The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-01-04
POTERTYN IRELAND

POTERTYIN IRELAND.
1t is well tor US in this region OF cheap
and abundant land to be had for the ask
ing, to remember how difficult it is to
obtain possession ofthe soil in the old
world. Here are some interesting facts
brought to light in q law suit in Ireland.
The peasants around the Galtee Hills, to
the number of 500, about thirty years
ago got permission from the owner of
the hills, one Buckley Of Newcastle-on>
Tyne in England. to occupy the widest
and most desolate ridges, boys and flats,
provided they would reduce thens to
condition fit for human use. After years
of tabor they accomplished this; and
now their rents have been so Increased
as to take nearly the entire yield of their
labor.
The following afi1davits were read by
Mr.. Butt in open court -
flames Nolan swore that his old rent
was EGO: it is now Ell could not pay
the increase. He had not sufficient po-
totoes for his family for
the last seventeen years. Generally the
potatoes grown on his land were unfit
for food. He sold them in Mitchelstown
for hogs food, and bought good pota-
toes with the proceeds for his family.
Edward Dorney swore the old rent
was f2 is, the new rent "a Is; seeing
no chance but the poor house he had
agreed to pay the increased rent. He
lived on Indian meal the greater part of
the year. Three Of his children had to
60 to the hospital. and his wife died
there.
Patrick Slatterly holds 33 acres, the
greater portion of which he has reclaim,
ed since 1882. Old rent Ego It's Cd; new
rent ESQ IS. He did not settle with the
landlord, for he could not pay the in
creased rent.
Terrence Murphy was tenant of Is
acres near the summit of Galtee moun>
tain. When / sow oats, | must reap it
while it is green, as the ear never fills
or ripens. It is only fit for feeding cat
tie. He had been served with a notice
that the rent should be FL instead Of f3.
About nineteen years ago the first rent
was put upon the land. 1t was so bad
before that no rent was ever asked for
it. He and his family reclaimed it from
heath and stones. They would now be
driven out of the farm and ruined.
| Thomas Kcarnev was tenant of eighty
acres on the side Of the mountain which
was reclaimed by himself and his family
carrying manure and lime up the nouns
tain on their backs. The land was miss
erably poor. The former rent was Is
the increased rent ELI. did not settle
with Mr.. Bridge, because the land could
not possibly pay the rent. / swear it
was with the utmost hardships and labor
l was able to pay the old rent and lsup-
port my family on the coarsest food. For
nine months in every year we have to
| live on Indian meal. Neither myself
nor family ever eat meat except at
Christmas or Easter"
i Michael held 81 acres at Egg; increas-
ed rent f37. Patrick kleig 10 acres at
f12, rent now asked Ego. The land was
Doggy, more fit for the home OF snipe or
waterfowl than human beings. Ii the
tenants paid the increased rent, it was
the ejectment process, the poor house or
immigration which compelled them to
do it.
i Patrick Lanergan held bit Of the
j mountain at f3.and asked now to paw
4 IS year, which he did not agree 20,
The snow remained upon his holding
when long melted in the vallv. Three
Of his children had to emigrate TO Quee..
land. He was seven miles from the
nearest town, and there was not q house
above him on the mountain.
Eagles often carried away his lambs
, and his hens. He could not afford to
kill and eat = hen, and seldom he eat
one OF their eggs. He must sell them
. TO pay his rent. When sheep died oil
sickness, or when one was lost and died
} in the snow then he ate mutton. He
} never got q process for debt, and BIZ
! tried to struggle on.
, Dennis Murphy was increased in hi
; rent from t3 7s. Cd. TO rs los. Phillip
! O'Neil increased from 81 to Els. Thorn,
} as Hyland had 40 acres at the rent of f:
Il was 2.2O0 feet above the level OF tns
) sea; it was wild and bleak he must now
, pay Flo year."
It is pity that people who have shown
such wonderful industry and enerp,
should waste their lives among Dogs an,
: mountain wastes, when the broad. ricl
= Drairies of Minnesota lie open to them
= Let the farmers Of Minnesota lhoweve
= remember. that governmental misn,an
{ a9ement will yet bring them Or thei
: children TO condition little better thai
n / <4,>| - fho dwynIlor~ 1cet~ &C., rr.f1~