The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1879-11-14
F.rmin. On Rented Land.

large bodies OF unOccupleO lanu Owucu
by wealthy corporations, firms or In
dSviduals. Some of them were pur-
chased for Specializing purposes, and
some were acquired by the foreclosure
of mortgages. In many towns there
still remain unsold school lands. These
lands Weld no revenue to their owners.
They are generally heavily taxed, for
the local Assessor has little mercy on
SPECTATORS and non-residents. II they
contain timber it is subject to the en-
croachment of trespassers. The grass
that grows on these tracts OF land Is
generally harvested by the neishborlng
farmers, or is devoured by their cattle
while it is still green. The land may
he advancing in value on account of the
improvement of property in the neigh
borhood, but its intrinsic value IS d.
minishing.
In these same Western States, and
often in the immediate vicinity OF the
tracts of land spoken of, are men cul-
tivating farms which they nominaliy
own. but which are encountered, in
many cases, nearly to their full value.
The money secured by these farms was
obtained at high rates of interest, in
many cases too high to be paid by the
profits derived from cultivating the
land. The farmers, when the land is
encountered in this manner, have not
the means to conduct their business
with profit to themselves or to the adj
vantage of the land they occupy. As a
rule, If they pay their interest prompt
" and make provision for the payment
of the principal at maturity, they well
nigh ruin their farms by Over-cropping
with grain. In the meantime they and
their families live In the enjoyment OF
few of the comforts of life.
It is certainly very pleasant thing
| for farmer to own the land he culti-
Yates. 1t is also a pleasant thing for
merchant to own the store he occupies,
for a mariner to own the vessel on
which he sails and for the mechanic to
own the shop in which he works. Any
person will be likely to take better care
of his own property than of that be-
longing to another, and there is, ac-
corlingly,s economy in owning the
premises one occupies in any kind Of
business. If, however, a person has
not got sufficient capital to carry on his
business in 4 proper manner, and Mt the
same time to own the premises he oc-
cupies, it is better for him to rent the
latter than to allow his business to suf-
fer. Many prosperous and cOmpara-
lively wealthy merchants and manu-
facturers recognize this fact by not only
doing business but living in rented
buildings.
A large proportion of the farmers in
this country, especially in the West,
have not sufficient capital to conduct
their business so rs to render it profit
able. Capital is rs necessary to a per-
son employed in agriculture rs to one
engaged in commerce, transportation
or manufacturing. Ownership of the
soil is by no means essential to excel
lent and profitable husbandry. General
agriculture, horticulture and stock
raising are in a much more advanced
state in Great Britain than in this cOun-
try, though it is very unusual there fol-
farmer, gardener, or stock-raiser to
own the land he occupies. Some have
even claimed that the superior agri-
culture of Great Britain is chiefly due
to the circumstance that the farmers dC
not own the land they occupy. BY rent.
ing the land they till, they have all theil
capital to invest in stock or to use il
conducting their business.
With rare exceptions q farmer can
rent land on much more favorable terms
than he can hire money with which tO
purchase it. Capitalists, who ordinarily
reside in cities, dislike to loan money
secured on property situated at remote
distances. 1t requires too much time
and expense to look after it. If they dc
loan it on this kind of security it is al
higher rates than those eXactcd in large
cities. There is no reason why tenant
farming should be associated with I'M
pecuniosity. A large proportion of the
, tenant farmers of Great Britain are mer
of large means. They do no manual
labor, but simply oversee the estates
they manage. They are no nearer the
condition Of poverty than the prosper
Gus merchant who stores his goods ant
conducts his sales in rented build
ing. They find it more profitable tt
employ their money in the business o
farming than to invest in land.
From present appearances a large
number of English farmers will remove
to this section of the country before thu
: commencement of farming operations
the coming season. Being accustomed
to cultivate land belonging to others, l
is likely that they will prefer to rem
land here. ut least till such time as the.
e will have gained such a knowledge o
] the country as will enable them to pur
chase it judiciously. 1t would appea
Q to be good policy for the owners of un
q occupied land and of farms that hav
Q been leased to undesirable parties t
secure these farmers for tenants. l
5 the meantime it will seem to be dcsir;
, bic to so change the prevailing systeI
I of leasing land for short periods as t
o make it an object for many others
become tenant farmers. AS matter
q now are, the most desirable of on
young farmers leave home to settle o
: the frontier Chicago Times.