The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1889-11-15
HOW MANY FARMS ARE MoRrcAcEp7
A Demand to Have the Next United States
Census Show the Mortgage Indebtedness
Oh b Farms and Homes of the Coun-

80 AAS y III uAAA ~ VI VIZ SouIIe
try.
There is a growing feeling that the
farmers and other wealth producers do
not receive an equitable return for their
toll. The statements are repeatedly
made that "the rich are growing richer
and the poor poorer;'' that 95 per cent.
Of the wealth of the country is owned
by less than 3 per cen of the popula-
ton; that thrce-ffths of all the wealth
is in the hands of less than 10000 per-
sons; and that the sturdy. self-respect-
ing farmer is becoming the American
peasant. Lack of facts upon which to
base conclusions has rendered ever
theorizing valueless, and ignorance of
the truth makes the prevalent discon-
tent only. more dangerous. The first
requisite to an intelligent discussion of
the subject is a knowledge of the actual
facts in the case. Up to this time none
of any Importance have been collected.
Much statistical information has been
gathered and published to show the pro-
duction of wealth in this country, but
none to show its distribution. An i'm
portant step in this direction, in fact, the
primary step, would be the collection of
data to show to what extent the farms
and the homes-the basis of our civiliza-
tion-are owned by their occupants and
free from debt. Correspondence has
been had with the chiefs of the bureaus
Of statistics of the various states, asking
them whether they had collected any
such information. With singular unan-
unity they reply that the facts are Of
great Importance and ought to be col
lected, but that the labor and expense
Of such an investigation are too great to
be undertaken by Il state bureau, and
that the work naturally developes on
the national census. Mr.. Robert p.
Porter, superintendent of the eleventh
census, in reply TO correspondence on
this subject, says that the act authoriz-
ing the census did not contemplate the
collection of these data; that before he
can undertake the work there must be
special legislation by congress instruct
ing him to do so, and that he will lay
the matter before the secretary of the
interior with a view to securing such
legislation. There is no doubt that if u
general public demand existed, the
legislation could be secured. The coun-
try cannot afford to wait till an
other ccnsus for the facts. as at least
fifteen years would he required to make
them public. and in these days of the
rapid concentration of wealth into a few
hands that time is too long for a first
diagnosis of h case. BY that date the
patient may be fatally i'll.
With a view to creating such a do
mand. the Western Economic associa-
ton, of st. Louis, has issued this ad-
dress to the farmers and other wealth
producers of the country. The practical
method Of procedure is for any body of
such individuals, either organized or
unorgani2ed, to adopt resolutions of the
following character and to send them to
Washington:
Whereas, There is u growing belief that
the farmers and other producers of the
country do not obtain an equitable share
of the wealth which they create, and that
the farms and the homes of the country are
very largely under mortgage; and
Whereas, Exact knowledge on this sub
ject is of great Importance in the study of
the social and economic questions of the
day therefore, be it by (inscrt here the
name of the body adopting the resolutions,
and the locality;
Resolved, That it is our judgment that
che next United States census should show
what percentage of the people in this cour-
try occupy their own farms and homes,
anu what proportion are tenants; and of
:hose who occupy their own farms and
homes: what proportion have their prop
Irty free from debt; and of the farms and
homes which are under Inortgage; what
percentage of the value is so mortgaged:
ind be it further
Resolved, That the secretary of this
meeting be requested to transmit "a copy of
these resolutions to Hon. John w. Noble,
secretary of the interior, Washington, d.
c.. and a copy to the congressman from
this district with u request that he use his
influence to have these facts collected and
published.
This matter is neither republican nor
democratic. 1t is purely economic. The
appeal is made to you personally. the
reader. The next time you are in a
meeting of the Wheel, the Alliance, the
Farmers and Laborers' union, ordinary
mass meeting, or what not, introduce
resolutions expressing these senti-
ments. and send them to the officials
named. AS the reassembling of con-
gress is at hand, and as considerable
time will be required to procure the
necessary legislation and TO prepare the
schedules before the next enumeration,
prompt action is necessary,
c. NJ. MAPToN, President.
b. c. KELLER, Secretary Western
Economic Association.