Chief Askew's Diary: June 2, 1930

Census tells tale of great migration from farms to cities

“Fair and pleasant this p.m. Couldn’t ask for any prettier weather,” Chief Askew wrote in his diary. But there were clouds on the horizon for farmers in rural Georgia. As the 1930 Census had just revealed, they were abandoning the grinding labor and uncertain returns of their farms by the thousands for steadier employment and modern conveniences in towns and cities.

The editors of the Newnan Herald and the Greenville Vindicator in adjacent Meriwether County had differing opinions about this trend. Paid subscribers can read on about an interesting debate on the Herald’s editorial page about what the future held.

The cartoon above, which appeared on the front page of the Newnan Herald on May 30, shows a farmer abandoning his bony mules and hand plow and joining buddies who are driving to town. It was accessed via newspapers.com.