048
Kansas 191,907
Indiana 188,199
Colorado 182,666
North Carolina 180,032
Washington (Seattle)... 174,668
Oregon 167,336
Rochester 163,700
Vassar 160,800
Smith 146,866
Virginia 1^9»99?
Wellesley..
119,913
Bryn Mawr 116,492
North Dakota 91,313
Including the libraries of Bar
nard and Teachers’ College.
15. Not including John Carter
Brown Library. . ,
22. Including Missouri Botanical
Gardens Library. ,
29. Not including 48,883 volumes m
law library. ^ .
31. Includes 18,760 medical sets in
use but not accessioned.
THEATRE ADMISSIONS IN THE UNITED STATES
States RanKed According to Expenditures per Capita
In the following table the states are ranked according to per capita expendi
tures for theatre admissions in 1926-27, The gross figures are obtained by
multiplying the amount paid in federal taxes by ten, the tax being ten
of the admission price. The tax applies only to admissions in excess of fifty
cents, hence movie patrons are not often subject to it.
During the last fiscal year the federal government collected $17,068,036
from this source. This indicates that admissions paid amounted tq approximate
ly $170,680,360, or $1.43 per capita.
New York paid $64,062,283 in such admissions, or $6.61 per capita. North
Carolina paid $262,806, or $.09 per capita, and thus has the unenviable distinc
tion of being at the foot of the list.
Department of Rural Social-Economics. University of North Carolina
Paul W. Wager
to the country home the city advan
tages. Nothing leas will keep the
people of New York state they would
average $5.61 per capita. Of course,
Rank
1
2
3
4
6
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
16
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
Theatre
State admissions
per capita
New York. $6.61
Nevada 4.62
Maryland 3-24
California 2.92
Illinois 2.69
Massacl^usetts 1-86
Pennsylvania
Florida 1-26
New Jersey 1-28
Missouri
Rhode Island 1-07
Michigan E06
Ohio 1-06
Oregon 86
Connecticut 93
Utah 90
Washington 89
Colorado 84
New Hampshire 80
Kentucky ?6
Wyoming 73
Indiana *71
Minnesota 61
Delaware 66
Theatre
Rank State admissions
per capita
26 Louisiana $ -66
26 Vermont 60
27 Montana '■ -46
28 Wisconsin 46
29 Iowa 38 •
30 Idaho 34
31 Oklahoma... 33
32 Texas 31
83 Arizona 30
34 Maine -28
36 Virginia 27
36 Kansas 26
37 Nebraska 26 '
38 Georgia 24
39 South Dakota 22
40 Tennessee 216
41 North Dakota 214
42 West Virginia .17
43 Mississippi 13
44 Arkansas 11
46 New Mexico .10
46 Alabama 099
47 South Carolina 096
48 North Carolina 091