Western Illinois University

A Foundation for Sustainable Rural Community Development

Prominent Deficiencies

From The Report of the Country Life Commission (text) (p. 14-15):

  • Lack of knowledge on the part of farmers of the exact agricultural conditions and possibilities of their regions (p. 14).
  • Lack of good training for country life in schools (p. 14).
  • The disadvantage or handicap of the farmer in contrast to the established business systems and interests, depriving him of the benefits that would result from unmonopolized rivers and the conservation of forests, and depriving the community in many cases of the good that would come from the use of great tracts of agricultural land that are now held for speculative purposes (p. 14-15).
  • Lack of good highways (p. 15).
  • The widespread continuing depletion of soils, with the injurious effect on rural life (p. 15).
  • A need of new and active leadership (p. 15).