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

POVERTY IN 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 of the soil in the old
world. Here are some interesting facts
brought to light in 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 af1davits were read by
Mr.. Butt in open COURT
"James 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 81 Us, the new rent "a 6s; 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 80 acres, the
greater portion of which he has reclaim,
ed since 1852. 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. 1t is only fit for feeding cat
tie He had been served with 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 Kcarney 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 moun-
tain on their backs. The land was mis-.
erably poor. The former rent was Is
the increased rent Ell. / did not settle
with Mr.. Bridge, because the land could
not possibly pay the rent. | swear it
was with the utmost hardshps and labor
| 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"
Michael held "a acres at Egg; increas-
ed rent f37. Patrick Kleig 10 acres at
fl2, rent now asked Ego. The land was
boggy, 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.
Patrick Lanergan held u bit of the
| mountain at f3.and asked now to nav
| IS year. which he did not agree TO-
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 a house
above him on the mountain.
Eagles often carried away his lambs
and his hens. He could not afford to
kill and eat Il hen. and seldom he eat
one OF their eggs. He must sell them
10 pay his rent. When a sheep died of
sickness, or when one was lost and died
IN the snow then he ate mutton He
never got process for debt, and he
tried to struggle on.
Dennis Murphy was increased in his
! rent from t3 Is. cd. TO rs lbs. Phillip
ONeil increased from Fl to fL5. Thom>
! as Hyland had 40 acres at the rent OF Is
1t was 2.200 feet above the level OF the
, sea; it was wild and bleak he must now
pay f1O a year."
1t is a pity that people who have shown
such wonderful industry and energy
should waste their lives among Dogs and
: mountain wastes, when the broad. rich
prairies of Minnesota lie open to them.
. Let the farmers Of Minnesota however
remember. that governmental misnlan-
:gement will yet bring them or their
children to condition little better than
that Of the jewellers Of the Ga,tee Hills