The daily gazette., 1879-01-23
The Increase OF FaPaers-A

The Increase OF F0PoeF9-
'-s'-a'''a''s New ncg1Pa.
From the n. Y, Journal OF Com neres.
During the past year we made occas-
ional refetence to the marked increase In
the farming population which was going
on In this country. We have regarded II
as one of the most encouraging signs of
the business restoration for which all
were hoping. The tabu!ated results, as
far as gather ed, surpass the most sanguine
expectations. The year 1873 has seen
the greatest change ever known in the
same space Of time In the peaceful in
dustries Of the American people. Instinct,
good sense, necessity, have impelled
thousands of our citizens 10 quit unpro-
ductive pursuits and seek subsistence on
the generous bosom of Mother Nature.
All the Western railroad companies hav-
ing lands to sell have derived large part
Of their profits for the year from that
source. The rush for those ''choice pro-
perties" has been Unprecedented. Roads
which formerly ran through miles of
wilderness are fast being Tired with wav-
ing crops and happy homes. The new
settlers, besides paying the companies
for their lands, are furnishing an ncreas-
ed business TO the lines. So it happens
that the Western roads are fast taking
rank among investors with the oldest
aud most thriving roads in the Eastern
States. The Federal Government-th
greatest of landed proprietors-has been
the busiest aud most successful of sell
lers. For the year ended June 80, 1878,
the Government sold 7,562,OOO acres,
against sass, 600 for the corresponding
| In. Tn h.. o,, ,.r
Minnesota the total sales of land report
ed were 2,34s,OOO acres, Every acre in
the West and Southwest has profited by
this new hegira. Wherever lands adapt
ed for cereals could be found bordering a
railroad or navigable river, there came
the speculators, or "prospectors," or bona
fide emigrants ready to buy. Happily,
this time IL is the genuine emig' ant,
and not the mddleman, who is pur-
chasing the farming country of the
West.
! Dun, Barlow & Co.'S annual circular
estimates the new lands settled in 1878
at 20,OOO,O0O acres, and The occupants
thereof at not less than 100000 families,
Iequal to half million souls. These
persons are mostly Americans. They
are small farmers from the Eastern OF
old Western States, or mechanics, trades
people and their clerks, who have found
work or business slack and unIemunera.
tive in our great cities. Foreign land.
have contributed but small proportion
to this fresh army of farmers. Immigra.
tion is at an ebb, though not quite the
lowest. The arrivals at this port for 1875
were S1,505 against 6G,2S2 for 1871
, From these figures we learn that immi-
grafton has taken an upward turn, coin
cidently with the deepening business dis
: tresses Of England and most of Europe
As things become worse there, and bet
ter here, as they seem Dow likely to do
the human tide h'therward will gain il
volume. This Is one of the phenomena
now rich with promise for our future
For the present we are concerned d only tC
: note the extraordinary change taking
place in the industrial habi Of the Amer
lean people. We are becoming more
nation OF farmers. The growing dis
position TO till the land as a means OF
livelihood has a correct tendency with
in itself. 1t will not probably be over
done. But II will restore the lost equi
librium among the varied industries o
this country. 1t will give work and sup
port to every self-helping, pushing, ffu
!. gal man who finds the competition too
keen and the wages not ''liying' in tn
old States and the crowded haunts.
Ono conseque nee of this stamped
a from other walks OF life 10 the vocation
! of farming, appears in the enormous in
crease OF the crops of 1873 over those %
the previous year. The full report lspe
cial-No. 81 Of the Department of Agri
culture. just at hand, gives glowing de
- al. 1t. la 80 tl.A all ntnS
particularly Of wheat, corn, oats, an
hay, in which the gam was most remark
able. The bountiful crops have been
next TO peace, the chief OF our nations
blessings. They have made food plent
and cheap at home. They have contrib
| uted to that grand excess of export
over imports which is the delight c
American economists at this time, The
have impaired a measure of life to rail
roads aud manufactures and to man
trades and calhngs which would bav
languished and died but for the heartl
full stimulant of the crops. And Will
IA everybody else has been benefited b
the golden grain, the farmers ihemselv'
!. have had a profitable season. Prc,
have been low, but so have wages an
supplies, AZ q rule. Taking everythin n
into account. we may say that he ia
mers have laid up more money than an
=. other class Of people In 1873. Und'
" auspices az favorable ~ these, We ma
REASONABLY expect that the farming poi
Iulation will continue to incrt ase at
W / uvonH vata for a uhile lonuer