Kline 7
how much electricity did farm households want?
REA cooperatives would only be able to repay the loans made by
the federal government if that number increased
efforts to promote increased use of electricity
Power and the Land Part II https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeivMPZa1kE
Entire film: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZchKXFpaDg
Resistance was significant, not just among farmers but even
members of co-op boards
mostly a matter of cost, both for electricity and reluctance
to buy new appliances
electric stove didn't heat the kitchen--farm women liked
combination (electric/wood or coal) stoves better
only dairy farmers used much electrical home equipment
How farmers chose
- what else is needed to use this technology
(eg. piped water)
- has the new device reached some level of
social acceptance
- does the new device do the job as well as the
old way
- cost
- may serve a different pattern
competing interest groups
- REA
- state level groups like land grant colleges, extension
service, farm bureau and other organizations trying to improve
agriculture
- farmers