Such statistical data as are here presented are but as smoke indicating fire. They do not overstate the urgency of the appeal from the unfortunate over-churched and under-ministered communities of this section. Here gross superstition exercises strong control over the thought and action of a large proportion of the people. Syphilitic and other venereal diseases are common and increasing over whole counties, while in some communities nearly every family is afflicted with inherited or infectious disease. Many cases of incest are known, inbreeding is rife. Imbeciles, feeble-minded, and delinquents are numerous, politics is corrupt, the selling of votes is common, petty crimes abound, the schools have been badly managed and poorly attended. Cases of rape, assault, 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.)