The land of the families which have moved to towns has been turned over to tenants, either whites of a lower status or negroes, the standards of the community have suffered in consequence, and the atmosphere of some of these communities has become depressing.

Such conditions, however, are not peculiar to the South but have been observed in central New York and in New England.

Better roads, the motor car, and improvement in communications have helped to check this cityward movement, and, on the whole, the educational, economic, and social standards of the country districts generally are higher than they were ten years ago.
Generally speaking, the South is a law-abiding section.

This is true even when the negroes are included, and as the prohibitory laws are enforced more strictly, it is becoming increasingly true.

The chain gang which was so common years ago has been discontinued in hundreds of counties, chiefly for lack of convicts, though partly for humanitarian reasons.