The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-03-20
An IRISH LANDLORD
AND THE MISERY RE FATHERS
IN AMERICA.
Illinois, Kansas and Nebraska The
States in Which He Has Satisfied
His Hunger for Land.

CuCAGo, ILL.,, March l9.-About six
weeks ago the Tribune published an
article on alien landlordism, showing
that an Irishman named William
Scully, now residing in London, Eng,
is the proprietor OF between 5000
and 10000 acres of the best farming
land in Illinois. The writer of the
article, on visiting the Scully estate,
claimed that the lands were titled by
a wretched class of tenants, from
whom are expected enormous rentals.
Almost the entire proceeds from the
sale of their crops went 10 pay rent.
The article attracted much attention,
and numerous communication on the
subject have been received from var
ious parts of the country. Among
others, a prominent citizen of Kansas
strongly deprecated alien landlordism,
and called attention TO his discovery
that large tracts of land in his own
State were owned by Scully. Follow
ing a suggestion derived from this let
ter an investigation was instituted,
the result of which is published this
morning. The article says: "A tour
of Kansas and certain portions of Ne
braska developed the rather startling
information that the title TO more
than 100000 acres OF the choicest
prairie lands in the sister States of
Kansas and Nebraska is vested in the
name of William Scully. All of these
vast tracts have been added to his
landed estates within the last five
years, and although only a small por-
ton is under cultivation the same sys-
tenn Of farm renting that exists in Iii
nois is rapidly being introduced in
these States. Between sixty and
seventy families have bound them
selves to Scully, and so long as they
remain on his land they cannot throw
off the yoke that holds them iii
slavery. Before obtaining a lease
they must agree to waive all rights of
exemption, and until their rent is paid
everything they possess, including
the growing crops, belongs to Scully.
As a rule they are the poorest farm
eTs in every respect in the country,
and very few Of them can obtain credit
from the merchants. The lease that
binds them to Scully is virtually
chattel mortgage, and all other claims
against the tenants are shut out until
Scully gets his rent Each tenant is
obliged to sign lease for a period of
fi1e years. On unimproved lands the
tenaat pays only the taxes the first
two years. The third year he paws
taxes and 81 an acre, and the fourth
and fifth year he pays taxes and FL 80
an acre. No provisiongis made for the
renewal in the lease, and at its expira-
ton the tenant must either move off
or submit to whatever rent the land
lord chooses to exact. In leasing an
unimproved farm, the tenant gets
nothing but the land. All improve
ments must be made at his own ex-
pense, the landlord furnishing abso-
lutely nothing. Consequently the
Scully farms do not present an at
tractive appearance. As a rule, the
tenants, having no aspiration beyond
the mere task of keeping body
and soul together, are shift
less and improvident, and make
little or no effort to inn
prove their condition all ambition
seeming to be exhausted in providing
shanties for their families to live in
and shelter for their stock. Having
no money to start on, most of the ten
ants are compelled to hire out to their
more prosperous neighbors during the
first two years of the struggle, and they
are satisfied if, during the first two
years, they succeed in breaking the
prairie lands and raising enough seed
corn to feed their stock. The three
years they can raise from
thirty to fifty bushels of corn to the
acre, and, by close economy, quit the
place, when their lease expires, as well
off as when they began"
Much space is devoted to an expla-
nation of the careful and systematic
manner in which Scully secured the
ands through the guidance of his
agents, who are experienced and per-
ectly familiar with the country. The
price, it is said, ranges from S. to SO
Der acre, and it is claimed that much
If the land is now worth at least $50 !
Der acre.