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

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POYERTYIN IRELAND.
It 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 . law suit il 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, bogs and flats,
provided they would reduce them 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 affidavits were road by
Mr.. Butt in open court -
"James Nolan swore that his old rent
was f2O: it is now f27 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
20 to The hospital. and his wife died
there.
Patrick Slatterly holds 33 acres, the
greater portion Of which ho has reclaim,
cd 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. 1t is only fit tor feeding cat
tie. He had been served with q notice
that the rent should be f7 instead Of f3.
AUO0H nAuOUOOA yO0A0 ukO l0C llI6t I0uJ
was put upon the land. It 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 s1ountain 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 f5
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 hardships 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
f12, rent now asked EGO. The land was
boggv, 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
emmigration which compelled them to
do it.
Patrick Lanergan held bit OF the
mountain at f3.and asked now TO nav
1 f3 year. which he did not agree 10
The snow remained upon his holding
when long melted in tho vally. Three
Of his children had to emigrate TO Queea.
land. He was seven miles ftom the
nearest town, and there was not house
above him on the mountain.
Eagles often carried awav his lamb.
and his hens. He could not afford tc
kill and eat y hen, and seldom lie cal
one Of their eggs. He must sell them
TO pay his rent. When sheep died ol
sickness. or when one was lost and died
IN the snow then he ate mutton. He
never got . process for debt, and ht
tried to struggle on.
4 Dennis Murphy was increased in hil
rent from f3 ". Cd. 10 f6 15s- Phillip
| ONeil increased from f7 to Fla. Thom,
! as Hyland had 40 acres at the rent of g:
Il was 1900 feet above the level OF ths
J sea; il was wild and bleak he must now
4 pay f1O > year"
It - > pity that people who have showr
such wonderful industry and enero,
should waste their lives among boos ans
. mountain wastes, whom the broad. rel
Drairies Of Minnesota lie open % them
. Let The farmers 0f Minnesota hOwtvel
! remember. that governmental misnt.u
I a9oment will yet bring them 81 thei
cEildfen 70 condition iittle better ~
! that Of the dwellers Of the Galtee Hills