The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-02-07
Our Land.POOr Farmers.

est eStlmatc, OF the farmers OF the
United States are land-poor or, in Duh
er words, possess more land than they
can work with profit. In no other Oc-
cupation do men show such an utter
disregard of sound business principles
as in farming. Amerchant would new
er think of investing his entire capital
in a warehouse for goods, leaving no
means with which to commence bust
ness; neither do manufacturers put all
their money in real estate or in build
ings, reserving none to carry on bust
ness, or purchase machinery and raw
materials for manufacturing. The
farmer alone loads himself down with
the most cumbersome and immovable
kinds of property, and then wonders
why Charming is SO improbable" A
railroad without cars, locomotives and
other accessories, generally known as
"rolling stock" would be very unre-
munerative, although it might be very
costly affair; and a Board Of Directors
who should spend the capital placed in
their hands upon the hypothesis that
only a roadbed was required to insure
profitable return, would be col.sid-
cred little better than SO many idiots.
But a large majority OF the farmers
Of these United States commenced and
still continue their calling with the idea
that the possession of land is all essen
tial, and working capital of little inn
portance; hence we see thousands GO
ing to new countries, where many acres
can be obtained for a small sum of
money, or secured under the Homestead
act by mere residence upon it and nom-
inal fee to the Government. Others in
the older States are anxious to buy out
their ncighbors, adding acres here and
there, and frequently running in debt
for the purchase of them, while mort
cages cover the original homestead;
hoping, through the use of additional
land, to make things come out all right
in the end. In fact, these graspers for
more land become "land-pOor," pos
sessing q huge machine which for the
want of capital they cannot run with
profit. 1t is said that in some Of the
Western States half the farms are
| mortgaged, and the nominal owners
have as much as they can possibly do
to paw interest and taxes. If this be
true, and we have good reason for be-
lieving it, just one-half of our farmers
are land-poor, and all through bad man.
agement or fallacious idea of what
constitutes an intelligent system of agri-
culture.
| Now, we may safely assert that the
working capital of the farmer should be
at least as much as the cost of his land,
and in all new countries it should be
three or four times the amount. If
a man pays $1,000. he should
have an equal sum to invest
in improvements, cattle, horses,
implements, or what railroad Director
would call rolling stock Without this
he is obliged to work at a great disad-
vantage, go without improved imple-
ments or run in debt for them, paying
at the same time % per cent. more for
them than they could be purchased for
with cash. Inferior animals, which
cost Just as much to keep as the supe-
riOr, are accepted because, for want OF
capital, no better can be obtained.
Sales must be made at the earliest pos.
sible moment, because debts are press.
ing; therefore fluctuations of the market
cannot be taken advantage of; and all
this because working capital is want
ing. These land-poor farmers belong
to no one locality or region of country
they are found everywhere, from the
suburbs of our largest cities to the
shores of the Pacific. They hold hun
dreds of acres, where twenty-five o.
fifty are as much as their capital ant
skill would warrant their undertaking
to manage; and they will hold on unit
the Sheriff or their executors pass i
over to some one else.
It is often q matter of surprise t.
American farmers how those of England
and other European countries can af
ford to pay the enormous price they az
for land, either when purchased o
rented, and still manage to make fai
J. profit on the investment. 1t is tru
that labor is cheaper abroad than here
; and the markets are somewhat better
but the latter advantages will scarcel
more than counterbalancc the first
leaving the advantages and disadvan
tages about equal. If we look into tn
> system upon which European agricult
ure is conducted, we find that tn
farmer is seldom land-poor at the yer
outset of his career. In Great Britain
where farming is conducted princlpall
upon what is termed the tenant sys
D tenn" the average tenant capital 70
:. the United Kingdom is about $N pc
. acre. In some localities it is twice Q
Q three times this amount; but takin
: the lowest figures, we see that a farme
y who merely rents land is expected
d have at least working capital of 81
t per acre, and all this Independent
;. the cost or value of the real estat
e which he occupies. This amount is
!: course invested in choice stool
q implements, fertilizers, and othe
things necessary to make the land pr
ductive and the labor expende
Is profitable. Now, we can believe tn,
Iany man with ordinary intelligence an