St. Landry democrat., 1888-01-21
TENANT FARMING.
some of the Causes that Have Increased
the Number of Tenants.


1t now appears likely that the larger
part of the farming land in this coun-
try will in somewhat near future be
owned by one class of people and occu-
pied and worked by another class. We
are very fast approaching to the condis
ton of affairs that has long existed in
the British islands and in many of the
countries on the continent of Europe.
In several of the Western States ana
Territories capitalists obtained large
bodies of land, which they subdivided,
improved to some extent, and leased to
persons who wished to work it ''on
shares" In several of the older States
many of the dairy, stock, grain and
general purpose farms are let at a cash
rental. Sometimes stock is let with the
places and sometimes it is not. Leasing
farms at an annual cash rental is more
common than formerly, but is less gen.
eral in the newly settled States than in
those that are densely populated. When
tenants are engaged in dairy or truck
farming, they generally pay their rent
in cash.
The census of 1880 showed that more
than one-fourth of all the farms in the
United States were occupied and
worked by tenants. That the number
thus occupied is increasing year by
year is generally admitted. Observa-
ton shows that many who have sue
ceeded in farming and who own good
places do not wish to remain in the
business all their days. After they be-
come advanced in years they desire to
take life somewhat easy, and if their
farms will support them they will
leave them and 60 tc.some large town
to live. If the farmers do not wish to
move to another town, their wives and
children do. The women desire society
and the children wish to attend high
school. Few farmers of good mean de-
sire to be country gentlemen, and still
| a smaller number of country women
wish to spend all their lives on a farm
The attractions of towns increase year
by year, while improvements in the
country are few. Wealthy farmers
who contemplate moving to town do
not care to spend much money in max
ing roads, building bridges, erecting
churches. or supporting schools.
As the custom of employing married
men to do farming work and of allow
ing them to live in cottages on place
has never been common in this country,
young men wish to marry and live in
tbs country generally rent farms. The
old maxim "once a tenant, always a
tenant" ordinarily holds good The
man who is raising family and paying
rent can seldom save money enough to
buy and stock a farm. The tenant class
is increasing in all of the older States.
1t is large in the South, and embraces
blacks as well as whites. 1t is also
large in the newly settled States andTer-
ritories. Many who obtained land un-
der the homestead. presumption or dim
Der culture acts mcrtgaged it to pro-
cure money to make improvements.
and, after years of hard labor, lost it.
They have not the strength or courage
to start again as landowners. They
rentan improved place of some insur-
ance company OF individual money
lender, and spend their days as tenant
farmers in part of the country where
land can be obtained for the trouble of
settling upon it.
In several States there are many pro-
fessional landlords. They obtained
large blocks of land from railroad COM
panies subdivided them, broke a part
of the land. fenced in another portion,
erected buildings and are now making
business of renting the farms. Others
have obtained large numbers of farms
by the foreclosure of mortgages. These
professional landlords generally make
leases that are hard on tenants. Tt has
often been observed that property that's
secure but which pays poorly, generally
finds its way into the hands of wealthy
men. This is the case with our Ma
tional bonds They draw small rate
Of interest, but they are secure, and
they require no looking after. As
farming land is not likely to burn up,
run away or got out of fashion, eau
tious capitalists are often inclined to
invest in it, though it returns but
small annual revenue. When there is
a prospect, as there is in most parts OF
the West, that land will steadily rise
in value in consequence Of the extern
sion of railroads and the building OF
towns, the disposition to invest in il
becomes strong.
1t is acknowledged by all who have
given attention to the matter that
farming land in Great Britain has been
steadily improving during century,
though nearly all of it has been worked
by tenants. 1t has also been claimed
that the condition of tenant farmers
and of farm laborers has greatly inn
proved. The like can not be said of
rented farms and of tenant farmers in
this country. With few exceptions,
farm begins to s.run down. as soon as
it is leased. The tenant works it for
what he can get out of it. He sells its
fertility by the ton or bushel, and robs
the soil to obtain money to pay his rent.