Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-12-25
(From Ciu. Tisses.)
California Grange Movement.

OhltAuEMhh UhhubU .AVNoAhoMbe
Our exchanges from the Pacific contain
strange news in reference TO the State
Grange Of California. The Alta Cdliornian
says that an Immigrant Aid Department Of
the order has been established, nm Agent ap-
pointed, and a monthly periodical started,
entitled, "The Grunger's Guide to Homes in
California" 1t is intended for circulation
abroad, mostly in England and Scotland,
with the view Of inducing immigration to
the golden State of the Far West.
We designate this as strange news, for
the reason that the movement seems so for
eign to the objects Of the Patrons of Hus-
bandry. We would sooner have expected
to see them engaged in building railroads,
for the purpose of securing cheap transpor-
tation for their grain and pork and beef.
There would be some consistency in this,
with their policy of keeping middle men"
from making large profits out Of their pro-
ducts. But why should they want to force
a rapid and unhealthful growth of popu-
lation in any country Why are they anx-
ious to multiply homes in California, be-
yond the natural increase OF their families
There are two suppositions, either of
which it will be charitable to give them the
benefit of rather than attribute TO them a
desire Inconsistent with their professions
of hostility 10 speculation.
The speculative theory is thus presented
by contemporary:
California is rotton with land monopoly
and the State Grange is controlled by the
great landholders. The following facts
have been obtained from the records of the
State Board of Equalization for 1873
| To- Nho Gt.to Il,
have 10000 acres and upward, 67 Of whom
own an average of $4,000 acres, or ia
square miles each. There are 15S who owl
between 10000 and 10000 acres each; 23t
whose dominion covers between 5000 and
10000 acres; 104 have between 1000 anC
5000 aores 189 from 5000 to 1000; 36;
between 1000 and 5000 acres each anC
/ 1925 whose little principalities range be
tween 1000 and 1000 acres. The Sacra
/ mento Record says that these figures give al
average holding of 1926 acres to each o
the 2,29S landholdcrs This is IL l.
square miles each, and is more than fou
times the average holding of the landlord
of Great Britain. One-seventh of the arei
of the State (lS8, $3.50 square miles) is he'll
by 2,29S persons. Ohio has but 1896
square miles, and these 2,29S Californi
monopolists own 25,73S square miles
more than five-eights of the whole area O
Ohio. 3a
The population of the State in 1870 wa
56o,247; the amount of land in farms wa
, IL, ,427, los acres; and the average size q
E farms 4S2 acres. This gives 2S,293 farm
: many of which are gardens of from three
, twenty acres. The whole amount of Ian
: in farms il 5000 900 acres less than ii
e amount owned by the 2,29S great monopo
lists! .-3ai-.
: Probably all these monopolists are, or al
rapidly becoming Changers. They q
turning the order into an engine OF Ian
speculation. They want to sell lands th
did not cost them ten cents an acre for fly
4 to ten dollars per acre. For this pu
pose they have organized the Immigrant
: Aid Department for the purpose of not on
coaxing settlers from the older States bl
from Great Britain and Europe.