The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1886-07-13
TENANT FARMING.
The Extent to which 1t Has Grown In This
Country.

home and abroad that the farmers in
this country owned the lands they
titled. We have taken pride in point
ing to our vast National domain. and
have shown our unselfish spirit in in
viting poor people in every part of the
world to come and settle on it. During
many years the price of public land
was Sl.25. Some twenty-five years ago
Congress offered q homestead of 100
acres TO any citizen or to any alier
who had declared his intention to be-
come naturalized on the payment of a
sum about equal TO the cost of making
the survey. During the last few years
any person has had the privilege of OBJ
tanning 100 acres of land by agreeing
to plant forest trees on one-fourth part
of it. By virtue of the Homestead,
Pre- -emptiOn and Timber-culture acts
one person has been able TO obtain title
10 three-quarter sections of land aggre-
eating 40 acres for a trifle over $500
The land thus open TO settlement was
generally within easy reach of rail-
roads, and the fare from the more
densely settled portions of the country
was low. The railroads, desiring TO
have the country improved SO as 10 pro-
duce crops for transportation, offered
favorable terms TO settlers. Under
these circumstances it was generally
presumed that persons who wanted
farms would go and take them. Rail-
roads having land grants offered 10
dispose of land for farms on very long
time and at low rates of interest.
As it was thought that nearly evey
farmer owned the land he occupied Wa
have expressed great deal of sympa-
thy for the poor farmers of Ireland,
England, Scotland and Germany, who
were obliged TO pay an annual rent to
grasping landlords. 1t was not till the
census of 1880 was compiled and pub
lished that we learned that there were
l,O24,00l farms in the United States
occupied by tenants. But 1.-THE
wonder grew when people read that
there were 1924 farms in Illinois
worked by parties who had no title to
the soil. Still greater surprise was ex-
pressed that there were AHA rented
farms in Iowa, 80, 1872 in Missouri, 22,-
65l in Kansas and IL ,4l9 in Nebraska.
Persons who have taken pains to col
lect information on the subject express
the opinion that the number of tenant
farmers in the country has increased
at least twenty per cent. since the last
census was taken. If this is the case
there are now In this country about
100000 more tenant farmers than
in anl NTa.,-
extensive land owners have laid out
farms of eighty acres each. broke half
of the land, erected cheap buildings
and rented them. Persons who have
taken up tree claims have had a part
Of the land plowed and leased the land
TO tenants who were too poor TO make
for themselves. In the
older of all the Western States thou
sands of wealthy farmers have leased
their land and moved to towns to live.
where they think they can enjoy life to
better advantage. Others continue to
occupy the farmhouse. tend the garden,
and keep some stock, while their ten
ants supply them with food and
When money could be let out for ten
per cent. on good security capitalists
lid not desire TO invest their money in |
arming land, either for occupancy or
or the, purpose of renting. But at
ow rate of interest they find farming
and to be good investment. The de- |
Zine in the price of farm products has
APPARENTLY had no effect on the rent of |
arms. The number desiring to rent
arms e Increasing in all the Western
tates and SScrritories. Men who !
7orked as hired lals.orers while they
yere single desire to rent farms as
DON as they are married. OSwealthy
lrmers have not adopted the piSn,
hitch is pursued by most European
of employing married men,
tho can live in cottages, TO work on
heir places. They prefer TO hire
lngle men who can board in their
antilles. Farm hands who marry be-
ONE tenant farmers or move farther
Vest where they can obtain land of
heir own. They have the means to
lake the journey and to acquire a
omestead right, but they have not
ne means to enable them to break
rairie sod, build fences, erect build
lgs, buy teams, implements aad seed,
nd to pay the expense of living until
crop is raised. They therefore COM
hence married life as tenant farmers,
nd in the majority of instances re-
lain SUCH That the number of ten
mt farmers will increase from year to
ear seems probable. In five years
inc II will he very difinult to obtain
ublic land that is of much value for
gricultural purposes. During this
eriod the price of land owned by in
ividuals will become so high as to be
ut of the reach OF men of small
leans.-Sdn Francisco Chronicle.
"A pompous fellow was dining
nth 8 country family, when the
ady of the house desired the
ervant to take away the dish