t, and robbery are
of almost weekly occurrence within five minutes' walk of the corporation
limits of one of the county seats, while in another county political
control is held by a self-confessed criminal. Alcoholic intemperence is
excessive. Gross immorality and its evil results are by no means confined
to the hill districts, but are extreme also in the towns.

Adams County was made notorious because in the 1910 election nearly 2,000
persons were disenfranchised for selling their votes, and there is
convincing evidence that it does not stand alone. Of course there are many
communities in this region where conditions are better, such as the area
immediately affected by the admirable and effective work of Rio Grande
College. But there is just as little question that the general deplorable
condition of the Eighteen Counties, ascertained through the personal
investigations of Mr. Gill, and confirmed by wide correspondence and the
statistical data here summarized, is true.

The bad economic, as distinguished from the moral, conditions in the
Eighteen Counties are largely due to sterility of soil, and to the fact
that many of its hillsides are too steep for profitable cultivation. It is
often contended that economic conditions affect religion and morals, and
there is much truth in that contention. But it cannot be held that steep
hillsides and sterile soil of themselves produce conditions such as are
here described. Merely to state such a proposition is to refute it. Moral
and religious poverty must bear at least as much of the blame as poverty
of the soil. (See Maps 8, 9, and 10, and Table A, columns 8 and 9.)

The total value of farm property falls below 15 million dollars in but 21
of the 88 counties of Ohio. Of the 21, all but 6 are among the Eighteen
Counties. (See Map 8, and Table A, column 8.) In Adams, Athens, and Monroe
Counties, the value of farm property is only 10 million dollars each; in
Morgan 9, in Meigs and Scioto 8, in Gallia 7, in Hocking and Pike 6, in
Jackson and Lawrence 5, and in Vinton only 4.

According to the United States Census the value of farm property in Ohio
increased nearly 60 per cent from 1900 to 1910. There were only ten
counties in the State in which farm property had not increased more than
25 per cent during that period. Eight of these are among the Eighteen
Counties. (See Map 9, and Table A, column 9.)

According to the Census of 1910, there were only 13 counties in Ohio whose
land