The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1879-12-20
BONANZA FARMS OF THE WEST

All tiNiC III tllN [ittuHiN hoHtHtV III
January, Oh ''The Bonanza Farms of the
West calls attention to the rapidity
with which great farms have multiplied
in recent years. and to the probable con-
sequences Of the movement In 1860,
there were only 606 farms of more than
thousand acres each in the non-slave-
holding States west of Ohio, while in
1870 there were 1856. and the increase
has been alarmingly rapid during the
present decade, so that the Statistics
which will be obtained with the census
of 1890, may be expected to reveal the
existence in several States of a land mo-
nopoly of no inconsiderabe proportions
The writer of the article in the .iHan-
tie furnishes statistics as to the cost per
acre Of raising wheat on the great farms
which he describes. Mr.. Kendall. one of
the proprietors of Il 1. 400 acre farm near
Window, Minnesota, gave detailed
statement, from which it appears that
the cost per acre of raising wheat. in
Guiding wear and tear of tools and teams
and the interest Oh the money invested.
is $500. With 30 bushels peracre as the
crop, the profit on the harvest Of each
year is $40 per acre. when wheat sells
for 81 cents per bushel i'll Chicago. With
the land stock aud tools furnished, the
cost per acre Of il crop is only s'.2i Mr.
Dalrymple, manager Of -four immense
farms near Fargo, Dakota, gave the cost
per acre as materially less than that
the Grandin farm of 10000 acres profit
of S61, 1854 was expected on the year $
crop, and from the four farms the pro-
prietors expected profit of 800, 1913. Ii
will be readily seen that vast fortunes are
being amassed on the great grain farms
of the West. and the success that COM
parativcly few have achieved will induce
a multitude to make similar ventures.
The immense farms which are located
not only in Kansas, Minnesota and Da-
kota, but also in other States, crush the
small farmers. In the shipment of their
wheat to market, the railways grant the
large farmers special rates. sometimes
one-half less than that paid by the small
farmers, and large farms can be supplied
with machinery at one-third the prices
required for small farms. i4eaideS. the
economy of labor on a large farm is an
important item, and it is impossible for
small farmers to compete with their great
neighbors. The managers and workmem
Of the large farms do not often estab-
fish homes, and little or nothing is to be
expected from the land monopolists for
the development of the country, the cree
ton of schools and churches,
The writer Of the article in the allan
tic contents himself with suggesting the
pernicious effects of the land monopoly.
without intimating by what methods. if
any, its growth can be checked. 1t is
certain that the nation will soon learn,
from official statistics. how rapid that
growth has been and with the knoWl,
edge will come demand that the new
States OF the great West be delivered
from the burden which the land monop-
oily has cast upon California. OF course,
no law can be enacted tG regulate tbs
amount of land man shall he permitted
to own, although people who have an
umdoubted right to recognition for intel
ligence have not hesitated to predict that
the time will come when even the amount
of wealth person may hold will lie fixed
by law. 1t would seem possible, how
ever, for the government to prevent
the public lands from falling into the
hands of monopolists at nominal prices.
The sentiment of the country has long
been against grants of lands to railways,
and it may be expected soon to demand
that the remaining pubic lands be re-
tanned for occupation under the Home
stead act. If monopolists wish to obtain
possession of public land, let them pay
price which will prevent too extensive
purchases. The nation should certainly
employ means to prevent the milestone
of a great land monopoly from being
hanged about its neck.